The Council of Torah Sages of the Degel Hatorah Party, including the most senior rabbis in the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) sector, have denounced the putative unity government for intending to “uproot religion,” and called on Yamina leader Naftali Bennett to withdraw his support.
In a statement published in the Yated Neeman haredi newspaper on Tuesday, the rabbis – including the two most senior figures in the Ashkenazi, non-hassidic community, Rabbi Haim Kanievsky and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein – said that no one who believes in God and observes Torah commandments could support such a government.
Degel Hatorah is the non-hassidic constituent party, which along with the hassidic Agudat Yisrael party make up the United Torah Judaism Knesset faction.
“It is a great anguish to hear about the intent to form a new government that the central and substantial part of includes those who want to harm the foundations of religion, God forbid, make severe breaches in the walls of Judaism, and undermine the tradition of generations on which the House of Israel rests,” the rabbis wrote.
The council noted specifically that it was extremely concerned over reforms a unity government would enact to the haredi education system, in which many schools do not teach core curriculum subjects, as well as Shabbat observance and Jewish-status issues, likely in reference to conversion.
“Astonishment is increased, and the pain is great over the desecration of Gods name, when those who stand as a central basis for the establishment of a government such as this are members of the faction called Yamina, who declare themselves to be, and present themselves, as Jews who believe in God and observe the Torah and mitzvot,” the rabbis continued. “This would be an act in defiance of heaven and a bitter and severe iniquity.
“We call on all Jews who believe in God and anyone who defines themselves as a guardian of tradition and certainly as someone who observes the Torah and commandments to recant their intention and not allow an act that would uproot religion and harm the foundations of Jewish law.”
A Yamina spokesman declined to respond to the council’s statement.
A Yamina party source speaking on condition of anonymity and in a personal capacity rejected the allegations and assertions made by the rabbis, and said that “to some people, the worship of Benjamin Netanyahu has become a modern-day avoda zora [idol worship], and that has negatively influenced the rabbis’ opinions.”
The source said United Torah Judaism and Shas were “welcome to join the coalition at any time,” adding that Yamina would be able to veto decisions on religion and state matters.
“Matan Kahana will be an excellent Religious Services minister,” said the source. “Naftali Bennett will, with God’s help, be Israel’s first Torah-observant prime minister. ‘Both these and those are the words of the living God.’”