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| Rav Yaakov Edelstein (left) with Rav Chaim Kanievsky (Mishpacha) |
I have had little patience for the way some of the right wing Charedi rabbinic leadership in Israel actually leads. Not because I don’t respect them as major Talmidei
Chachamim with few peers. I actually do respect them for that. But because their views on many issues are the
opposite of mine and because of their sledgehammer approach to getting their way. I
have felt that many of the positions they have taken are harmful to the very thing
they are dedicated to – the preservation and perpetuation of a Torah society. I
am not going to go into details of those views here. I’ve done so more times
than I can count!
I have also felt that in recent times the way they have handled things has done
more to divide us than unite us. While I
realize that was not their goal, that
seems to be the result. That is even true among some the moderate Charedi
leadership in some instances. (Although I am absolutely convinced that they all
firmly believe they are acting in the best interests of the Jewish people.)
This has caused much of the non Charedi world in Israel to see Charedi Jews in a mostly negative light. They see Charedi leaders concerned only
for their own community’s welfare with a seemingly callous disregard for anyone
else.
It was therefore hard for me to imagine someone like Rav Yaakov
Edelstein existed in our day. He has proved this characterization wrong. His life was dedicated to
both the Charedi Hashkafa and an unmitigated love of all of Klal Yisroel.
There is no question about his Charedi credentials nor his
values with respect to the Klal. I had no idea this man even existed let alone
to what he dedicated his life. Which was recently described by Mishpacha Magazine in a memorial tribute to him upon his passing. He embraced every Jew
regardless of their level of observance.
He was not just all talk. He was all action. He lived his
life dedicated to that premise. Ahavas Yisroel was his raison d’etre. He lived
for his fellow Jew. And they knew it.
Rav Edelstein was the Rav of Ramat HaSharon, a mostly
secular and upscale suburb of Tel Aviv. He served them in that capacity for 67
years. 67 YEARS! If one looks at his appearance it would seem highly unlikely that
a town like this would ever hire him as their rabbi – let alone give him an
almost 7 decade tenure. But that is the case. This is a man that consulted with
the Chazon Ish and followed all of his directives. He was a founding student at
Ponevezh. His brother, Rav Gershon Edelstein is one of the most respected Charedi
leaders in Israel. Thousands of students flock regularly to this Rosh Yeshivah of
Ponovezh.
And yet this is a description of how Rav Yaakov Edelstein’s town
responded to their loss of this great man:
While the Torah world has keenly felt the loss of Rav Yaakov Edelstein — who passed away three weeks ago on 25 Shevat — none are more broken than the residents of the upscale Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Hasharon…
Deputy mayor of Ramat HaSharon, Yaakov Koretzky, one of Rav Yaakov Edelstein’s many
Baalei Teshuvah, described him as follows:
Rav Edelstein was like our eved (slave). He was bound heart and soul to the community, to the residents, the students, everyone. He worked for us. He davened for us. He thought about us and worried for us. He was our spiritual father and we’re now just beginning to understand what we lost. I used to meet Pinchas the shoemaker, who’s been here as long as the Rav, and he would tell me, ‘Koretzky, we have to get the Rav new shoes. Look, his shoes are falling apart.’ People didn’t realize how the Rav would walk all over town in service of the community.
That he had reached so many secular Jews is a testament to
not only Rav Edelstien which assures his legacy... it is a testament to what
Israel could really look like if there were more like him.
I’m sure, for example that he followed the Charedi Hashkafa
that is opposed to army service for young Chardim. I am also sure he supported
government funding for Yeshivos and Kollelim. I’m sure that he supports full
time Torah study for all Charedim for as long as possible without the ‘burden’
of additional secular studies. Mostly positions with which I disagree. These are
the kinds of issues that have divided – and continue to divide the country. And
I doubt that his Charedi views were not known by the secular Jews that he
served. And yet he was a beloved figure despite such hard core Charedi views.
Imagine what Israel would look like if there were more
people like him! Imagine if the Charedi leadership would embrace the secular
Jew the way he did. Imagine if the Charedi world would look at Rav Edelstein as
their role model instead of someone like Rav Shmuel Auerbach.
I’m not saying there wouldn’t be differences of opinion
between Charedim and the rest of Israeli people. There surely would be. Those important
issues will not go away even under the most ideal of relationships. But if the
Charedi world would learn from the pleasant ways of Rav Edelstein, those differences
might be respected instead of disparaged - right along with the people that
have them.
If only they would see the world through Rav Edelstein’s
eyes - oh what a different world it would be.
