Shlomo Werdyger: In America we are are united

Rabbi Shlomo Werdyger: Learn from us - we are united




"By us, Agudas Yisrael of America, we are united", says today in a special interview with behadrey haredim Chairman of Board of Trustees of Agudath Israel Of America, Rabbi Shlomo Werdyger, and he would like to see a similar unity in Israel.


Rabbi Shlomo Werdyger came to Israel, to attend Simchat Beit Gur and used his time for the purpose of public action.

he also attended the delegation of Roshei Yeshivas and Admorim who came to President Reuven Rivlin, in order to ask him to intervene in favor of the ultra-Orthodox prisoner jailed in the United States, Mordechai Samet.

"It was redemption of prisoners," he said, "It postpones Shabbos and Yom Tov. Although I could walk and didn’t have to postpone Yom Tov."

"This is an important issue," he added, "an Israeli sitting in jail for 14 years. He did do things he should not have done but 14 years is long enough. He has a family of ten children and it is a great pity. He was sentenced to 27 years so we all try to help".

"I had to walk twenty to twenty-five minutes and the Vizhnitzer Rebbe came from Bnei Brak, Rachmastrivka Rabbe who doesn’t go anywhere, arrived. Hgrb"d Povarsky came from Bnei Brak and I hope our efforts help and Hashem will send him a salvation."

"I was involved in this matter already in the United States", he said, "I met with his lawyers and with him. We've had success, now he is marrying off the last of his children and we were able to get permission to be able to go out one night to attend the wedding."

"I hope that the combination of what we do here and there – will help and the Israeli government will seek to return him to Israel and then I hope to be here in Israel with his family, and that is better than being in America. The President was very positive. We saw he has a warm heart to problems of the people of Israel in Israel and in America and I am very appreciative that he gave us his time. He promised to look into the matter and I hope that he will help".

• Can you talk about your work as a leader of Agudas Yisrael of America?

"Thank God Agudas Yisrael of America is very different from Israel. There we represent - must not say - more unity - but it's true. There is more unity, and all circles of the public are represented by Agudas Yisrael, chassidim, Lithuanians. There are fewer splits and less disagreements than here in Israel".

"We work in Washington and we have branches in 18 US states. We work for the sake of Klal Yisrael and for the yeshivos."

"The most difficult problem today in the US is the ultra-Orthodox public tuition. Because of the separation of religion and state in the United States there is no tuition. We have worked hard to solve it, to get as much government assistance to ease the burden of tuition for parents".

"Agudas Yisrael", he added, "has a mission to develop good relations with the administration and Congress. The US is a country of grace and we want to ensure that we maintain these good relations."

• Is Agudas Yisrael of America also involved in activity in Israel?

"No. Agudas Yisrael of America is active only in America. We have a good relationship with Gedolei Yisrael in Israel, but it's completely separate. We do not get involved. Yes, we are involved in shemitta funds and things like that. We are involved - but not in politics." Although, "he added, "There is help and support of activities in Israel, such as during the election we intervene in our way but did not intervene beyond that."

• What is the position of the Agudas Yisrael of America prior to the US presidential election?

"We are not political, not a political organization. We cannot support either side. We are certainly concerned and therefore try to meet with the candidates to understand their positions on Israel, on education and issues of interest to us. Currently it is too early to know the extent but nearer the time we will have a better opinion."

• Are you concerned about the conflict between Israel and the American administration?

"We are definitely concerned, but in Congress and the Senate, Israel is number one. Even the president in recent weeks has tried hard to improve relations. I was invited by Ambassador Ron Drummer in honor of Independence Day. I came to Washington and the vice president came and talked about his support for Israel. I think," he concluded referring to the tension between the Israeli administration, "it came out of proportion, but it seems to be okay."

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!