Haredi Newspaper Slams Finance Minister Smotrich for 'New Low'
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
A Haredi newspaper published a harsh attack on Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich for his recent criticism of the Haredi public and its leaders. The article accused Smotrich of reaching a "new low" and compared his actions against yeshiva students to the British Mandate. Smotrich had previously called Haredim "ungrateful" and questioned the Haredi worldview regarding the state and redemption, even praying that Rabbi Dov Lando would "repent."
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- A Haredi newspaper launched a severe attack on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
- The newspaper accused Smotrich of reaching a "new low" with his comments.
- Smotrich criticized the Haredi public as "ungrateful" and questioned their worldview.
- The article compared Smotrich's actions against yeshiva students to the British Mandate.
- Smotrich prayed that Rabbi Dov Lando would "repent."
- Yaakov Asher stated that the honor of Torah leaders is not a tool for elections.
A sharp verbal confrontation has erupted between the Religious Zionism party and the Degel HaTorah party, following a scathing attack published in Degel HaTorah's party organ against Finance Minister and Religious Zionism Chairman Bezalel Smotrich. The article, published Tuesday, targeted Smotrich for his remarks the previous evening about the Haredi public and the Lithuanian Haredi leader, Rabbi Dov Lando.
The newspaper's article accused Smotrich of reaching a "new low," stating, "The stubbornness of the donkey explained well why the forced but long-standing connection has unraveled and everything has opened up again." The authors further criticized Smotrich and his colleagues' approach to yeshiva students, drawing a harsh comparison to past regimes in the Land of Israel. "The British Mandate in the Land of Israel did not wage war against the world of yeshivas as Smotrich and his colleagues are waging it in the name of 'redemption.' Nor did an Arab regime!" the paper declared. It also asserted that Smotrich, "even if he studied his whole life, would not reach the tip of the smallest thing a cheder child knows," questioning, "What redemption is there in Zionism that persecutes what is most precious and holy to the people of Israel?"
Yaakov Asher, chairman of the United Torah Judaism party, was also quoted, stating, "Remove your sandals when you dare to speak like this about our rabbis. The honor of Torah leaders is not a tool for elections, and certainly not a desperate means to scrape a few more votes on the way to the blocking percentage." Smotrich's controversial statements were made at a sectoral conference where he criticized the Haredi public's view of the State of Israel and the processes of redemption. "I think Haredim are ungrateful to God and we have a sharp debate with them about their attitude towards the state and the processes of redemption," the Finance Minister said. He added, "I don't understand how one can be Haredi today. The Zionist enterprise is succeeding, is there a greater proof of redemption?" Smotrich also personally addressed Rabbi Dov Lando, saying, "I will pray that he repents."
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