Maran Rav Dov Landau, rosh yeshiva of Slabodka, has issued an unusually forceful handwritten letter condemning the newly established HaTzibur HaChareidi political party, declaring that he will fight its activities with every resource at his disposal and accusing its supporters of causing serious harm to chareidi Jewry.

The letter comes as tensions intensify ahead of Tuesday’s elections for the 26th Knesset, with the new party seeking to challenge the established chareidi factions of United Torah Judaism and Shas.

The recipient of the letter has been identified in Israeli media reports as Rav Yosef Ben Arza, author of the Yosef Daas series, a rebbi at Yeshivas Hesder Mishmar HaTorah, and a descendant of Rav Yaakov Moshe Charlap zt”l.

According to sources, Rav Ben Arza, who supports HaTzibur HaChareidi, recently visited Rav Landau’s home to inquire about his position on the new party. During the visit, he spoke with the rosh yeshiva’s son and raised questions concerning the political representation of chareidim whose circumstances differ from those of full-time yeshiva and kollel members.

After learning of the conversation, Rav Landau personally wrote a letter expressing his opposition to the party and its supporters.

“My son told me what you said, which is great foolishness, if not great wickedness,” Rav Landau wrote.

He then declared that he would actively oppose the party’s efforts, using exceptionally sharp language to convey the seriousness with which he views the matter.

“I will fight against you with all the strength I have and even the strength I do not have, because you are causing great harm to Chareidi Judaism.”

The rosh yeshiva went further, comparing the activities of the party’s supporters to violations of some of the Torah’s most severe prohibitions.

“Your actions are like eating forbidden fats on Yom Kippur and eating chametz on Seder night. I wrote this comparison to emphasize the severity of these matters. Retract, retract your actions, and do not cause harm.”

Despite the warning, however, reports indicate that Rav Ben Arza has not withdrawn his support for HaTzibur HaChareidi.

A source familiar with the exchange told Israeli media that Rav Ben Arza had raised substantive questions during his conversation with Rav Landau’s son, particularly regarding the needs of chareidi men serving in the Israeli military and the economic difficulties faced by working chareidi families.

Among the issues he reportedly raised was who would represent and assist chareidi soldiers and who would address the livelihood concerns of families outside the traditional full-time kollel framework.

According to that source, Rav Ben Arza did not receive answers that satisfied his concerns.

The source further indicated that the subsequent handwritten letter had not caused him to reconsider his support for the new party.

HaTzibur HaChareidi is headed by Motti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, who has positioned the party as an alternative for chareidi voters dissatisfied with their representation by the longstanding chareidi political parties.

The party’s platform focuses heavily on the needs of working chareidim, employment opportunities, education, and the situation of chareidi men who serve in the military.

Its leadership argues that certain segments of the chareidi population have not received adequate attention from the established political representatives.

On the military draft issue, the party supports enlistment for chareidi men who are not engaged in Torah study, while opposing arrests and punitive sanctions against chareidim.

That position differs from the approach advocated by much of the traditional chareidi leadership, which has placed particular emphasis on protecting the independence of the yeshiva world and resisting government efforts to impose military conscription.

The emergence of the new party has generated considerable controversy within the chareidi community, particularly because it is competing for votes traditionally cast for United Torah Judaism and Shas.

Senior figures within the established chareidi political leadership have expressed concern that the creation of competing lists could divide the chareidi electorate and weaken its representation in the Knesset.

Rav Landau has addressed the issue repeatedly in recent days, urging voters to maintain their allegiance to United Torah Judaism and warning against supporting newly established parties that do not have the backing of the traditional rabbinic leadership.

At an election gathering in Ashdod earlier this week, the rosh yeshiva spoke about dissatisfaction among some chareidi voters, acknowledging that complaints and resentment had developed over the performance of political representatives.

He nevertheless stressed that such frustrations should not lead voters to abandon the party supported by the Gedolei Yisroel.

Rav Landau also addressed concerns that working chareidim have been overlooked by the political establishment, emphasizing that those who earn a livelihood while remaining committed to Torah observance are an integral part of the Torah community.

In a separate development, Rav Landau hosted a gathering at his home attended by dozens of chareidi businessmen and other representatives of the working chareidi community.

The meeting was arranged against the backdrop of complaints that the educational and communal needs of working families have not received sufficient attention from United Torah Judaism’s elected officials.

During the gathering, Rav Landau acknowledged that some families have legitimate grievances concerning the services and representation they receive.

He also indicated that he would personally approach the party’s leadership and Knesset representatives to seek improvements in the handling of those concerns.

Among the issues raised were the availability of suitable Torah educational frameworks for children from working chareidi households and the difficulties encountered by families whose circumstances do not fit the conventional yeshiva and kollel model.

The rosh yeshiva emphasized that working chareidim remain part of the Torah world and that their concerns deserve attention.

His statements at that gathering reflected an effort to address the complaints underlying the new party’s appeal, even as he maintained his opposition to separate political representation.

The dispute has also drawn the attention of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu recently met with Leitner and sought to persuade him to withdraw HaTzibur HaChareidi from the Knesset race.

The meeting came amid growing pressure on the party to avoid competing against the established chareidi factions.

Leitner subsequently acknowledged that he had met with the prime minister and heard his proposal.

On Wednesday, October 21, he publicly announced that the party intended to remain in the race despite the pressure being exerted upon it.

Leitner also accused leaders of Shas and United Torah Judaism of directing threats against his party, allegations that formed part of the increasingly contentious campaign surrounding the new movement.

The party chairman argued that the concerns motivating HaTzibur HaChareidi’s establishment extend beyond the political ambitions of any individual candidate.

He maintained that substantial numbers of chareidim feel politically unrepresented and that the party was established to address their concerns.

The publication of Rav Landau’s handwritten letter has brought the dispute into sharper focus, particularly because the recipient is himself a rav who has publicly associated with the new political initiative.

The exchange highlights a fundamental disagreement over whether the needs of working chareidim and other groups should be addressed through the existing chareidi parties or through a separate political framework.

Supporters of the new party contend that independent representation is necessary to secure meaningful attention to those concerns.

{Matzav.com}