A halakhic ruling was published Monday by leading decisors of Jewish law from major and influential Hasidic courts, reinforcing a firm prohibition against enlistment in the IDF.
The rabbis state unequivocally: “According to Torah law, it is strictly forbidden to enlist in the army, which serves as a melting pot for the gravest transgressions and for casting off the yoke [of Torah and mitzvot].”The ruling comes in response to questions posed by members of the Haredi public whose primary occupation is not Torah study, and addresses also military frameworks designated for the Haredi sector.
If it weren’t for the serious repercussions of such a ‘Psak Halacha’ (religious ruling), it would be laughable. The idea of forbidding
someone from protecting their country - and all the people living in it - would
be laughable if it weren’t so egregiously immoral.
Even if we were to grant their assertion that the IDF serves
as a ‘melting pot for the gravest transgressions and for casting off the yoke
of Torah and mitzvot’, that argument pales in comparison to the nation’s need
for survival.
Furthermore, that assertion is clearly no longer true - if
it ever was. And yet this ‘Psak Halacha’ (see below) forbids even service in the
Haredi enlistment tracks, which they claim have been proven to be deceitful.
But that is simply not true. While there may have
been isolated incidents of misrepresentation, it is certainly not a widespread
or defining feature of these frameworks.
And even where it did happen, it was often due to error or
misunderstanding - not malicious intent. In cases where there may have been individual
attempts to purposely undermine the nature and purpose of these units, I
seriously doubt it was sanctioned by the military brass.
I have to question the motivation of these Rebbes - and how
much that motivation colors their perception of what the IDF is really about
today. Especially in its religious tracks. What I believe is behind all this is
their fear of losing control over their Chasidim - perhaps even fear of losing
their Chasidic dynasties altogether.
The worldview of Chasidus starts and ends with the Rebbe. His leadership trumps all else. The historic charisma associated a Chasidic Rebbe gives him unparalleled control over virtually every aspect of a Chasid’s life. Control which each Chasid willingly submits to, trusting fully in their Rebbe, whose level of Kedusha (holiness) is assumed to be inherited from father to son (or son-in-law, in some cases), generation after generation.
They are believed to possess a level of Kedusha exceeded
only by God Himself. No one else - no matter how pious or learned - is granted
such reverence. And when the authority of a Rebbe is challenged, they will pull
out all the stops to squash that challenge completely. One need only look at
what’s happening in Ger between the Gerrer Rebbe and his cousin, R’ Shaul
Alter, to see this dynamic in action.
Even if I were to grant them the right to preserve their particular Chasidic stringencies - which they fear would be compromised by IDF service - such stringencies do not qualify as Halacha. Violating these customs should not be labeled as a sinful transgression. And there is no evidence that a Chasid would even be denied his particular customs in one of the IDF’s religious tracks. If that has happened in the past, it is very likely that these issues can be - and often have been - worked out to everyone’s satisfaction.
What makes this ‘Psak Halacha’ even more laughable is
that Religious Zionist Poskim say the exact opposite. That
serving in the IDF, especially at a time of war, is mandatory for all.
Of course, each side is allowed to have its differences of
opinion. But when one devoutly religious faction declares IDF service to be an
egregious violation of the Torah, while another devoutly religious faction
considers avoiding it to be an egregious violation of the Torah - it cannot
be that both are right. Each side essentially believes the other is advocating
serious violations of Halacha.
And this doesn’t even touch on the complete obliviousness these Rebbes seem to have for the sacrifices being made by the rest of Israel over these past nearly two years of war. It’s as if they don’t care. If they do, they certainly didn’t express it in this ‘Psak Halacha’.
I am so fed up with this attitude. I find it to be extremely
self-centered. Callous, even - toward the rest of the people of Israel who
are enduring this long national trauma. A trauma that is apparently not being
felt by these Rebbes or the devout Chasidim who abide by this ruling.
Normally, I might say Elu v’Elu – Divrei Elokim Chaim:
that when devout religious Poskim disagree, it is due to their piety and
sincere understanding of what Halacha demands. But in this instance - when
other Jews, many of whom are themselves devoutly religious, are putting their
lives on the line for their people, while these Rebbes insist that their
followers may not do so as a matter of Torah law I just cannot see it
that way.
I would like to be Dan L’Kaf Zechus, to judge their motives favorably. But in this case, I find it impossible to do so.
