Elazar Settlement Rabbi Proposes New Constitutional Laws Following Torah Study Legislation

Rabbi Chaim Eiram of the Elazar settlement praised the recent Basic Law on Torah Study, calling it an unprecedented step that grants constitutional status to Torah study and its scholars in Israel. In a public article to the community, he compared the law's language to the Balfour Declaration and described it as a "Basic Law for the Glory of the Holy Nation."

Building on this, Rabbi Eiram proposed additional Basic Laws to be enacted in a similar constitutional format. These include enshrining the importance of prayer for the welfare of the state and the Israel Defense Forces soldiers, mandating participation in "commanded wars" (military obligations), and prohibiting standing idly by when a fellow citizen's blood is shed, emphasizing their role in nation-building.

He further suggested codifying the duty of Torah scholars to fulfill the commandments, citing rabbinic teachings that emphasize action over study alone and referencing Maimonides' views on those who study Torah and rely on charity. Rabbi Eiram concluded his article with an ironic remark that if any of his proposals were brought to a vote, supporters of the Basic Law on Torah Study would vanish "as if swallowed by the earth."