Degel HaTorah chairman Moshe Gafni, who will end his tenure as a Knesset member after nearly four decades, published a farewell letter today to the movement’s representatives across the country, summarizing decades of public service and thanking the Gedolei Yisrael and the public for their trust throughout the years.

“Approximately 38 years ago, I was called by Maran Rosh Yeshiva Rav Elazar Menachem Shach, zt”l, to serve as a representative in the Knesset on behalf of the Degel HaTorah movement,” Gafni opened his letter. “I was zocheh, Baruch Hashem, to work alongside and under the guidance of the Gedolei Yisrael, זצוקללה”ה and יבדלחט”א, shlita. At all times, I acted under their guidance and with their full approval on every matter and issue.”

Gafni notes his parliamentary work over the years and his activities on behalf of the Chareidi public and the broader public, “through speeches, legislation, motions for the agenda, parliamentary questions, discussions in the plenum and committees, to act on behalf of the klal and the individual and to fight the battle of Torah and the Chareidi public each and every day.”

He then recounted words HaRav Shach told him at the beginning of his Knesset career, emphasizing the importance of helping individuals rather than focusing only on budgetary achievements: “‘I don’t understand those things,’ HaRav Shach told me, ‘but I understand when an almanah with two children comes to you, and they are about to evict them from the only apartment they have, and you make sure they can remain in their home — that I understand.”

Gafni notes that this message accompanied him throughout his years of public service and that he instructed his aides to respond to each and every inquiry from the public.

He added that the central focus of his public shlichus was preserving the Chareidi educational system: “The heart of my mission was safeguarding the ‘flask of pure oil’ — Chareidi chinuch in all its branches: protecting its independence and hashkafah, and developing its systems.”

Gafni also addressed the public and legal struggles of recent years, emphasizing that the Chareidi public is living through an unprecedented period: “The High Court and the legal advisory system have declared war on the Chareidi public and its way of life. We fought with all our strength against the decrees striking us in every area, and against the harm to the standing of bnei yeshivos,” he stated, emphasizing that the struggle was carried out at the shlichus of and under the instructions of the Gedolei Yisrael.

“I thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu for giving me strength, and for the great privilege of decades of public service in the Knesset on behalf of the klal and the individual.”

Gafni makes clear, however, that the farewell is from the Knesset — not from Degel HaTorah, as he will continue serving as chairman of the movement. Directly addressing Degel HaTorah representatives in local authorities and throughout Israel, he said, “Even going forward, as I continue to serve as chairman of the movement, the responsibility rests upon me together with you, and we will continue to work together.”

Gafni describes the local representatives as “the standard-bearers and spearhead of the entire Chareidi public in the field of public service,” and asks them to continue their mission “with integrity and faithfulness to authentic halacha and Daas Torah.”

Gafni concludes his letter with a birchas Shana Tova: “A year in which we’re zocheh to yeshuas Hashem, to elevate the honor of Torah and those who study it, and merit to see the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)