In the course of the discussion in the Knesset plenum prior to the passing of the Basic Law: Limmud Torah, UTJ MK Meir Porush slammed the Knesset members who opposed the bill, asking them how they’re connected to Eretz Yisrael.

In his opening remarks, he explained the need for the bill: “78 years ago, Ben-Gurion declared the establishment of a state, a state that he defined as a Jewish and democratic state. You might ask, and it would be a good question, how is it that in a country where its founders wrote in the Declaration of Independence about ‘the eternal Book of Books,’ the Basic Law of Torah Study was not immediately enacted upon its establishment?”

“The answer is no less compelling than the question. It is also written in the Declaration of Independence: ‘The Jewish people arose in Eretz Yisrael.’ As is well known, the Jewish people received the Torah at Har Sinai 3,338 years ago, and in its merit, we are in Eretz Yisrael.

“Therefore, in a proper world, there is no need for such a law. There are matters that are far beyond legislation, matters that are self-evident to anyone who seeks to live in Eretz Yisrael by virtue of the Divine command written in the Torah, which is our contract to this land.

“But in recent years, a new group of politicians has grown stronger—let’s call them the Uganda politicians (a reference to Theodor Herzl’s proposal of the “Uganda Scheme” at the Sixth Zionist Congress in 1903). Some of them are politicians here in the Knesset, and some are politicians masquerading as jurists, legal advisers, and judges.”

“They don’t understand, because what do they have to do with the Torah? As far as they are concerned, it would have been possible to establish a state in Uganda—a democratic state with no connection to the Jewish people—and there, it’s true that there would be no reason or logic for enacting a Basic Law on Limmud Torah study. What does Uganda have to do with Limmud Torah?”

“The absurdity is even greater because the agency that doesn’t accept the position of the Uganda politicians is the IDF. After the terrible October 7 massacre, the then-defense minister, today the darling of the left, Yoav Gallant, established a professional security committee, with the blessing of the then director-general of the Defense Ministry and current IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, and the then-IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi.

“The committee, headed by Maj. Gen. (res.) Eliezer Shkedy and composed of a number of senior military officers, recommended the following: ‘Preserve the core values of the Chareidi world—protect Lomdei Torah whose Torah study is their occupation (those who study three sedarim a day).’ These words are written in Maj.-Gen. Shkedy’s recommendations.

“As stated, a committee established after the October 7 massacre determined that someone who studies three sedarim a day should not be drafted. Apparently, there are those in the army who understand the value of Limmud Torah. But the Uganda politicians don’t.

“We must provide a Jewish response here today against that group of politician-jurists who adhere to the Uganda approach—a response that should be self-evident.”

Porush also addressed, with great pain, several right-wing coalition members who voted against the bill: “To those Knesset members from the coalition who intend to oppose this law, some of whom even wear knitted kippot, I want to say: What do you have to do with Eretz Yisrael? You, the wearers of knitted kippot, supposedly advocate, refuse to give up, and cherish every inch of land here in Eretz Yisrael because it was promised to us in the Torah. But when it comes to Limmud Torah, you want us to make do with just a few crumbs of Torah. Is it too much to ask you for a bit of cheshbon nefesh?”

“I would like to thank my friend, former MK Rabbi Moshe Shimon Roth, who wisely submitted this bill at the beginning of the term while serving as a Knesset member, and MK Moshe Gafni, who is now leading the advancement of this legislation together with all the members of United Torah Judaism. I call on all Knesset members today to vote for the Torah; otherwise, you are advocating for the State of Uganda.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)