Sent a letter to Barak. Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger
Photo: Mati Elmaliach
Excellent officers. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin
Rivlin urges Barak to maintain alliance with hesder yeshivas
Knesset speaker warns defense minister, says failure to find suitable solution to dispute between IDF, hesder yeshivas might lead to 'big calamities'
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin and Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger participated Thursday in the inauguration of a new seminary in the settlement of Carmel, in South Mount Hebron.
"The hesder's soldiers and its excellent officers are those who lead the way; the contribution of hesder yeshivas is far too significant and crucial to be undermined as a whole," said Rivlin, adding that "it's hard not to get involved in the current crisis between hesder yeshivas and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who has devoted his life to his people and his country.
The two called on Defense Minister Ehud Barak to adopt a different solution vis-à-vis his decision to cut ties between the IDF and hesder yeshiva Har Bracha.
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"There should be an alliance between the two – I implore the Defense Minister to find an effective and immediate solution to any polemic that might bring big calamities upon us," he said.
Rivlin also warned Barak against taking "unusual measures that might destroy the alliance between the IDF and hesder yeshivas."
Rivlin also commented on the construction freeze, suggesting that it was implemented due to pressure from the Left.
"Although these days are decisive days, there are those from within and without that are trying to discourage our hold on this land; however, we are imposed with the duty to build this country," he said.
'Calculated risk'
Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger, who also graduated from a hesder yeshiva, said he submitted a letter to the Defense Minister in which he suggested ways to solve the dispute."A compromise could be reached in the dispute between the Defense Ministry and Har Bracha yeshiva, with the formation of a committee that will formulate an agreed solution between representatives of the Defense Ministry, hesder yeshivas and the Chief Rabbinate," said Rabbi Metzger.
On Wednesday, Barak and his deputy, Matan Vilnai met with head of the hesder yeshiva union, Rabbi Haim Drukman, and made it clear that their decision to penalize Har Bracha over Rabbi Melamed's endorsement of insubordination will be implemented.
In a meeting slated to be held Sunday, the hesder yeshivas committee will consider taking a "calculated risk" to resolve the situation – declaring that all hesder yeshivas will pull out of the deal with the IDF should Har Bracha be left out. Such a move would aim to prompt Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to get involved in the affair.
