Slabodka rosh yeshiva Hagaon Rav Dov Landau has delivered a pointed message about Degel HaTorah’s political future, declaring that the Torah world is beholden to no prime minister or political figure amid what he described as intensifying persecution of bnei Torah by the Israeli authorities.
Speaking in Tiveria, Rav Landau addressed the increasingly difficult situation facing the olam haTorah and appeared to signal that Degel HaTorah should not be viewed as automatically committed to Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu or his political bloc.
“Torah study and dealing in Torah are the most sublime things in the world; ‘The study of Torah is equal to all the commandments.’ We all know that the Torah world is in a very serious condition, and the persecution by the authorities weighs on Torah world day by day, and every single Torah student feels the yoke of the decrees.
“We do not depend on so-and-so, or this or that prime minister, only on the Creator of the Universe, and we all expect and hope that he will have mercy on his nation, particularly on the Torah world,” Rav Landau stated.
His remarks come as Degel HaTorah itself could be headed for major changes ahead of next week’s deadline for submitting candidate lists. Discussions between the offices of Rav Landau and Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch have reportedly included the possibility of replacing several of the party’s longtime representatives in the Knesset, including Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev.
Should those changes ultimately be implemented, MK Yaakov Asher, who is regarded as close to Rav Landau’s circle, is expected to assume the leading position in Degel HaTorah.
