There has been a lot of heat generated over at Areivim on the subject of animosity between two Orthodox segments of Israeli society. There seems to be an ever growing war between Charedim and Datim. In some ways it is worse than the animosity between Charedim and Chilonim. Charedim and Daatim have never had any love lost for each other, but I think the level of animosity is at an all time high. This is happening at a time where all Torah observers need each other more than ever.
The animosity transcends anything we have in the west between the Right Wing and the Left Wing of Torah Judaism. In Israel it is almost existential... each side thinking that the other is destroying the country. As such we have Charedim actually defending the hooligans who beat up a poor Daati grandmother. And we have Daatim who would do anything to undermine Charedi inroads into their culture.
In analyzing the dynamics of the situation we need to separate a constituency of Datim known as Chardalim, a term derived from the combination of the words Charedi and Dati. They stem from Daati ranks but are very right wing religiously. I think it is fair to say that Chardalim are more Charedi than they are Dati. For example, if one looks at the typical Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva student with his often long Peyos, long beard, Tztitzis out, and a very large Kippah Serugah, one would be hard pressed to call them Datim. Their level of Mitzvah observance and dedication to Limud HaTorah rivals that of Charedim. It is not they who are at “war” with Charedim. It is what I would call the typical Daati who is not Charedi in any meaningful way.
My percption is that they are prone to more Chiloni behavior than they are Charedi. And on the Left most fringe of the Dati world they will often sport a postage stamp size kippah and live an almost secular lifestyle. Of course there are as well many more serious Datim who are neither Left Wing or Charedi. And that’s where the war is… between the non-Chardal Daatim and Charedim.
This animosity is manifested by both sides. For example when my son was in charge of designing the Eruv HaMehudar in Ramat Bet Shemesh, the most flak he got was from the Dati community. They resented this Charedization and kept pointing to the Rabbanut Eruv saying that was good enough for them. But as most of the Torah world knows the Rabbanut Eruvin rely on all manner of Kulos, many of which are not relied upon by the Charedi world. The Charedim do not use these Eruvin. They wanted one that was more Mehudar. During the construction of that Eruv one Dati fellow actually forbade using any part of his property in service of the Eruv HaMehudar (which would have not caused him any real inconvenience). This caused additional and unnecessary expenses to be incurred by the community.
On the other hand, the Dati community is barely tolerated by the Charedim there. There was a tremendous protest by a Charedi Shul in a Ramat Bet Shemesh neighborhood because of a Modern Orthodox type seminary that was going to be established nearby. They did not want "that type of girl" whose level of Tznius might not match their own, in their neighborhood. And let’s not forget a Charedi attack on a "mixed" Frum concert there last Lag B'Omer. Or the "stoning" of cars driving by displaying the Israeli flag last Yom Ha’Atzmaut in ultra Charedi Ramat Bet Shemesh 2.
These examples are symptomatic of a deeper problem which I think is at the root of this animosity. The ideological differences which separate Datim from Charedim in Israel are much deeper and existential then the ideological differences which separate the Right form the Left in the West. I speak of the concept of religious Zionism and of its practical application as it applies to army service.
This is a very sore subject on both sides. While this separates Charedim from Chilonim as well, I think the Dati takes it even more personally than the Chiloni. He feels that he is just as Shomer Shabbos as the Charedim but his religious beliefs also entail putting their lives on the line. It is well documented, in fact that the Dati soldiers (Hesder Bachurim) get killed at a much higher rate than Chiloni soldiers. (At least that used to be the case.) They see their co-religionist Charedim not sacrificing a single soul that way. Charedim get a pass. Same Torah. Same requirement to perform Mitzvos, but one side has their blood spilled while the other side does not.
One can certainly understand why a Dati feels animosity towards Charedim. In fact one can even understand why a Daati mother can empathize more with a Chiloni mother in this respect. They are both putting their sons in harms way.
I am not making any moral judgments here. I am not disputing the Chraredi claim that their spiritual army in the form of Limud HaTorah is as important as the physical army that spills its blood. But one should certainly understand the underpinnings of the animosity from the Datim to the Charedim.
On the Charedi side, it isn’t only about keeping those who learn out of the army. It is a fear of the impact army service has on observance of even a non-learning Charedi. And this argument has merit, I’m told. Apparently the army does its level best to discourage their soldiers from religious observance.
Of course there is another issue that impacts on this “War between the Frum” directly resulting from the army service issue: The problem of non-working, non learning Charedim who are forbidden by law to work before they do army service. And of course they won’t join the army… and therefore stay in Yeshivos well past their prime. Or just hang out. Nachal Charedi may eventually change this but as of right now it is a drop in the bucket.
And there is another difference: The idea of whether the State should impose Halachic observance on the masses… against their will.
Charedim look at Mitzvah observance as something that every Jew must do and therefore they try and legislate it. And they use all means at their disposal in order to achieve it. Witness the recent boycott of El Al.
Datim as a rule do not view it that way. They do not generally want to impose Mitzvah observance through legislation. They believe that force never works. It only creates more animosity. They would rather work on Chiloni Mitzvah observance outside of State imposed legislation and convince them by persuasion. In my view they are right about that.
All of this is a prescription for the animosity that exists there. And as I said there is some overlap between what separates the Right from the Left here and what separates Chilonim and Daatim there. But the big divide is army service. It is an explosive one. And until that gets fixed, things are only going to get worse.
