A political storm erupted inside Degel HaTorah on Monday night after recordings surfaced of Rav Aviezer Piltz, rosh yeshiva of Tifrach and a senior member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, rejecting the new draft bill being advanced in the Knesset with the backing of Degel HaTorah and Shas.
The leaked audio, aired by journalist Yoeli Brim on Channel 13, follows a dramatic day in the party. Earlier, Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, the senior member of the Moetzes, delivered a denunciation of the proposed conscription law. His
The controversy resurfaced as the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee launched its first round of deliberations on MK Boaz Bismuth’s draft bill. The discussion immediately revived long-standing fears that chareidi lawmakers may ultimately give active support to a law whose stated objective is increased enlistment of yeshiva students.
Amid these tensions, the newly revealed recording of Rav Piltz has intensified the uproar. Rav Piltz is heard expressing deep, unequivocal skepticism toward the legislation.
The discussions among senior Litvishe rabbanim today centered on the far-reaching implications of the bill, which includes unprecedented oversight mechanisms for yeshivos as well as a shift toward direct support for the law.
The recording comes on the heels of footage showing Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch visiting Rav Bergman.
In the newly exposed audio, Rav Piltz speaks candidly about the debate:
Transcript of the leaked conversation:
Question: “Are there any roshei yeshiva who support the law at all, or is it all just…?”
Rav Piltz: “There are those who are unsure. Among those who are unsure, some lean that way.”
Question: “What’s the justification for supporting it? Even with the oversight on the yeshivos and all the other things?”
Rav Piltz: “I don’t understand it. I myself don’t understand it. People who want to argue didn’t really listen to me.”
Question: “You’re saying that even they are hard to understand?”
Rav Piltz: “I can’t answer that over the phone.”
Question: “Based on everything they said over the years — that they would never agree to targets in a law, never accept criminal consequences or harsh sanctions, and now there are huge additions here on oversight in the yeshivos, and restrictions on roshei yeshiva speaking against the army…”
Rav Piltz: “Yes. You understand everything yourself, so what are you asking?”
Question: “We’re trying to identify someone who supports it, or at least understand the logic. We want to discuss it seriously.”
Rav Piltz: “I don’t know the reasoning for supporting the law…”
{Matzav.com}
It appears many of the issues discussed were changes made after the approval was given. There were reports that changes were made, and the reason given was for legal and court concerns.
Very simple solution. Renounce government financial support. No billions of shekels in direct support to yeshivos, no housing subsidies, no more of all the other benefits.
Act upon the principles you espouse and if you want nothing to do with the State, then have nothing to do with the State.
No more voting and no Charedi participation in the Kenesset either.