New Haredi Parties Emerge Amidst Disappointment with Current Leadership
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
New Haredi political factions have emerged in Israel, driven by disappointment with existing leadership following the October 7th attacks. Parties like "The Haredi Public" and "Black Color" aim to represent segments of the Haredi population with different needs and concerns, particularly regarding conscription and daily life. These groups are encouraging voters to make their voices heard at the ballot box as a form of protest against perceived failures of current Haredi representatives. The article draws parallels to past protests, emphasizing the importance of participation even without guaranteed immediate results.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- New Haredi political parties have formed in Israel due to dissatisfaction with current leadership.
- Parties like 'The Haredi Public' and 'Black Color' aim to represent specific Haredi demographics.
- The emergence of these parties is partly a response to the perceived failures of representation after October 7th.
- The movement encourages voting for these new factions as a form of protest and to make voices heard.
- The article references past protests, like the one against Intel, to highlight the principle of making a statement through action.
Amidst Israel's current political landscape, a sense of disillusionment has emerged within the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community, leading to the formation of new parties aiming to represent a segment of the population that feels unheard. This sentiment is contrasted with past protests, such as the 2009 demonstrations against Intel's operations on Shabbat in Jerusalem, where the argument for protest was "we must do our part and make our voices heard," even if immediate results were not apparent. Intel eventually reduced its Shabbat operations and later moved its production to Kiryat Gat.
The current political climate, particularly after the October 7th attacks, is described as disappointing and uninspiring, with a focus on the perennial "Netanyahu or not Netanyahu" debate rather than addressing systemic failures. In response, new Haredi factions are emerging, not as a rejection of their faith, but as a call to action for those who believe current leadership has failed. These groups, including "The Assembly" led by Shlomo Elbaum, "Black Color, Defense of Torah World" led by Eliyahu Eliezer Baumrind and Yaakov Chaim Miller, and "The Haredi Public" led by Motty Leitner, share a common message of dissatisfaction with ineffective public representatives.
Motty Leitner's "The Haredi Public" aims to represent Haredim who lead active daily lives and have different educational choices for their children than those typically endorsed by mainstream Haredi parties like Degel HaTorah and Shas. Leitner, who has demonstrated effectiveness in the Beit Shemesh municipality, seeks to provide representation for this segment of the population, potentially even engaging with a future government led by figures like Naftali Bennett or Gadi Eisenkot, should the change bloc win the elections.
"Black Color, Defense of Torah World," spearheaded by Yaakov Chaim Miller, focuses specifically on the issue of conscription for yeshiva students, aiming to pass legislation that has eluded mainstream Haredi parties. While acknowledging the challenge of the electoral threshold, the movement seeks to make its voice heard as a protest against current Haredi representatives who they feel were absent during critical times. The article encourages voters to consider these new options as a form of protest, emphasizing that the act of choosing itself is a statement, drawing a parallel to the past Intel protests where participation was seen as fulfilling a duty.
Ultimately, the article suggests that even if these new parties do not cross the electoral threshold, their emergence represents a significant statement of dissent and a demand for change within the Haredi community, urging voters not to be pessimistic about the impact of their vote.
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