In the last decade, an emotionally charged battle has been waged between the two sectoral groups, who politically identified with Smotrich on the one hand and Bennett on the other. In this struggle, no prisoners are taken, emotions and hatred will come first • But since 2021 - the 'rich bourgeois brother' is confused and politically homeless. He is not used to this and it creates unrest, anger and accusations towards everyone • Shlomo Filber, who has been following, researching, reviewing and analyzing the 'event' for 7 years in a special column
It is customary to divide religious Zionism between the liberal-bourgeois and the Torah-national. Like most of the sector, I have family, friends, and neighbors in both sectors.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
It turns out that the wealthy bourgeois 'successful brother' is in a menopausal crisis, unable to get out of the identity and leadership crisis he spiraled into when he abandoned Bennett and Shaked in 2019.
For the past decade, an emotionally charged battle has been waged between the two sectoral groups, who politically identified with Smotrich on the one hand and Bennett on the other. In this struggle, no prisoners are taken, emotions and hatred will prevail.
I have been following, researching, reviewing and analyzing the event for 7 years. While the perception was that the Lites were the 'successful child' in the family, at least in the worlds of personal career and success in integrating into Israeli society - in terms of results, the opposite is happening: For a decade now, Smotrich, who "took over" the brand abandoned by Bennett, has been systematically and diligently advancing to fulfill the banners he raised - settlement, army, education.
In terms of results, he brings an end-of-year certificate to the elections with phenomenal scores - membership in the war cabinet that brought Israel the most dramatic achievements on seven fronts; a historic leap forward in advancing sovereignty in Judea and Samaria; successful economic management during a period of multi-year war; and the fruits of the religious Zionist institutions - the preparatory schools, the settlement yeshivas, and the national service - which, following the great sacrifice in the war, became the 'dear sons' of Israeli society.
Religious Zionism. Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90
The wealthy bourgeois brother also does his part in carrying the national stretcher, but as individuals, not as a group.
And why does it matter? Because since 2021 - they have been confused, and politically homeless. They are not used to it and it creates unrest, anger and accusations towards everyone.
Like a classic teenage boy.
For a moment, a year ago, they thought about restoring relations with Bennett, and he even vigorously courted them. Not really as someone who wants to return home, but to try to bring them to his new home. A year in which they checked, hoped, believed, but reality slaps them in the face again. Bennett after the union with Lapid - one step away from them, is collapsing, and in the near future this will intensify, and until the elections it will become an episode.
And they, the successful and confused brother of the family, once again find themselves lost, confused, without a warm and loving home. The 'Wandering Souls' are embarking on another political tour - Lieberman? Eisenkot? Handel and Troeper? They are all distant relatives. Not the real thing.
Disillusionment will come, before or after the elections. It will grow from within, from within, after many disappointments and sectoral maturation.
It is unclear where this will take them: a warm family reunion? Political maturation and understanding of the complexity of Israeli society? Partnership with the traditionalists-Mizrahi who have a very difficult time as descendants of European Poles?
We will hug you and wait.
