For every time and place, for every object, under heaven
A time to give birth and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot what has been planted, a time to kill and a time to heal.
""Eli, the people are with you"! The fans shouted, "We are with you through fire and water," Eli listened to them and decided to march alone. Some of us called on Eli to stop, to think again, and Eli didn't listen, he chose his own path. His right.
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We are already after the split. Period.
In hindsight, on second thought, perhaps it was better that way. The public grew, and as the center grew, the margins also expanded. A large public did not see those who pretended to represent them as their true representatives, great rabbis felt their voices were not heard, and sectors felt absent. The new house of Yishai and Shtavun will provide them with an answer, and increase the strength of God's faithful.
But alongside the new house that is currently being built, it is perhaps permissible to reflect on additional groups and sectors that make up what is called 'ultra-Orthodox society', and to examine where and whether they are adequately represented.
Haredi communities
It is no secret that this group has long seen themselves as more religiously ultra-Orthodox than nationalists. One community even canceled Independence Day celebrations and the Hallel recitation. On the other hand, these communities are deeply committed to the Land of Israel. Who will they vote for? For compromisers like Uri Ariel and his ilk, who almost always voted in the spirit of Yair Lapid and Bennett? Or for the ultra-Orthodox parties that have no problem in principle with going along with left-wing parties?
Chabad
The Rebbe Zia instructed his followers to vote for the "most ultra-Orthodox party." Bennett is out of the question, Uri Ariel, even if he resigns, voted for the draft law that the Rebbe Zia opposed, even those who voted for the ultra-Orthodox parties, who, as is well known, do not have the commitment, according to the Rebbe Zia, "even if they have to," did so "with a heavy heart," as they put it. What's left?
The working Haredim
"Tov" has no realistic possibility of crossing the threshold of the electoral threshold. They are also aware of this and they will not run. So instead of the sacred notes "G" or "Shas" that will be established in the Holy Mountains, put another note? "Da'at Torah" and "La Tesur" are the essence of Harediism and one of its cornerstones. There is no Haredi who has not sucked these terms with his mother's milk. Will these young people be able to "touch" another note even behind the curtain?
Right-wing ultra-Orthodox
It is no secret that in the recent nationalist arrests, quite a few right-wing and extremist Haredim were observed. Although these are marginalized fringes, they were planted in the center. Most Haredim are still willing to go with the left-wing parties, but in polls they almost always identify with the right. A right-wing Haredim party could solve the dilemma for those in this camp whether to vote for a right-wing party or a Haredim party.
And we haven't even talked about the readers of "Hapeles", voters of "Power to Influence", communities of returning believers, parents of children who were not accepted into institutions, and many more, each for their own reasons, who don't see themselves represented, or just those who like to vote "for or against", it's time to create an alternative.
So thank you Eli Yishai.
I grew up in a Hasidic community that split after the leader left. Looking back, I see the split as the most blessed thing that happened to the Hasidic community of both factions. Until the leader left, the community expanded, and internal tensions arose that only caused educational damage in the community. The institutions degenerated over time, and corruption spread. With the split, each group built a community for itself, and the institutions as well as the human material were renewed, shaken off, and also succeeded.
The Haredi representation is not renewed, does not allow primaries, does not represent broad audiences who define themselves as Haredi, workers, women, and young people.
The representatives are busy most of the time, with trifles, nonsense, personal quarrels and are careful not to talk to each other. Perhaps new shades, precisely from the power of the division, will emerge in the desolate sky of Haredi politics.
Thank you, Ellie, for picking up the gauntlet.
