The Council of Torah Scholars of Agudat Israel will not convene until at least after Passover, due to the firm opposition of the Rebbe of Belza.
As we recall, at the historic meeting of the three councils of Agudat Yisrael, Shas, and Degel Hatorah, it was decided to convene again after the conscription law is enacted in the Knesset, to decide whether to declare the severance of cooperation with the IDF. Opinions are divided in the Agudat Yisrael council: While the Rebbe of Vizhnitz and the Rebbe of Slonim are taking the method of unilaterally breaking the law with the army, and believe that we should not wait until 2017 when the law will require the conscription of yeshiva students, the other rebbes - led by the Rebbe of Belza - are taking the position that as long as the IDF has not changed the procedure for submitting deferrals that was in place during the Tal Law period, there is no reason to break the law now, but rather to wait for the decree itself - in three years, when, according to the new law, yeshiva students who do not conscript will be subject to a criminal offense if they do not meet the quotas set by the law. The law.
Following the dilemma, a series of meetings were held by Lithuanian yeshiva heads with the rebbes to discuss the issue. Early last week, Rabbi Yigal Rosen, head of the Or Yisrael Yeshiva, arrived at the home of the rebbes of Gur and Slonim on behalf of the Grail Steinman. The Rebbe of Gur has not yet expressed his opinion on the issue, while the Rebbe of Slonim is taking the position that one should not report to the recruitment offices.
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This week, the heads of yeshiva, Rabbi Ernberg, Rabbi Deutsch, and Rabbi Markowitz, visited the home of the Rebbe of Gur and the Rebbe of Slonim, on behalf of Rabbi Auerbach, in order to clarify his position in favor of severing ties with the IDF at this stage.
The secretary of the Council of Torah Scholars of Agoyi, Rabbi Mordechai Stern, visits all the Rebbes who are members of the Council on behalf of his rabbi, the Rebbe of Vizhnitz, due to the Rebbe's desire to convene the Council so that it can decide on the question.
But, as mentioned, it seems that the opinion of his brother-in-law - the Rebbe of Belza - will tip the scales against a gathering, and the 'council' will not convene until after the holiday.
