MK Avraham Ravitz, in a 30-second interview with Army Radio today, said that he believes that a final decision by the Council of Torah Sages is likely today – but that he has no idea what it will be. Asked to present his "gut prediction," he said, "When you have a terrible headache, reactions from the gut don't matter."
The Admor of Sadigura, one of 15 rabbis on the Council of Torah Sages, sent a letter to his colleagues, asking them to vote "nay." He wrote that joining the government at this stage would support the destruction of the Jewish settlement enterprise in Gush Katif. He said that monetary matters must be separated from the matter of the "destruction of communities, yeshivot and synagogues in Judea, Samaria and Gaza."
Family members of terror victims visited with the Sadigura Rabbi and other Torah Council sages yesterday, asking them to use their influence to ensure that UTJ does not join the government. The rabbi showed them his letter to his colleagues.
Some 300 people, mostly from hareidi yeshivot, demonstrated outside the home of MK Yaakov Litzman last night (Tuesday). They protested his willingness to join the coalition – until the police arrived and declared the protest illegal. Litzman is slated to become Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee on behalf of the United Torah Judaism party if it joins the coalition.
Signs at the protest read, "Jewish blood is not cheap," "The Sharon Coalition is the Destruction of Judaism," and the like. Copies of a very satirical "Halakhic responsum" were distributed, bashing the very idea of possibly enabling the transfer of Jewish land to the enemy, the destruction of homes, synagogues and yeshivot, and the endangerment of Jews who will come under rocket threat as a result - merely for the benefit of receiving financial aid to other yeshivot.
The Admor of Sadigura, one of 15 rabbis on the Council of Torah Sages, sent a letter to his colleagues, asking them to vote "nay." He wrote that joining the government at this stage would support the destruction of the Jewish settlement enterprise in Gush Katif. He said that monetary matters must be separated from the matter of the "destruction of communities, yeshivot and synagogues in Judea, Samaria and Gaza."
Family members of terror victims visited with the Sadigura Rabbi and other Torah Council sages yesterday, asking them to use their influence to ensure that UTJ does not join the government. The rabbi showed them his letter to his colleagues.
Some 300 people, mostly from hareidi yeshivot, demonstrated outside the home of MK Yaakov Litzman last night (Tuesday). They protested his willingness to join the coalition – until the police arrived and declared the protest illegal. Litzman is slated to become Chairman of the Knesset Finance Committee on behalf of the United Torah Judaism party if it joins the coalition.
Signs at the protest read, "Jewish blood is not cheap," "The Sharon Coalition is the Destruction of Judaism," and the like. Copies of a very satirical "Halakhic responsum" were distributed, bashing the very idea of possibly enabling the transfer of Jewish land to the enemy, the destruction of homes, synagogues and yeshivot, and the endangerment of Jews who will come under rocket threat as a result - merely for the benefit of receiving financial aid to other yeshivot.