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3 Shevat 5759 - Jan. 20, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel: It is Forbidden to Sit With the Reform and Conservative in the Religious Councils

by A. Zisman

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel announced its decision that it is forbidden to sit within the same framework as the Reform and Conservative.

Meeting last week in Bnei Brak, the meeting was opened by the admor of Vishnitz, president of the Moatza, with a blessing for the refu'ah sheleimo of the Admor of Boston, recovering in the United States.

The intolerable intervention of the judicial system in topics related to Torah law was discussed. Particular attention was given to the grave situation caused by attempts of the Reform and Conservative to penetrate the country's religious services. The two Chief Rabbis, summoned to the meeting by the gedolei haTorah, also emphasized the dangers of including delegates of heretical streams in the religious councils.

At the end of the meeting, the gedolei haTorah announced their decision, which states that it is inconceivable that government and judicial bodies intervene in halachic issues.

The decision read: "It is forbidden to sit with and to cooperate with the Reform in the religious councils." It also said that no recognition whatsoever may be granted to these streams and that it is forbidden to hold any deliberations with the destroyers of religion.

The decision also included a call to leave the students of the yeshivos hakedoshos alone, stressing that absolutely no changes or compromises in the existing arrangement regarding draft deferments may be made, as proclaimed by the pronouncement issued by gedolei Yisroel in Kislev.

The decision called upon the chareidi community to support UTJ's Knesset members in their difficult battles to defend the sacred values of Yiddishkeit. Special blessings were extended to Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Laizerson in his new position, with the hope that he and all of his colleagues in UTJ will merit to sanctify sheim Shomayim.


 

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