For MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni, Hiddush is all things he hates: freedom, pluralism, and equality

Once again MK Moshe Gafni provides a clear indicator that even though he may not like it, Hiddush is making progress towards a pluralistic and civil society in Israel.

01/09/2013 13:47

Tags: Moshe Gafni · Knesset · Shahar Ilan · freedom of religion · Naftali Bennett

Chairman of the finance committee, Moshe Gafni from Degel Ha'tora, raising his fist during a speech at the Knesset assembly. To his right his party member Uri Maklev.07.05.2012. Photographed by: Miriam Elster, Flash 90.

In April, Hiddush reported on the irony of ultra-Orthodox MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni's habit of singling out his colleagues in the Knesset for either cooperating with Hiddush or promoting policies that complement Hiddush's vision for a Jewish and Democratic State of Israel. At that time, MK Gafni verbally attacked Finance Minister, Yair Lapid for planning to reduce excessive financial benefits for the Haredi sector. What was his main accusation? "[Hiddush VP] Shahar Ilan apparently has been giving you a lot of [background] material." We were happy to receive the compliment then, and we are still happy to receive such clear indicators of our impact.

In August 2013, Gafni singled out Hiddush again during his attack on Minister of Religious Services Naftali Bennett. Minister Bennett had appointed Leah Biton to head the Religious Council of Akko. Biton is the first woman to hold this position. Hiddush has been pursuing the discrimination of women in appointments for religious councils for some time. We welcomed Bennet’s decision and hope that he will continue to promote gender equality in Israel's religious establishment.

MK Gafni sees Hiddush as the key advocate of freedom of religion and an influential foe of the Haredi stranglehold on all religious matters.

Gafni, however, does not share our appreciation of the appointment. While publicly criticizing Biton's appointment, Gafni attacked Bennett, calling him a "bum" and emphasized, “He’s not succeeding in anything he’s doing and is looking for all kinds of headlines to get all kinds of applause like from the Hiddush organization, something that proves who his friends are.”

After reading and hearing his continued references to Hiddush, it is incredibly clear that when it comes to pluralism and equality, MK Gafni sees Hiddush as the key advocate of freedom of religion and an influential foe of the Haredi stranglehold on all religious matters. Although MK Gafni's comments consistently come in the form of belligerent attacks and criticism, his comments provide an unsolicited testimony to our impact and success in supplying reliable and compelling data and reports to the policymakers and opinion-molders in Israel and around the world.

There is no doubt that as long as MK Gafni continues to identify Hiddush as a major cause of his political "tzures" (troubles) we know that we are on the right track to transforming reality and helping Israel move in the overdue direction of full religious freedom and equality as promised by Israel’s Declaration of Independence.