Betzalel Smotrich Always the Gentleman Refuses to Engage in Battle With Rav Landau

The entire Yeshivishe World is an uproar when Betzalel Smotrich dared say what every single frum thinking reasonable person thinks and is afraid of saying out loud, asserting "that Chareidim show ingratitude to Hashem" and questioning of "how anyone could remain Chareidi in Eretz Yisroel"

Anyone who was ever been stuck in traffic for hours and witnessed the sheer violence perpetrated by Bnei-Torah on other Jews, anyone who walked the streets in Yerushlayim seeing Bnei-Torah calling other Jews in uniform "Nazi" and witnessing with their own eyes, Bnei-Torah calling a Bas-Yisrael, someone's wife, someone's daughter or sister ... "Shiksah" , anyone that sees the utter destruction that Bnei-Torah did to the Light Rail, resulting in damage of close to a billion shekel, is questioning "how anyone could remain Chareidi in Eretz Yisroel"

Rav Landau who is quick to dish out whatever is on his mind, like calling Jewish Children in Uniform "rashaim & murderers" during the 9 days, no less, and stating with a straight face that October 7 was a war because the IDF wants to grab more land and is fighting in Gaza for "their own glory" and that October 7 was NOT a Milchemes Mitzva, yet elections are, cannot take it when someone else with a different hashkafa questions his Charedie narrative.

Rav Dov Landau responded to Betzalel Smotrich’s sane and reasonable comment on Chareidim, describing Smotrich’s words as a" Chillul Hashem" and warning that "defending Torah and those who learn it has become more critical than ever."

HaRav Landau Shlit”a made the remarks during a visit from Rabbonim from Rechasim, who came to his home and the home of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch Shlit”a to seek guidance and brachos ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections, in a State that those Rabbanim don't recognize and who consider the Knesset "a gathering of meenim & apikorsim"

While saying there was no need to engage Smotrich directly, Rav Landau stressed that the attack on Torah required a forceful response.

I am not sure what a "forceful response is" but the Yated, the mouthpiece of Degel and Rav Lamdau' hinted Rav Landau was referring to physical violence. כדרכם בקודש .... and no one is surprised!

Invoking the Chazon Ish’s directive to participate in Israeli elections, he said the obligation to vote had been “doubled and redoubled” amid the current threats to Torah and the treatment of lomdei Torah “as plunder, Hashem yishmereinu.”

He called on the public to vote for United Torah Judaism, declaring, “We have nothing remaining except this Torah!”

He emphasized that everyone must vote, even if doing so involved inconvenience or personal sacrifice, and said voters should cast their ballots in their own places of residence rather than seek exemptions because of distance or logistical challenges.

Smotrich made the controversial comments earlier this week at two events. Asked why he had not responded publicly to HaRav Landau’s criticism, he said he was hesitant to argue openly with a talmid chacham.

He cautioned that his silence should not be mistaken for agreement, invoking the traditional warning to beware of the “burning coals” of Torah scholars. 

Smotrich added that he davened for HaRav Landau to do teshuvah, while maintaining that a public response was unnecessary.

He subsequently described Chareidim as ungrateful and “completely blind,” questioning how anyone could remain Chareidi today.