Zionist Camp Chairman Avi Gabbay spoke this morning (Tuesday) at the 15th Jerusalem Conference and criticized religious Zionist rabbis who criticize the IDF and the Chief of Staff.
'"In recent years, at every point of contention in Israeli society, the presence of the Haredi rabbis has been prominent. And it is prominent, unfortunately, especially when it divisives, radicalizes, alienates, and incites.".
'"When the head of a pre-military training school accuses the army of recruiting girls and turning them into non-Jews - you remain silent. When that rabbi humiliates the LGBT community: Yes, it's time for you to recognize reality. LGBT people are also in your communities, and they are no less good than anyone else - you remain silent," said Gabbay.
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The chairman of the Zionist Camp attacked the silence of the national religious public: "When, in an era in which women - your daughters - occupy the benches of the Beit Midrash, a rabbi comes who educates thousands of students and speaks about the 'spiritual and intellectual inferiority of women' - even then - you remain silent.".
'"When a city rabbi, with audacity, calls for the dismissal of the Chief of Staff on the grounds of establishing mixed units - you remain silent. When that city rabbi calls on the public listening to him not to rent apartments to Arabs - you remain silent. And let's face it. It doesn't just end with silence on the words of rabbis.".
'"Even when a prime minister and ministers incite against half of the Jewish people and label them traitors and enemies - you remain silent. This silence echoed during the Oslo days, and reached its peak before Rabin's assassination. Maybe then, you did the public soul-searching, but it passed you by as soon as you returned to a position of power.".
Gabbay also attacked religious Zionism over the Western Wall plan: "When millions of Jews from the Conservative and Reform streams are excluded from the Western Wall area, and are turned into second-class Jews by the Israeli government - you are not only silent, you are taking an active part in this extremism, which has no halakhic basis whatsoever. After all, both the Western Wall rabbi and Avichai Mandelblit recommended the plan in question.".
'"When the government approves laws time after time, designed to preserve the coalition, even at the cost of divisions, of destroying democracy, of harming the way of life of millions of Israelis - you remain silent.".
The Zionist Camp chairman further claimed that the National Religious public includes those convicted of crimes. "When public figures from the 'politically correct side' are suspected of serious offenses. Offenses of personal corruption, hedonism, accepting favors and corrupting the moral standards of public service - even then you remain silent.".
'"Lord of the Universe, when will you stop being silent? When did you give up on 'Kal Yisrael'? I know that the criticism I am making here is harsh. But I also know that there are many who are here in this hall, and many others who are hearing us now – who agree with this criticism.
'"These are moderate voices within your camp, but they are almost never heard. Unfortunately, it is precisely the rabbis of the Haredi sect who voice the most extreme positions - they are becoming a central arrowhead in the leadership of the religious sector. And in contrast, the voices of moderation and compromise are left behind.".
'"As a child in Jerusalem, I remember my neighbors, Bnei Akiva students. Boys and girls together, going on joint activities, on joint trips. Boys and girls, studying in the state religious schools together with everyone else – children from religious families, more or less, traditional and even 'Rahmaana Litzlan' secular.".
'"Today it doesn't exist. Moderation has disappeared. Bnei Akiva has become a movement in which many parts separate boys and girls, the Haredi rabbis encourage gender separation as early as kindergarten and elementary school. The Haredi education system is becoming a monotonous ghetto.".
'"It's not just in Beit Shemesh that they measure the length of mothers' skirts as a condition for admitting their children to school. It's not just in Bnei Brak that they ask children if they have a television at home. It happens here too. And I'm taking advantage of this stage here to tell you, the moderate voices - by your silence, you give validity to these serious things. In doing so, you deepen and widen the rift within the Jewish people.
'"You, the silent ones. We must make your voices heard and stop the dangerous trends that have been growing here. Raise your voices and make them heard: instead of division – unity, instead of separation – connection, instead of weakness – strengthening. Friends, Israeli society needs healing. To mend the rifts.
'"No more smearing, incitement and gratuitous hatred. I travel throughout the country – meeting many people every day – the people of Israel, in all their unique shades and layers. This special mosaic that we have created here. This wonderful public that I meet, wants its elected officials, and yes – its rabbis too – to stop talking in terms of "them and us" but to take part in building a shared future. For all parts of Israeli society.".
Gabbay added: "Just as I believe that Israel must work to create a regional coalition, to strengthen its security, so I believe that the time has come to establish a social coalition within us, to strengthen Israeli society.".
'"You, the rabbis, can play a central role in transforming us into a model society. A prosperous society, centered on the equal value of every person as a person, and the integrity of society as a shared fabric in which there is a place for everyone. Take this role. It is in your hands.".
