In a critical meeting held Tuesday evening in Yerushalayim, two senior roshei yeshiva, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Avraham Salim, came together to discuss the fate of bnei yeshiva and the future of the Chok HaGiyus (draft law). The private, in-depth discussion marked a significant step toward forging a unified chareidi front amid rising tensions over the stalled legislative process.
Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, met with Rav Salim, member of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, to coordinate positions ahead of what is shaping up to be a fierce political and ideological battle over the law that determines the military exemption for yeshiva students.
During the meeting, Rav Landau told Rav Salim, “There must be unity from everyone under one policy.”
This call for solidarity reflects growing frustration in the chareidi sector over the government’s inaction and concerns about emerging terms that could include punitive sanctions.
According to political analyst Yishai Cohen, the meeting’s purpose was to strengthen coordination between Yahadus HaTorah and Shas in preparation for a joint campaign to pass a version of the draft law that aligns with Torah values.
Matzav.com has learned that the content of this meeting was closely aligned with a separate discussion held earlier in the day between Rav Landau’s circle and the court of the Gerrer Rebbe. Both reportedly reached a mutual understanding: the new draft law must not include any sanctions—particularly personal ones—and should resemble the law as it stood previously, without a requirement that 50% of each age cohort enlist.
Both rabbinic circles agreed that this will be the official stance of Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisrael, and that Shas will be brought into alignment as well. Rav Landau’s visit to Rav Salim’s home was described as the final step in cementing a cohesive chareidi policy ahead of the anticipated legislative storm.
The backdrop to this meeting includes a previous summit held about a month ago between Rav Landau and the Gerrer Rebbe, where the foundations for this unified position were laid.
At the core of the current discussions is a firm demand that any future draft law replicate the format used under the previous government, without any personal sanctions and without a 50% enlistment quota from each draft class.
{Matzav.com Israel}