2 Prominent Religious Zionist Rabbis Call To Support Charedi Rally In Jerusalem

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Despite the ideological differences between the Religious Zionist community and the charedim, two of the most prominent Religious Zionist rabbis are calling to support and even participate in the rally taking place Thursday in Jerusalem. Rabbi Tzvi Tau, president of the Har Hamor yeshiva and leader of the Noam  faction represented by MK Avi Maoz, and Rabbi David Chai Hakohen, head of the Netivot Yisrael yeshiva in Bat Yam, both expressed their support for the charedi demands.

The rabbis identified with the theme of the rally, which is not to oppose the drafting of charedim but rather to protest the wholesale attack on the Torah world and the delegitimization of yeshiva students simply for wanting to study Torah full time. (For this reason the Jerusalem Faction declared that they will not join the rally as they oppose any form of compromise with the government over the charedi draft).

Rabbi Tau, issued a rare and powerful letter urging participation in Thursday’s mass atzeres tefillah in Yerushalayim.

“In these days, when young men devoted to their limud haTorah are being held behind bars as though their dedication to Torah study were a crime, our hearts cry out,” Rav Tau wrote. “I call upon all to take part in tomorrow’s public tefillah on behalf of those who learn Torah.”

Quoting his rebbi, Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook zt”l, Rav Tau stressed that the state and the army belong equally to all Jews, and harmony between yeshiva students and soldiers is essential. “Our rebbi Rav Tzvi Yehuda said repeatedly: ‘The state and the army belong to all of us. We are all avdei Hashem and members of His people. We are not two opposing sides, and coercion has no place here. Army officials cannot meddle in the inner workings of yeshivos, just as roshei yeshiva cannot dictate specific matters pertaining to the army.’”

Rav Tau continued, “Any attempt at coercion would be a disaster for the state. The young men immersed in Torah are not a burden, they are a national cultural treasure of the highest order. Their learning elevates the nation’s spirit and strengthens morale throughout our land and our army.”

Rabbi David Hai HaCohen accused the judicial system of persecuting yeshiva students and declared that despite the differences in opinions, the charedi students have the full right and obligation to heed their rabbis regarding the issue of military conscription. He called upon Religious Zionist yeshivot to hold prayers on behalf of Torah learners during the rally.

“Our brothers, all the Torah students in our institutions, the yeshivot of Religious Zionism, lovers of Torah and God-fearing Jews, we all share in the sorrow of the Torah scholars who are being persecuted by the judicial system in a harsh manner. This coercion of opinions is a grave injustice and joins the religious persecution led by haters of Israel,” the rabbi wrote.

“We are all called upon to hold prayers in our yeshivot for the well-being of the Torah students and for the restoration of their honor during the rally in Jerusalem. The honor of all Torah learners is the honor of Israel and of Heaven alike,” he added.

Later in his letter, the rabbi addressed “our brothers, the Torah students in the charedi yeshivot,” writing: “Indeed, there are differences between us in our view of the Israel Defense Forces and the self-sacrifice of those who serve to save our people and our land. Yet there is no doubt in our hearts that you have the full right and obligation to listen to your rabbis on the matter of conscription and to oppose the unjust persecution being waged against you. This ugly persecution harms the honor of the Torah and the dignity of every Jew. May it be G-d’s will that the Giver of the Torah will plant love of the Torah once again in the hearts of all our brothers, the House of Israel, and may the stature of all the righteous be elevated everywhere.”