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| Taking a stand against the Zionist 'Nazis' (YWN) |
As the war and the issue of Charedi service in Tzahal both drag on, I’ve grown increasingly frustrated. It is harder each day to maintain silence about the main — and ancillary — issues. I’ve become more and more vocal, while trying so hard to maintain proper kevod talmidei chachamim while doing so. It is not easy.
I’m sure that considering his impassioned views, saying ‘It’s
not easy’ is an understatement.
In some ways, I have similar issues. I fully admit that I am
nowhere near these leaders in Torah knowledge or in the ability to give advice
based on that. But at the same time, I have other leaders whom I respect just
as much, who vehemently disagree with these Charedi leaders. Both on this issue
and on others.
And I could not disagree with the Charedi leadership more on
the issue of drafting Charedim into the IDF.
As I have said many times, their views are often expressed
in hyperbolic exaggerations, if not outright falsehoods (which they might actually believe) about what the
government is trying to do.
There might be some truth to what they say in isolated
cases, where certain anti-religious politicians or members of the IDF brass are
guilty of what they’re accused of. But the reality is that the majority are
only interested in ensuring there are enough citizen-soldiers to fight in this
existential war. They also want to relieve the burden of those who have already
gone far beyond the call of duty by serving extra-long tours of duty.
I have to wonder whether these leaders are as clueless as
they seem about this. Based on their rhetoric, they appear to be. But their
rhetoric is so outlandish, so egregiously wrong, and so clearly designed to
incite anger in their followers, that I
have to believe their “cluelessness” is intentional.
Their constant harangue against the government, using
hyperbole usually associated with Palestinian protestors or Neturei Karta,
has fueled grassroots protests by Charedi youth determined to dodge the draft
at all costs. These leaders have even called the draft a ‘war against the Torah’
more often than I can count.
As noted by YWN:
Thousands of Bnei Torah converged Thursday night outside the Beit Lid military prison, protesting the continued imprisonment of yeshiva bochurim who refused to bow to the government’s renewed draft decrees.
The demonstration, called for and attended by HaRav Dov Landau shlit”a, came at the climax of a week of demonstrations against the army’s escalating campaign to drag bochurim away from the daled amos shel halacha and into the barracks. Rav Landau had personally visited two of the imprisoned bochurim last week, telling them, “The entire olam haTorah stands behind you. Be strong, and hold firm.”
Groups from Peleg Yerushalmi, Slonim Chassidim, and other kehillos broke through police barricades before being pushed back by riot units. Some burned and tore up draft orders, while others sang and danced while shouting cries of “Gevalt!” and “We won’t give up even one bochur!”
Banners and shouts from the crowd made clear the protest’s purpose: “No quotas, no sanctions!” and “Free the hostages!” — a reference not to captives in Gaza, but to the imprisoned bochurim.
I only hope that this ‘war’ against Charedim does not cause any of these young people to lose life or limb, suffer PTSD, or lose their family’s source of income. I hope their families don’t spend sleepless nights wondering if they will ever see them alive again.
After all, we are talking — according to some rabbinic
leaders — about a Zionist army that is akin to Nazi Germany. As noted by RabbiNatan Slifkin:
Rabbi Yigal Rosen declares that the Zionists are worse than the Nazis, and claims that they would readily massacre Charedim in gas chambers!
Does that mean that religious Zionists are like religious Nazis?
Hmmm. Maybe the Charedim have a point.
What say you, Rabbi Adlerstein?
