Why Did Rav Gershon Edelstein Not Sign Letter Against Kahana?

ISRAEL (VINnews) — A letter signed by Charedi Rabbonim was released against Matan Kahana, yet Hagaon HaRav Gershon Edelstein did not sign on.

The Charedi leadership put out the letter against the Religious Affairs Minister, in protest of his planned religious reforms, which would be devastating for kashrus and geirus. It was released ahead of a massive conference, organized by the Rabbanut Rashit, which will be held Tuesday evening.

However Rav Edelstein, one of the Gedolei Hador and the senior Rabbinic advisor of Degel HaTorah, chose not to sign.

Zvi Cohen, a spokesman for the Rav, explained that his choosing not to sign the letter is not because he is against the conference.

As quoted by Arutz Sheva, Mr. Cohen said: “The Rabbi was not against the conference tonight at all. On the contrary, the rabbi acted to take care of the organization and financing of the conference. The reason is that the rabbi did not issue official support because he wanted a state event and not for it to be presented as a kind of united religious front of the Charedim and national religious together, as throughout their history, the haredim have refrained from presenting such a religious front on the orders of the Talmidei Chachamim of Klal Yisrael.”

The mass rally will be led by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, Rabbi David Lau and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, in protest of the planned religious reforms and the weakening of the Rabbanut’s authority. According to reports, it will be a historic gathering of unity that will include hundreds of Charedi and Dati Leumi Rabbonim, unifying against Minister Kahana.