In the wake of controversial remarks made by United Torah Judaism chairman and former minister Yitzchok Goldknopf, veteran Degel HaTorah figure MK Yitzchok Pindrus publicly distanced himself from the statements, emphasizing the importance of empathizing with the pain of others—even across ideological lines.
Goldknopf sparked outrage following an interview published in Makor Rishon over the weekend, in which he dismissed the pain felt by the religious Zionist community during the ongoing war, stating: “Their pain will stay with them, and our pain will stay with us.”
In a Friday afternoon interview with Kan Reshet Bet, Pindrus made it clear that he rejects such sentiments. “I cannot accept those words,” he said. “It is the most basic thing to identify with someone else’s pain—even when ideological disagreements exist. The chareidi public is grateful to the soldiers and their families, and we share in their sorrow.”
Pindrus added, “I don’t know why he chose to speak that way. I’m not his spokesperson—but I’m stating my own opinion, and so are many of our rabbonim, who spoke to me this morning.”
Sources told B’Chadrei Chareidim that Pindrus’s remarks came in response to a direct instruction from Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, who was reportedly deeply disturbed after reading a transcript of Goldknopf’s interview. Rav Hirsch reportedly instructed that a swift and public response be issued, rejecting the tone and content of Goldknopf’s dismissal of the religious Zionist community’s grief.
In the interview that ignited the backlash, Goldknopf had stated that the chareidi community would not alter its way of life even amid war. He claimed that if forced conscription were imposed, “they will leave the country.”
He went on to argue that the issue lies not with the chareidim but with “100,000 draft dodgers in Gush Dan,” and questioned the emotional reactions of reservists and their families: “I don’t understand that pain—if this person chose that path, then he goes.”
{Matzav.com}
Goldkupp sounds like some luny 10 grader spewing some naarisshe deah he heard from his very brilliant elter bochur who is so breit since he knows every zeman article
I am sorry Well one has to always be sensitive, but when certain people from religious sects attempt to impose their attitudes and everybody else then there’s a time to fight back
The “religious zionists” are not daas Torah and shouldn’t try to impose their way of doing business on others
See Pindrus, especially if he was instructed to specifically by Reb Moshe Hillel, is entitled to an opinion. Mr. Ehrlich though, has zero authority yo speak on behalf of Chareidi Jewry. That is literally Pindrus’ job.
Unless you are the type of guy who keeps his opinions about most issues to himself and only allows the official spokesman to talk, there is no reason for Erlich not to say his opinion about what Goldknopf said on public records
See Pindrus, especially if he was instructed to specifically by Reb Moshe Hillel, is entitled to an opinion. Mr. Ehrlich though, has zero authority yo speak on behalf of Chareidi Jewry. That is literally Pindrus’ job.
Goldknopf is a fool. He speaks for himself and represents, well whomever. His stupid comment does not represent the Torah’s view.
Goldknopf seemed very pained. He meant to say that Chareidim being bullied and repetitively insulted by the government is also painful, very painful, when neither “Religious Zionists” nor anyone else sticks up for them.