New Party 'Black Color' Unveils List Led by Torah Scholars, Not Politicians
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
The new political party 'Black Color' has unveiled its Knesset list, headed by Torah scholars and community leaders, not politicians. The party's central platform is opposing military conscription for Haredi men, citing existential threats to Torah study and claiming current Haredi representatives agreed to problematic conscription frameworks. The party aims to protect Torah study and vows to block any government that doesn't secure a comprehensive arrangement for yeshiva students.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- New party 'Black Color' reveals Knesset list led by rabbis and Torah scholars, not politicians.
- The party's core issue is opposing military conscription for Haredi men, deeming it an existential threat.
- Party claims existing Haredi representatives agreed to a 50% draft rate and sanctions.
- List includes prominent rabbis like Eliyahu Eliezer Boymerind and Yitzchak Rabin HaCohen.
- Founder Yaakov Chaim Miller vows no yeshiva student will be drafted under their watch.
- 'Black Color' will not support any government without a comprehensive arrangement for yeshiva students.
The new political party 'Black Color' (Tzva Shachor) revealed its slate of candidates for the Knesset on Friday, presenting a list composed entirely of rabbis, kollel heads, and community leaders, rather than established politicians. The party states its common denominator is the understanding that the current issue of military conscription for Haredi men poses an existential threat to Torah study.
According to the party's leadership, approximately 100,000 Haredi men are currently classified as draft dodgers, with over 730 yeshiva students imprisoned for military refusal in the past year. They claim that Haredi representatives previously agreed to a conscription framework with Bismuth that included a 50% draft rate, sanctions on students, and cuts to yeshiva budgets.
'Black Color' positions itself not as a replacement for existing Haredi parties, but as a focused force dedicated solely to the conscription issue. The party argues that parties dealing with multiple issues like education, housing, and welfare are forced to compromise on the core issue of Torah study. Their slogan is "Either Torah or compromise."
The party's list is headed by Chairman Rabbi Eliyahu Eliezer Boymerind, head of the 'Ma'atri Shevi'i' kollel network and son-in-law of the late Rabbi Yosef Noyvert. Rabbi Boymerind is described as deeply involved in the conscription issue, familiar with legal aspects, and the originator of unconventional proposals to resolve the crisis. The party asserts that he presented his concerns about the Bismuth framework to Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, influencing a decision to withdraw from it.
Also on the list is Rabbi Yitzchak Rabin HaCohen, the Av Beit Din of Bnei Brak and head of the 'She'arei Bnei Zion' kollel network, known for his uncompromising halachic stances. The party also includes Rabbi Yonatan Yissachar, head of the 'Torat Yissachar' kollel in Bnei Brak, representing the Sephardic Torah world and emphasizing that the 50% draft law is a concession of Torah.
The party was founded by Yaakov Chaim Miller, a Gerrer Hasid known for his determination. Miller stated his goal is to dismantle the current complex situation and build a new public force dedicated to this issue, vowing that "in our watch, no student will be drafted."
'Black Color' emphasizes this is only the first reveal and more names will be presented soon. The party stated, "We are presenting a different kind of leadership... Our people will not support a 50% law, draft quotas, or any framework that sells out part of the Torah world and abandons thousands of yeshiva students. Without a real arrangement for the entire yeshiva world, no government will have our support."