Agudah Moetzes Meets Over Draft Law as Coalition Teeters; Pindrus Rejects Report of Degel Moetzes Meeting

The Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel held a meeting in Yerushalayim Wednesday night over the government’s draft bill, with the fate of the coalition in the balance. Rabbi Yitzchak Pindrus of Degel Hatorah tells Belaaz that Channel 12 reports of a simultaneous meeting among the Moetzes of Degel are not true.

As of late Wednesday night, the meeting concluded without the immediate publication of a final decision, following heavy pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and coordination between the Chassidic and Litvish leadership to avoid a precipitous collapse of the government.

In the halls of Beis Malka on Rechov Brandeis, the revered Chasidish Rebbes of the Moetzes of Agudas Yisroel arrived one by one after 9:00 PM.

The gathering was led by the Gerrer Rebbe, the Belzer Rebbe, the Vizhnitzer Rebbe, the Sanzer Rebbe, the Seret-Vizhnitzer Rebbe, and the Modzitzer Rebbe, shlita. There appears to be discrepancies in Israeli media reports as to whether the Boyaner Rebbe, shlita, attended.

Conspicuously absent was the Slonimer Rebbe, shlita, who sent a powerful letter read before the assembled sages. The Rebbe declared: “We oppose any law that imposes penalties and sanctions on lomdei Torah. We will not leave the heichalei hayeshivos under any circumstances.”

The Sadigura Rebbe did not attend as he is currently in the United States.

At the behest of the Belzer Rebbe, Harav Pinchas Friedman arrived to articulate the Rebbe’s position.

Notably, the Agudah MKs; Housing Minister and chairman  Rabbi Yitzchak Goldknopf, Yerushalayim Affairs Minister Rabbi Meir Porush, and MK Rabbi Yisrael Eichler, were present, alongside Bnei Brak Mayor Chanoch Zeibert.

However, in a departure from norm, the MKs were not invited back into the room following the deliberations to receive instructions, signaling the sensitivity of the moment.

As the Agudah Moetzes prepared to meet, messages were passed from Degel HaTorah to Agudat Yisrael in an effort to stop any immediate decision opposing the conscription law, Bechadrei Charedim reported.

On Tuesday, a discussion took place between Rabbi Aharon Hirsch, son of Degel HaTorah leader Hagaon Harav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, and Yaakov Walzer, gabbai of the Agudath Moetzes.

After that exchange, Walzer reportedly met with the Gerrer Rebbe and relayed Degel HaTorah’s position. The Rebbe did not reject the argument and went further, proposing that the council session scheduled for today be called off and that, instead, a joint meeting of both Moetzos should be convened in the coming days to reach a unified stance on the legislation.

That initiative, however, stalled. Harav Hirsch’s son declined to commit to the idea of a joint council and reiterated the original request — that no decision be taken at this time against the law.

Ultimately, the council meeting was not canceled. It remains uncertain whether a definitive ruling against the conscription law will emerge, or whether the pressure from Degel HaTorah will succeed in delaying such a move, as heightened attention continues around the outcome.

The drama behind the scenes was as intense as the deliberations within. Earlier in the evening,  Netanyahu conveyed an urgent message to Agudah, pleading with the Rebbes to withhold a final decision tonight. The Prime Minister argued that the wording of the draft law is “expected to change” and that a premature rejection could tank the coalition.

“Going to elections would be a mistake,” Netanyahu reportedly told UTJ MKs earlier in the day. “The conscription law needs to be explained to the public… We will be required to complete this legislation as soon as possible.”

Kan News reported that the Charedi parties have threatened to support the dissolution of the Knesset if the pace of the draft law legislation is not accelerated. With six months having passed since the last failed attempt to dissolve the Knesset, the motion can now be brought to a vote again.

However, for now, the decision remains in abeyance. The Agudah Moetzes left after an hour and a half without a public declaration.