Top Rabbi Backs Knesset Members Amid Party Leadership Challenge

A significant political maneuver is underway within the Degel HaTorah party, a key component of Israel's ultra-Orthodox political bloc, as efforts emerge to potentially oust veteran Knesset members and reshape the party's leadership ahead of upcoming elections. The controversy centers on a reported attempt to replace long-serving lawmakers, including party chairman MK Moshe Gafni and MK Uri Maklev, with new faces.

In a move seen as a crucial show of support, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda (A.B.E.) Filz, a senior member of the party's Council of Torah Sages and head of the Tiferet Tzvi yeshiva, publicly endorsed MK Gafni. During a visit to Rabbi Filz's residence, the rabbi reportedly told Gafni, "Great strength to you for all that you have done and will continue to do." This visit is the first of several planned by Gafni and MK Maklev to other Council members to secure backing for their continued candidacies.

The reported push to replace the veteran lawmakers is allegedly driven by certain party activists seeking to consolidate control over Degel HaTorah for the long term. A senior party official stated that this is not merely about replacing Knesset members but about preventing these activists from permanently controlling the party. The visits to influential rabbis are intended to signal that the veteran lawmakers, who claim to act under the direct guidance of senior rabbis, will not yield control easily and expect broad support from the Council of Torah Sages.

Behind the scenes, there are indications that pressure is being applied by the circle of Rabbi David Landau, a leading figure in the Lithuanian ultra-Orthodox community, on Rabbi Moshe Hillel Hirsch, another influential Council member. The aim appears to be to have Rabbi Hirsch initiate the proposed changes, thereby distancing Rabbi Landau's faction from any potential failure of the move. This strategy reportedly involves a prominent activist who has close ties to Rabbi Hirsch and is increasingly aligning with Rabbi Landau's camp, with the explicit goal of replacing the current Knesset delegation.

The Council of Torah Sages is responsible for approving the party's list for the Knesset. While there is some public dissatisfaction with the current Knesset members due to recent government austerity measures affecting the ultra-Orthodox community, there is also a recognition of the need for experienced lawmakers to navigate future challenges. However, some within the leadership, particularly Rabbi Landau's circle, are reportedly seeking to install new members who are solely beholden to them, creating a complex dilemma regarding the party's future composition and electoral strategy.