Ultra-Orthodox Parties Celebrate as Opposition Decries “A Life of Poverty and Dependence”

Photo: Flash 90

The ultra-Orthodox are celebrating, while the left is furious: “They are sentencing people to lives of poverty and dependence.” Isaac Abuhatzira 14:37 18 44 2

The Basic Law: Torah Study passed its preliminary reading and, as expected, sparked a political storm. In the ultra-Orthodox parties, they say the bill’s passage is “a historic step” toward recognition of Torah scholars. By contrast, Bennett, Gantz and Liberman sharply attacked it, arguing that it encourages draft evasion and harms the country’s future. The bill passed despite opposition from four coalition lawmakers.

The ultra-Orthodox parties celebrated the preliminary passage of the Basic Law: Torah Study today, Wednesday, in the Knesset plenum, despite opposition from four coalition MKs. Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said immediately after the vote: “The approval in the preliminary reading of the Basic Law: Torah Study, which Shas demanded, is a historic step on the path to the State of Israel recognizing the supreme value of the holy התורה and the enormous contribution of Torah scholars to the people of Israel.”

According to him, “Torah is the secret of our existence as the Jewish people, and it has preserved the Jewish people throughout the generations. The Shas faction will continue to act resolutely until the completion of the law’s legislation and the granting of due honor to the Torah and those who study it.”

United Torah Judaism chairman MK Goldknopf also expressed satisfaction with the coalition’s success in passing the bill. “Today’s vote on the Basic Law: Torah Study, which passed in a preliminary reading, is the beginning of correcting a four-year injustice, during which the world of Torah has been subjected to severe persecution. The law that passed is expected to restore the proper honor, in a Jewish state, to the status of yeshiva students and kollel students who uphold the world through their study.”

Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot responded to the bill’s passage, referring to a C14 report that part of the deal with the ultra-Orthodox includes setting the election date for October: “The deal of a few more weeks in power in exchange for the Basic Law: Torah Study is a summary of the history of the most detached, most irresponsible and most shameless government. Instead of strengthening the IDF in a total war, the government is doing the opposite and harming the country’s strength and spirit.

Photo: Flash 90

“The October 7 coalition has no respect for the lives and security of Israelis and no public trust. We will replace it and establish for Israel a worthy leadership, committed to the security and values of this people.”

Meanwhile, Yesh Atid chairman Naftali Bennett rushed to attack. “The Basic Law: Torah Study that the government is promoting with all its might and has now already passed in a preliminary reading will severely harm the State of Israel, and severely harm you as well. This is not a political matter, it is a matter of life and death. These are the facts: without a functioning economy and without an army, we simply will not be able to live here.”

Naftali Bennett | Photo: Yonatan Sindel, Flash 90

According to him, “Deri and Goldknopf will try to tell you that my fight against draft evasion and the Basic Law: Torah Study is a fight against you. That is a lie. I am not fighting you. I am fighting for you. I am a believing Jew. I study Torah and love the Torah dearly. The problem is the power brokers who exploit you.

“Deri and Goldknopf are sentencing you to lives of poverty and dependence while they live in luxury villas and wear luxury brands. This is not Torah, it is a business model. And it must change. We will not allow a state within a state. There will be one law for everyone here. We will free you from the rule of the power brokers, bring you with us into the labor market and IDF service, alongside maintaining a Haredi lifestyle, just like the working Haredim in Brooklyn.”

Bennett added that “we need you with us. Without you, neither we nor you will be here.” According to him, “Even if you do not agree with every word I say, remember: I am not coming from hatred toward anyone. I am coming from love for you, for the Torah, and for the beloved state of us all.”

Israel Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman promised to cancel the bill if he takes part in the next government. “We will repeal all the Basic Laws of your draft evasion, nothing will remain of them,” he wrote. He later added that “the unholy alliance between the Arab Knesset members and the ultra-Orthodox Knesset members continues. Anyone building on a Zionist government with the Arab parties or with the ultra-Orthodox parties is living in an anti-Zionist fantasy. It will not happen.”

MK Benny Gantz | Photo: Yonatan Zindel, Flash 90

MK Benny Gantz said that “the Basic Law: Torah Study is not ‘good news’ for the world of Torah, but a disgrace. I am in favor of Torah study, and that is why I voted against the Basic Law: Torah Study. It is a law that is entirely a cover for draft evasion and contradicts the Torah. The Torah I learned from the late Rabbi Druckman at Or Etzion teaches enlistment and defending my people. Anyone who wants to continue supporting the people of Israel and Torah study should enlist for our people. That is the only solution, and that is what will happen.”

MK Moshe Solomon of Religious Zionism, who voted against it, explained the reason for his decision. “The current wording equates someone who studies Torah with someone serving in the army. With wording like this, which constitutes a desecration of God’s name and harms the entire national-religious world of Torah, I cannot support it. The value of Torah study is a supreme value, and it is so clear that it does not need to be anchored in legislation. But even when it is anchored, complete Torah study is one that combines practical life and security. ‘Any Torah study that is not accompanied by labor, its end is to be null and to lead to sin’ (Pirkei Avot 2:2). When the bill comes up for first reading, I will examine it according to the changes that are made and decide how to vote.”

Avigdor Liberman Aryeh Deri Basic Law Torah Study Yitzhak Goldknopf Naftali Bennett 18 write a comment