Rabbi Chaim Navon Rebukes MK Uri Maklev Over Criticism of Religious Zionism

Rabbi Chaim Navon sharply responded to a recent attack by MK Uri Maklev of the ultra-Orthodox Degel HaTorah party against the Religious Zionist community. During a campaign event targeting the Haredi sector, Maklev criticized the Religious Zionist worldview, condemning the idea that one can both study Torah and serve in the military or engage in other activities. He stated, "Those Religious Zionists who said you can both learn Torah and serve, that you can learn Torah and do other things, will not be forgiven. They introduced this, and it is a great damage we are dealing with."

Navon countered Maklev's remarks on his Facebook page by citing Talmudic sources, specifically referencing Rabbi Yossi in Tractate Yevamot: "Anyone who says 'I have nothing but Torah', even Torah he does not have." Navon emphasized that it was the Religious Zionists who "opened the Talmud and exposed the falsehood" of the Haredi stance, concluding with a pointed remark demanding an apology from Maklev and his camp.

This exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Haredi and Religious Zionist communities in Israel, particularly regarding the integration of Torah study with military service and broader societal participation. The debate reflects deeper ideological divides within the religious Jewish sectors about modernity, Zionism, and the role of Torah study in public life. No immediate response from Maklev has been reported following Navon's rebuttal.