Another rabbinical letter: The senior rabbis of religious Zionism, including Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, Rabbi Yehoshua Shapira, Rabbi Hananal Atrog, Rabbi Tamir Garnot, Rabbi Eliakim Levanon, Rabbi David Turgman, Rabbi Shimon Cohen, Rabbi Chaim Gantz, Rabbi David Pandel, Rabbi David Dudkevich and Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon refer to the controversy Deep in the wake of the legal reform, appeals to the protest leaders call for dialogue and promise to work to improve the reform.
The rabbis joined the call after the appeal of the director Gidi Dar, creator of the film “Legend of Destruction”, which tells the story of the polarized Israeli society on the eve of the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. The letter opens with the words: “I am asking for my brother.”
“Anxious about the talk of civil strife and bloodshed”
The rabbis turn to the protest leaders and write: “We turn to the protest leaders as dear and beloved brothers. We came from the four ends of the exile and created a glorious society despite all the differences. Together we built a wonderful country despite enormous difficulties. We fought together shoulder to shoulder against enemies from outside.” The rabbis add: “We are alarmed by the talk of civil strife and bloodshed. These talks fortify the positions on both sides and do not allow substantive conversation and listening. We have no doubt that the majority of the public opposed to the reform does not agree with this divisive style either.
Rabbi Eliakim Levanon, signed the letter Photo: The Hesder Yeshiva Union
The rabbis do not hide their opinion regarding the reform: “In our opinion, the legal reform is essential for democracy in the State of Israel. However, we hear pain and concern on your part and ask to speak heart to heart. We are sure that discourse is very necessary for the unity of the people and we are mobilized for this with all our strength.” The rabbis ask to listen to the opinions and write: “We are happy to talk to anyone who accepts the legitimacy of the elected government and without preconditions for dialogue. We will listen and try to understand your position, whatever we are convinced we will work to improve the reform and do everything in our power to mobilize the members of the Knesset, the ministers and the entire public to this agreement who hears us”.
Dozens of rabbis: immediately open a dialogue”
As mentioned last night, a letter was published by 75 rabbis and female rabbis of the Kora for the immediate opening of Hidberot. In the manifesto, the rabbis called for the adoption of the president’s outline and for the sake of maintaining unity with Israel. In the manifesto the rabbis read: “Allow full exploitation of President Herzog’s outline that was presented publicly last Sunday.” Among the signatories, key figures in the sector such as Rabbi Moshe Lichtenstein, Rabbi Ehad Taharlev, Rabbi Malka Piotrkovski, Rabbi Meir Nahorai, and Rabbi David Stav, as well as the former Minister of Education, Rabbi Shay Piron.
Rabbi Shay Piron Photo: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90
In their letter, the rabbis state: “We, the undersigned, call on the members of the Knesset from all factions of the House to immediately open a dialogue in the spirit of President Herzog’s call, and to allow it to be fully exploited. This is to try and achieve broad cross-campus support for changes in the judicial system and the system of balances between the authorities, which will preserve independence the various authorities”.