The Future of Daas Torah

R' Yosef Shalom Elyashiv - often misquoted by activists with personal agendas

I am in awe. He nailed it. In one of the best analyses of the subject I have ever seen, Rabbi Yitzchok Adlerstein describes the true meaning of Daas Torah, how it has become corrupted in our day, and what its future is. He does that in the context of an analysis of the recent elections results in Bet Shemesh. Therein he seems to be ringing the death-knell of its corruption as it pertains to Israel. Where that corruption is at its worst!

I hope he’s right. There are indications that he might be. But it remains to be seen just how accurate his prediction of how Daas Torah will be seen by Charedim in Israel going forward.

First let me reiterate what Daas Torah legitimately is and how it has been corrupted. Daas Torah is the wisdom of the Torah on any given subject. That is what we should all be guided by. The problem is, who defines what that is? And when should it be given?

The way it is commonly used today is not in my view the correct one. Which is that Daas Torah is the exclusive view of certain rabbinic leaders on matters of public policy. It is what they believe to be God’s will based on their tremendous degree of Torah knowledge. To the exclusion of any other rabbinic leaders.

This idea is most often heard at Agudah conventions in America and refers to the views expressed by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, the rabbinic leaders of the Agudah.  Daas Torah is virtually Agudah’s motto. The idea being that whatever one thinks about any given issue facing Jews and Judaism, it is only the combined wisdom of the members of the Moetzes that matters. Whatever they say is virtually iron clad and negates whatever anyone else thinks. (Often referred to as being Mevatel Daas  - negating one’s own wisdom to that of their rabbinic leaders). Dissent is not acceptable.

But this definition is taken with a huge grain of salt by America Charedim. Rabbi Adlerstein notes that they often observe their Daas Torah says in the breach. They pay lip service to it and often privately say and do what they want even while otherwise living their lives completely by Charedi standards.

But when these same Charedim make Aliyah they are told that Israel has a different standard. A much stricter adherence is expected under a severe communal penalty if they don’t. Non compliance is seen as kind of a rebellion. Most American Charedim that live in Israel are thus bullied into doing things that do not come naturally to them.

In America despite Agudah’s treatment of Daas Torah as virtually infallible, most members of  the Moetzes are realistic.  They do not tell people how to live every aspect of their lives. For example they are not told who to vote for by any rabbinic leaders - even privately. (The Agudah is forbidden by law to endorse any political candidate under penalty of losing their tax exempt status if they do.)  Even if they favor any given candidate as being more beneficial for Orthodoxy, they do not impose their views on their public.

Charedim in America vote for whomever they choose. No sanctions for that here. In contrast, the lives of Charedim in Israel could be ruined by communal sanctions. They might be ostracized from the Charedi world or threatened about their children not getting married.  Imagine what a threat like that means to a parent. A child never getting married because you didn’t vote for a candidate? Too high a price to pay!

It should also be noted (as Rabbi Adlerstein points out) that in some cases Israeli rabbinic leaders are misquoted by Askanim - activists with their own agenda. But in too many cases it hasn’t stopped Charedim from believing they have been quoted accurately – thus resulting in uncalled-for and unfair sanctions.  But the bottom line is that there are serious expectations of Charedi compliance with what they are told is Daas Torah.

The last election seemed to be too much for American sensibilities. The iron-fisted hold that this kind of Daas Torah was supposed to have – had no effect on significant numbers of them. They voted in Israel the way they voted in America, despite being told who to vote for under those penalties. A lot of American Charedim in Israel simply ignored all of it.

Will there actually be those kinds of consequences since so many have proven that they will not be bullied into compliance? I tend to doubt it. Too many of them have bolted.

Rabbi Adlerstein believes that we have turned a corner. That the stranglehold of rabbinic authority as it has been implemented is over. That a the more realistic approach of American Charedim has finally arrived as a legitimate Charedi Approach. To put it the way Rabbi Adlerstein courageously does: 

(T)he Beit Shemesh election holds out hope for a future in which they can enjoy the intensity and commitment of a charedi lifestyle while freeing themselves of a stranglehold that is choking them.

I’m not sure sure we have arrived at that point. It remains to be seen just how far this ‘rebellion’ goes. Will there be a wider acceptance of sending children to day schools and yeshiva high schools that offer secular subjects? Will there be some Israeli Charedim that buy into that too? Or will there be a break between Israeli Charedim and American Charedim that have made Aliyah?

My guess is that there will be a break. Israeli Charedim are used to following their Daas Torah whether they like it or not. Americans may very well form their own Charedi community.

Or not. Because if past is prologue, most American Charedim that live in Israel have bit the bullet and conformed. Whether they like it or not. And they have gotten used to it. The question is whether enough of these younger and more recent Olim (immigrants to Israel) bolted to form their own community. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.