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Degel HaTorah Plans for the Forthcoming Elections

by S. Baruchi

Last Thursday, the heads of Degel HaTorah met in order to discuss burning issues on the agenda.

In attendance at the meeting were: the members of the Rabbinical Committee of Degel HaTorah: HaRav Nosson Zochovsky and HaRav Tzvi Friedman; the chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee, Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz; the general secretary of Degel HaTorah, Rabbi Moshe Gafni, Rabbi Yerachmiel Boyer, Rabbi Moshe Frank, the chairman of the Jerusalem branch of Degel HaTorah; Bnei Brak's mayor, Rabbi Mordechai Karelitz; the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Rabbi Uri Lapolianski; the general director of Toda'ah, Rabbi Tzvi Baumel; and the deputy mayor of Jerusalem, Rabbi Uri Maklev.

The deliberation opened with an extensive survey, presented by Rabbi Ravitz, of the stormy political events and the effects the Knesset and the 15th government will have on Torah life in Eretz Yisroel. He stressed that "our main consideration in electing a Prime Minister must be his promises and attitude toward the question of the conscription of yeshiva students and the religious legislation meant to prevent the undermining of the status quo, which has been placed on the Knesset's table."

He also described the procedures and activities which until now have enabled the Torah world to brave the dangers threatening it. He stressed that these activities were conducted in light of the instructions and directives of maranan verabonon, who guide us in every step we take. "Now we awaiting further instructions from maranan verabonon regarding the ongoing activities which will thwart the intentions of those bent on harming us."

Rabbi Moshe Gafni said that in the light of the decision to hold early elections, Degel HaTorah will begin to organize all of its branches, and will soon meet with the directors of Agudas Yisroel in order to coordinate the election headquarters at an early stage and to prepare the slate for the Knesset on an equal basis.

Among other issues discussed were the means of broadening the voter base, as well as the problems with the coalition in the Jerusalem municipality. Special attention was devoted to Ehud Olmert's attempt to draw the militant and anti-religious left into the city coalition, especially its most repulsive element, whose aim is to defile Jerusalem, something to which no religious Jew can consent.

Degel's heads said that they were startled to learn that there are doubts regarding Olmert's fulfillment of the promises he gave to UTJ's representatives before the elections. They were shocked by the fact that Mr. Olmert, who was elected by UTJ adherents, is attempting to undermine the loyal partnership of five years and the full trust which the chareidim of Jerusalem put in him.

The public measures to be taken in light of the unprecedented threat against Torah Jewry caused by the High Court's decision to transfer deliberations on the question of the conscription of yeshiva students to a Knesset whose makeup is unknown, were also discussed. By the same token, the issues of the involvement of the Reform in the conversion issue and their inclusion in the religious councils, as well as the High Court's decision permitting massive Shabbos desecration on the kibbutzim, also received much attention.

All of those at the meeting unanimously agreed that it is absolutely clear that Torah Jewry will not enter any coalition which will not guarantee that every Jew in Israel who wants to study Torah may do so undisturbed, as has been the case for the past fifty years. By the same token, it will not enter a coalition which does not promise to prevent breaches in the wall of Shabbos, and the involvement of the Reform in matters of religion.


 

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