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| Photo credit: Israel Sun via Jewish Action |
What I will say is that it isn’t just that he disagrees. It
is the condescending way in which he does it. It is beyond his understanding
that a Rabbi Dov Lipman who self identifies as Charedi can say the things he did. Things which contradict the Charedi
narrative.
Rabbi Lipschutz does a nice job explaining what he believes Charedism
is about. It is about
“basking in the glow of Abaye and Rava, Rashi and Tosafos, the Rambam, the Ramban and the Rashba, the Ketzos and the Nesivos, Rav Chaim and Rav Aharon, as well as the giants of our day.”
OK. I understand that. Limud HaTorah in his world is exactly
that: the joy of studying the minutia of the Talmud
and all of its commentaries. It is about trying to understand its subtleties and
absorbing its entire corpus and discussion of biblical and rabbinic law - which is the source of Jewish law as we practice it
today. To use a phrase the Yeshiva
world uses - it is about the Geshmak of learning Torah.
In the course of extolling the virtues of the Charedi way of life that he cherishes - he attacks those who veer even slightly form that narrative. Only this time it
is not the secular or DL crowd. It is Rabbi Dov Lipman who has himself imbibed in the "Geshmak of Torah". He has ‘basked in the glow’ of all those great historic religious figures. As a self defined Charedi he has never really left it.
I’m sure he still agrees that if one is capable, has the love and commitment to it, he should do exactly that… continue
basking in it. Those who have this kind of dedication and discipline are the
rabbinic leaders of the future. No matter what Hashkafa one has, there is no
question that Torah knowledge is paramount to rabbinic leadership.
Unfortunately Rabbi Lipschutz does not understand that. He
sees Rabbi Lipman as some sort of sellout. Why? Well for one thing because he dares to praise as
heroes those who are Kovieh Itim and learn Torah whenever they can – but spend
most of their time supporting their families.
Rabbi Lipschutz obviously sees them as second class citizens. They no
longer bask in the glow of a R’ Akiva Eiger for example. They must suffice with learning Daf Yomi on a train on their way to work. It’s not that Rabbi Lipschutz criticizes them.
Its that he criticizes Rabbi Lipman for praising them as the true heroes.
They are true heroes. They are Moser Nefesh for Limud HaTorah
and do so even though they spend a full day working to support their
families. Either by waking up early and learning in a Shiur or with a Chavrusa
before Shachris… or learning late at night.... or on their way to work on a train. Are these people any less valuable
than an Avreich who spends the entire day learning - leaving support for his
family to others (e.g. his wife, parents, in-laws, or the Israeli taxpayer)?
He is critical of the philosophy that values equity in army
service, claiming that for the first time the status quo agreement reached with
Israel’s first prime minister David Ben Gurion
exempting Yeshiva students will be broken. He is critical of Rabbi Lipman for joining in the political party that advocates that. And he is even critical of Orthodox Jews who have welcomed him
into their synagogues to hear his views.
None are as blind as those who will not see. Rabbi Lipshitz
is guilty of willful blindness. The kind that refuses to see or understand that
no one in Israel wants to destroy the Charedi way of life (except for some on the fringes of the left). Least of all Rabbi Lipman. He actually wants to save it by creating a
way for Charedim to be more self sufficient and do their fair share.
Army service is about sharing the burden. It
is also about mainstreaming Charedim into the workplace so that they can earn a livable wage and support their families. It is not about desroying a way of
life… unless we are talking a way of life that is rapidly descending into a
poverty in ways that they will not be able to overcome.
Rabbi Lipman is not opposed to those who have the potential for rabbinic leadership getting an exemption or being supported. It is in fact part of his party’s platform to exempt the truly talented Lomdei Torah and give them even more support than they receive now. He is just opposed to a system that insists that everyone ought to do it to the exclusion of all else – no matter what their strengths and weaknesses are or where their true talents lie.
Rabbi Lipman is not opposed to those who have the potential for rabbinic leadership getting an exemption or being supported. It is in fact part of his party’s platform to exempt the truly talented Lomdei Torah and give them even more support than they receive now. He is just opposed to a system that insists that everyone ought to do it to the exclusion of all else – no matter what their strengths and weaknesses are or where their true talents lie.
What about the accusation that the army ruins people? (…meaning taking Frum Jews and making them
un-Frum because of the secular environment). That has already been answered by
the creation of Nachal Charedi.
But I think it is a canard in any case. The only way the
army will ruin you is if you already are ruined - or close to it. Truly committed Jews will not
only - not - be ruined... they will come out stronger than they were before
knowing that they have done their duty and remained Frum.
I think that is true
even for a woman. And I mean actual army service – not Sherut Leumi – the Chesed
arm of mandatory army service for religious women. That may sound absurd in the face of the way female soliders
are looked upon by religious Jews. I can understand why they think so. And do not want to be seen as advocating religious
women signing up for regular army duty.
But it is not impossible to be a Charedi woman and serve –
remaining not only Frum – but even Charedi while in service and thereafter. If you don’t believe
me, just read the story in Jewish Action about one such woman. Not only did she
succeed, but she exploded the myth that the army won’t accommodate Charedi
women. They did. She even influenced her colleague female soldiers to become more observant. And eventually completed
her army service honorably.
I don’t know how Rabbi Lipschutz sees this woman. No doubt
he would say “Nebech” about her choices and claim Yehoreg V’al Ya’avor for any
religious woman to try this. They would become ruined.
Although I do not advocate woman doing regular army service - the Yehoreg V’Al Ya’avor paradigm is no longer valid in my
view. Not in this new era of respect for observance by secular parties and with
a record number of observant Jews serving in the K’nesset.
I think Rabbi Lipschutz would be wise to take a step back
and re-evaluate his view of what is happening n Israel. There is no attempt
to undermine Judaism at all. Instead of staying blind to this truth he would do
well to open his eyes, see the truth, and then try and convince others in his
camp to realize tha. And thereby not only save his world but add to it by
making it more self sufficient and more supportive of the real Lomdei Torah - those whose
natural desire and diligence for Limud HaTorah will make them future leaders in
Klal Yisroel.
