Rabbi Dov Landau, leader of the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox faction, instructed representatives of the sector to withdraw from “Zionist organizations” in a sharply worded letter set to be published Tuesday in the ultra-Orthodox newspaper Yated Ne'eman.
In recent years, ultra-Orthodox factions from mainstream Lithuanian and Sephardic streams have participated in Zionist institutions with temporary backing from spiritual leaders, including the Jewish Agency, KKL-JNF and other organizations.
Rabbi Landau's letter marks a hardening stance in the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox struggle and push for military service exemption. "Zionism is a movement that seeks to establish the Jewish people on a purely secular foundation, which is heresy and rebellion against divine rule,” he wrote.
“All national institutions are built on this foundation and there is no justification for participating with them, holding positions within them or voting in their elections. Doing so constitutes support for heresy, apostasy and desecration of God's name."
Recently, Rabbi Landau consulted senior Torah scholars and community leaders in the U.S. and Europe regarding the cooperation between the ultra-Orthodox and general sectors in the country’s national institutions. Many ultra-Orthodox leaders have condemned these partnerships as a desecration of God's name.
According to sources close to the rabbi, he also summoned rabbis and yeshiva heads associated with Torah leaders who passed away in the past decade to review previous rulings on the matter.
Since Israel’s establishment in 1948, the ultra-Orthodox sector has generally refrained from participating in these institutions. In recent years, however, ultra-Orthodox factions were formed within them under temporary approval from senior rabbis and for specific issues. The letter is expected to shake these factions, potentially leading to their closure.
Get the Ynetnews app on your smartphone: Google Play: https://bit.ly/4eJ37pE | Apple App Store: https://bit.ly/3ZL7iNv