Many in the haredi community have taken notice of the fact that positive changes are happening thanks to Yesh Atid’s efforts. During this election campaign we have spent a lot of time walking through shopping malls all over Israel to engage, face to face, with voters. At almost every stop I am approached by haredim who compliment me for the work we have done – to open more options for service, to help them get to work, or to provide their children with basic general studies.
One haredi rabbi visited me in my home and thanked me saying, “You are saving us from ourselves.” (I asked him why he can’t say so in public and he responded that he can’t because it will ruin his daughters for shidduchim and his sons will be tormented in Talmud Torah or expelled.)
So, yes – Yesh Atid will use the progress we have made in the haredi community as part of our election campaign and we hope to return to the Knesset with full force to continue this progress. At least one haredi party has talked about getting back into power and “turning the clock back” on all the progress we have made in these past two years. That would be catastrophic for the haredi community and makes these elections even more important and meaningful.
With G-d’s help, I won’t stop my efforts until Israel is filled with haredi doctors, lawyers, accountants, hi-tech entrepreneurs and, yes, haredi generals in the army. The haredi community will be far better off when that happens, and all of Israel will be better off – economically and, even more importantly spiritually – when that happens.
As our campaign slogan says: Yesh Atid – It’s a fight for our country!