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| R' Yitzchok Ziberstein and R' Yitchak Yosef (VIN) |
In recent days, three leading Charedi rabbis have clarified their positions regarding enlistment in the IDF. All three qualified earlier statements that implied opposition to service even for those who are not learning in yeshiva and are instead working full-time.
Senior Sephardi rabbinic leader Rav Moshe Maya, former Chief
Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, and Rabbi Yitzchok Zilberstein, Rav of Ramat Elchanan and a son-in-law of Rav
Elyashiv - have all signed on to the notion that Charedim who are no longer
studying in Yeshiva or Kollel may enlist in the IDF.
Also noted in VIN:
Rabbi Zilberstein stressed that the frameworks approved by Rabbi Steinman—such as Nahal Charedi and the new Chashmonaim Brigade—would be good options for those no longer engaged in Torah study, and in fact the preferred option if they are otherwise “wasting their time.”
This marks a sharp departure from their former position.
Until now, the real reason they opposed enlistment was not only the
importance of Torah study but the fear of spiritual harm via the influence of
the secularized IDF culture. Which they often accused of having a hidden agenda
to turn Charedim into modern-day secular Israelis.
Even when special Charedi units were created to accommodate
their religious needs, the claim was that these units were heavy on promises
but light on delivery. I can’t count how many times the fear of spiritual
erosion was raised as the primary concern - even more than the loss of Torah
study.
That is why this is such a big change. VIN calls it a
‘clarification’, but it feels much more like a change of view. If their real concern all along was that Charedim would lose their faith while in the
IDF, what suddenly changed? The Charedi units haven’t undergone any dramatic
transformation. A glitch in maintaining Charedi
religious standards just happened recently. And glitches will surely happen again. Yet,
despite that, these rabbis now endorse enlistment for those no longer learning
in Yeshiva or Kollel.
Until now, their stance suggested that the dangers to
spiritual health outweighed all other considerations. But they also continued to strongly
argue the case for exempting all Yeshiva and Kollel students. The fact that
religious Zionist yeshiva students in Hesder programs, equally committed to
Torah, were risking and sometimes giving their lives in defense of Israel did
not sway them from that argument. Thus the Charedi refusal to share that burden
bred resentment across Israeli society.
So why the shift? Of course they didn’t read my blog. But
perhaps the logic I’ve argued all along finally took hold. Even so I have differed
in the sense that only the truly elite Torah students - the most gifted,
motivated, and disciplined - should indeed be exempt. Not only geniuses, but
anyone with the clear capacity and drive to achieve greatness in Torah.
But the many who linger in yeshiva without that same
commitment or aptitude, or who leave altogether for work, should not be exempt.
They too must serve their country alongside their fellow Jews.
Now, at last, there are Gedolim that seem to agree - at least with
respect to those no longer in Yeshiva or Kollel. If this new attitude takes
hold, it could bring enough Charedim into the army to meaningfully relieve the
crushing burden now carried by others.
The only question is why this conclusion took so long to
reach. Had it come sooner, tensions between Charedim and the rest of Israeli
society might never have grown so bitter. Has too much water passed under the
bridge to repair the damage? I hope not.
Yes, there are other serious points of contention between Charedim and
non-Charedim in Israel, and they too will need to be addressed. But this issue
has long been one of the biggest. If it can be resolved through compromise
acceptable to all, it could mark the beginning of reconciliation, harmony, and
- perhaps one day - the unity of the Jewish people.
Impossible? I don’t know. But one can dream.
