Orthodox Rabbis Urge Nrp Ministers to Set Preconditions for Joining Gov’t

The Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada (Agudath Harabonim) today called on Mizrachi ministers in Israel not to enter the new government unless the Sabbath law is corrected and expanded and the Law of Return is amended. In a telegram to the National Religious Party leaders and Knesset members. Yosef Burg and Zerah War-haftig. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein and Rabbi Simcha Elberg, president and chairman of the administrative committee, respectively, of the UOR, stated:

“The recent elections placed you in a very powerful position. The Maarach (Labor Alignment) depends on you in order to set up a coalition government. Now is the time that you should present firm demands in the area of religion. You must ultimately demand as a precondition that the Sabbath law be corrected and expanded and that the Law of Return be amended so that it will read that only those who converted in accordance with halacha will be recognized as a Jew. If these demands will not be met, you are prohibited to enter the government.”