Who's getting the money?
Hiddush calls on government coalition to cease funding of ultra-Orthodox organizations that deny the legitimacy of the State of Israel
The request comes in light of the fiery attack by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Halberstam, leader of the Tzanz Chasidic dynasty on the State of Israel and its national symbols. Hiddush CEO Rabbi Regev: these outbursts continue to reveal the prevalence and deep-seated rejection of the legitimacy of the State of Israel amongst ultra-Orthodox rabbis and community leaders.
10/04/2013 18:44
Tags: Tzanz · Agudat Yisrael · Israel Eichler · Anti-Zionism · HaModia
Hiddush- Freedom of Religion for Israel called on the new government coalition to cease support of ultra-Orthodox organizations that speak out against the legitimacy of the State of Israel. The call came in response to harsh attacks against the state's national symbols by Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Halberstam, the leader of the Tzanz chasidic dynasty. The comments are the latest occurrence in a long history of Anti-Zionist sentiments expressed by ultra-Orthodox rabbis who deny the State of Israel's legitimacy, but still receive generous benefits and support from the government.
Rabbi Halberstam attacked the State of Israel and its national symbols at a large conference in Netanya, Israel, largely as a response to the new government's decision to enforce equality in sharing the burden and cut subsidies to yeshiva students. He outlandishly states that, "In this period of exile, detractors powered by Satan has reason to fight the Chosen People because as the light of Torah expands so does the force of contamination that tries to counter and fight against it," and claimed that, "everyone realizes that evil people will only produce evil." Rabbi Halberstam also rhetorically asked, "Does a 'rag on a tree' and some song that a drunkard came up with give you ruling power and a state?" Rabbi Halberstam claimed he usually "wishes the best for Israel," but now he chose to speak out against "heretics and infidels…that are fighting against the Chosen People." Rabbi Halberstam's comments reflect an Anti-Zionist position held by most in ultra-Orthodox communities that demand financial support from the government but aggressively deny the legitimacy of the State of Israel. A prominent example is current MK Israel Eichler (United Torah Judaism) who has called Israel an "enemy state," "historic national disaster," "evil regime," and "Hebrew ghetto." Though many leaders in the ultra-Orthodox community hold similar views towards Israel, they have little qualms using political power to ensure financial support from the State's budget.
Anti-Zionist political parties that show such an exorbitant amount of contempt towards the State of Israel and its national symbols cannot be viewed as a natural partner in a Zionist government.
Hiddush CEO, Rabbi Uri Regev, said in response to Rabbi Halberstam, "We are seeing how the ultra-Orthodox parties' position in the opposition is now amplifying their rabbinic leaders’ Anti-Zionist incitement and their uncensored opinions about the State of Israel." Regev noted that, "Halberstam is showing the true colors of many in the ultra-Orthodox community. How appropriate that he is doing so right before Israeli Independence Day and while the annual state budget is formulated."
Halberstam's comments against the State of Israel precede an autonomy proposal which was published today (10.4.13) in the "HaModia" newspaper of the ultra-Orthodox organization, Agudat Yisrael, of which Rabbi Halberstam is a member. The plan calls to create a Haredi autonomy within Israel, according to the model of the Swiss Confederation system of cantons. Rabbi Regev is skeptical about their ablility to support themselves. "It will be very interesting to see how exactly a secessionist Haredi autonomy would support itself financially if the majority of its male citizens do not work but rather spend their lives in Yeshivas and their schools do not teach math, sciences etc. ."
Following the aggressive comments, Rabbi Regev expressed hope that members of the government coalition and Knesset will finally understand that "Anti-Zionist political parties that show such an exorbitant amount of contempt towards the State of Israel and its national symbols cannot be viewed as a natural partner in a Zionist government." He emphasized that "as much as they negate the legitimacy of the State of Israel, these ultra-Orthodox institutions do not hesitate to demand excessive amounts of subsidies and benefits from the State of Israel." Rabbi Regev called on the new government coalition to put an end to this shameful practice of funding institutions that undermine the State’s very existence and teach contempt against it.