A world war in the world of the Torah? Attorney Gali Baharav Miara announced today (Wednesday) in an opinion, a precedent-setting and dramatic sanction against yeshivas and kollels in the Haredi sector.
According to its determination, yeshivahs where young "evading" recruits, those liable for conscription who do not report for service in the IDF, study, will not be able to grant their donors an income tax credit according to Section 46 of the law.
The opinion states: "Based on the court's ruling in the conscription petitions and the professional positions, the Attorney General reached the conclusion that, in accordance with the law and the ruling, the state cannot indirectly finance the activities of Torah institutions where conscription candidates study.".
According to a report in The Marker, it is estimated that yeshivahs and kollels receive donations in the billions of shekels a year. If the tax benefit is revoked, their income may be significantly affected.
Kan News' political correspondent Michael Shemesh noted that the new sanction from the Attorney General is "a real earthquake," since the vast majority of yeshiva funding today comes from donations. This is not just about ongoing funding, but also the construction and establishment of the institutions, as well as their maintenance. This, alongside relatively reduced tuition fees paid by parents.
Degel Hatorah Chairman, MK Moshe Gafni, responded to the publication: "If the publications are indeed true that Rabbi Meara intends to prevent the granting of Article 46 to Haredi public institutions, then this is an open declaration of war against the world of Torah and Judaism in the State of Israel.".
He said, "This is no longer a legal question, it is a systematic and obsessive ideological persecution against the Haredi public and against everything that represents the Jewish identity of the state. Time and again, it exploits its powers to harm Torah scholars and their institutions, in an unacceptable manner.".
""I call on the public not to give in to improper dictates and not to accept a reality in which a legal official runs the country and rules against its basic values.".
Gafni added: "It is impossible for such a serious move to pass in silence. I do not understand how Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to leave her in her position. This is a serious omission and I call on him to put an end to this situation immediately. It is impossible for the State of Israel to be led by someone who consistently acts against Judaism and against its Torah-observant citizens.".
Response from United Torah Judaism Chairman, MK Yitzhak Goldknopf: "It appears that the legal advisor to the government has lost control and boundaries in the war against Torah students in the Holy Land. The request submitted to the court is a serious attempt to commit a coup against the Torah world and harm the ability of donors to assist Torah students instead of the state that was supposed to fund the yeshivots.".
""Section 46 is intended to encourage donations to public institutions, not to serve as a punitive tool or become an enforcement mechanism for the Conscription Law. Denial of the benefit is collective, disproportionate, and immoral punishment.".
""It is unthinkable that 'brothers in arms,' who called for conscientious objection, would be recognized under Article 46 and the deeds of the Torah would be ostracized.".
""The Legal Advisor to the Prime Minister is not authorized to determine new policy in place of the government and the Knesset. We will not allow harm to donors, students, and Torah institutions due to a hostile agenda.".
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