Well-known rabbis in religious Zionism have been in contact with their colleagues in recent days in an attempt to hold an alternative event to the traditional celebrations at the Merkaz Harav yeshiva, after the yeshiva decided not to invite Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to the main Jerusalem Day event.
The intention of the initiators is to hold an event to which the president, the prime minister and all the heads of the political system will be invited.
For years, the celebrations at the Merkaz Harav yeshiva have been a kind of unofficial state event, in which the prime minister speaks at the end of Jerusalem Day.
During the reign of Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister, it was a demonstration of significant power, which was probably second only to the events of Independence Day.
However, the decision of the Merkaz Harav yeshiva not to invite Bennett, and as a result, after a storm arose, including Netanyahu, caused unrest within the national religious sector.
In recent days, officials have distributed a message to leading rabbis, in which they have made it clear that they are trying to formulate an alternative conference.
"Will the rabbi be willing to consider following the Center's statement that they will not invite the prime minister - to be a partner in a conference of yeshivot heads and rabbis who in a state and tolerant manner consider it appropriate to invite him and the opposition leader, focusing on the message that 'free love' "Together it 'stands above political controversy," the statement said.
It should be noted that contacts on the subject are still ongoing, and the initiators, rabbis, have not yet summarized all the final details.
"Our goal is to formulate a significant event on Jerusalem Day in which we will celebrate the unification of Jerusalem in a united manner. The members of the Merkaz Harav yeshiva are also welcome," said sources involved.
"The rabbis who are initiating the event want President Yitzhak Herzog and Prime Minister Naftali Bennett to be the guests of honor."
At the same time, well-known rabbis and public figures in religious Zionism, most of whom identify with the liberal side of the political-religious map, published an official announcement condemning the decision of the Merkaz Harav yeshiva, following a protest provoked by Rabbi Nir Yaakov Mess, Rosh Yeshivat Lev Tel Aviv .
"We were saddened to hear about the decision to boycott the Israeli prime minister from the Thanksgiving event for Jerusalem Day at the Merkaz Yeshiva," public figures wrote.
"We call on those involved in the craft to act and correct the distortion and serious malfunction that have come their way and to invite the Prime Minister of Israel, as you have done in recent years, and other figures in government positions (Speaker of the Knesset, Opposition Speaker) and celebrate the unification of Jerusalem Forever and ever".
At the end of the letter, they signed, "The way of boycotts and excommunications is not our way."
The letter is signed by, among others, Rabbi David Satyu, Rabbi Bnei Klemenson, Rabbi Yoel Ben Nun, Rabbi Yochanan Fried (Chairman of the Rabbi Kook House), Rabbi Nir Yaakov Mess, Rabbi Ohad Taharlev, Rabbi Meir Nehorai, Rabbi David Bigman, Rabbi Yehuda Gilad , Halacha's wife Malka Piotrkowski and other rabbis, as well as public figures Hayuta Deutsch, Avri Gilad and Moti Karpel.
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