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Religious Zionism: Cut funding of haredi institutions

Former Tzohar managing director Rabbi Hagai Gross calls national religious community to fight against ultra-Orthodox monopoly by refusing donations, making new rules for participation in haredi-led events

Nearly two months have passed since the High Rabbinical Court annulled Rabbi Chaim Drukman’s conversions, but the religious Zionism refuses to forget: After conducting solidarity rallies, the national-religious public is encouraged for the first time to fight back, by cutting off donations to the ultra-Orthodox yeshiva institutions.

 

In a an article written by former Tzohar Rabbinical Organization’s Director-General Rabbi Hagai Gross, he proposes to close the door on Orthodox fundraisers, explaining that “this is mandatory in order to make the Orthodox community understand that the spiritual war they have waged on the religious Zionist world bears a financial price as well.”

 

In his article titled “Rabbi Drukman and the religious Zionism pride,” Rabbi Gross argues that the religious Zionist public must consider responding differently than before, showing it will no longer serve as punching bag.

 

“The earth would have shattered a long time ago had something like this happened in the Orthodox community,” Gross writes, coming up with two proposals: One is to prevent the national-religious crowd from participating in Orthodox events, unless they are provided catering koshered by the Rabbinate, with vegetables permitted for sale or belonging to the court.

 

The second proposal calls to refrain from making donations to Orthodox institutions. “Why not say to those knocking on our door asking for donations something like, ‘We are in favor of supporting Torah studies but would rather support the world of religious Zionist studies, including yeshivas and yeshiva students belonging to our community.'”

 

Rabbi Gross further supports the second proposal by saying that as it is, the religious Zionist institutions have not been receiving government funding. He claims it is impossible to have the Orthodox continue running Israel’s spiritual affairs and determine its Jewish identity while the religious Zionist community remains outside the country’s security, economy and social activity.

 

“I believe these ideas are valid... Even if they are rejected by the great rabbis of our community for some reason, it is still important to give a platform for the new spirit inspiring the national religious community.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 06.20.08, 09:08
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