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| Satmar Chasidim protesting Israel on Christmas Eve |
I don’t know
whether to laugh or cry. But the current so-called crisis facing the Charedi
world in Israel has motivated the Chasidic Rebbes of the Israeli Agudah Moetzes to come to America and protest what is happening there.
Based on my
cursory understanding of the dynamics, this is being supported by the non
Chasidic rabbinic leadership too. Both here and in Israel. But I sense that
support of this event is at best lukewarm and not entirely universal . Not that
they disagree with the motives. They too strongly oppose what the Israeli government
is doing to the Charedi world. But I sense that even though they do not buy into this
tactic… because of the respect they
give to leaders of great masses of Chasidic Jews and the fact that they do
agree with their goals, they have lent their support to this event.
The primary
focus in this visit is their opposition to drafting Charedi Yeshiva students. This is universally opposed by every Charedi
rabbinic leader. But I don’t see how coming to the US and protesting Israel
here will help them. They plan a mass
gathering in Brooklyn on January 7th and are reserving Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field. They are also
constructing a tent for 50,000 attendees. I predict they will get an overflow crowd
of mostly (but not exclusively) Chasidim. How they think this will get Israel
to change their minds about the draft is beyond me.
Perhaps they
believe that they can pressure government officials in the spirit of American
democratic values. They may make the argument that just as when America had a
draft, divinity students were exempt, so too should Israel have the same draft structure
– one that they had up until now.
But I don’t
see how they can make the argument that the entire Charedi population base
should be exempt. This is not the same as a divinity exemption where an individual
decides he has a calling and joins a seminary to become a member of the clergy.
This is an entire class of people indoctrinated to believe that they must
attend Yeshivos and Kollelim for as long as they possibly can. America’s divinity
exemption was never meant for an entire class of people.
Now it’s
true that American government officials have a great deal of respect for
religious figures. Including Chasidic Rebbes. If they ask for an audience with
a Senator or any government official, I’m sure that the Agudah will get it for
them. I would love to have Rabbi Zweibel’s Rolodex (or his speed dial list - in
21st century terms). He has
access to a great number of prominent politicians. He will no doubt do his best
to secure meetings for them. But once they get there, what are they going to
argue?
Most of
congress supports the State of Israel. And they love Netanyahu – as was evidenced
the last time he addressed them. I don’t see them agreeing with these Rebbes
that Israel is discriminating against them. There is also the perception by many
government officials via media reports that the ultra-Orthodox in Israel are religious
extremists. Which is easy to understand when they read the stories about the harassment
of 8 year old girls and calling them whores because they dress they way most
children in America dress. Or beating up women on a bus because they won’t move
to the back… and other such incidents including one former Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton publicly criticized them for.
Just a few days ago, mainstream Satmar Chasidm
from Kiryas Joel protested on Christmas Eve carrying placards accusing Israel
of hating authentic Jews and being anti Semites. These Rebbes, I’m sure, are sympathetic to these
messages. But even if they are not, these are the images that they are associated with. I cannot imagine them saying
anything that will counter it.
This trip will surely not help them. I do not see them addressing anyone at that gathering on
January 7th who does not agree with them in the first place. They
will be preaching to their own choir.
These Rebbes
are hoping for participation from the non Chasidic Yeshiva world. I’m sure they
will get some. But I hope they don’t get any. In my view any Agudah Moetzes participation
in this event will surely lessen their influence in other matters important to
American Jewry.
This entire ‘crisis’
is a non issue for me, as I have said many times. It is a ‘crisis’ based on a
mistaken view of what will really happen… or worse - a mischaracterization of
it. They say the draft and other ‘negative’ acts against the Charedi world by the
Israeli government will destroy it. But other than yelling that
at the top of their lungs they have yet make their case. All the so called
indicators for them that this is all a ruse to secularize the Charedi world
just does not hold water in face of the facts
Yes their
world will be altered. But it will be altered for the better. It will not be
destroyed. Not any more than the Torah is destroyed by the Hesder program.
Torah will still be learned. There will be divinity exemptions for the truly elite that have the potential for greatness. The only change
will be that young Charedim that are not the most elite will have to take a
couple of years off to serve their country in some way. And in many cases receive
some valuable training for the workplace along the way.
And their
service will not be at the expense of their Charedi values. This will be
written into law. That it seems unaffordable is a technical issue that can in
my view be worked out by people of good will on both sides. The bottom line
result will look something like the American version of the Charedi world. How
all these rabbinic leaders can say that this result is the destruction of the
Torah world is beyond all reason.
What about
the fear that once they are out of the Beis HaMedrash they will never return?
All that means is that they are not really of the caliber to do that in the
first place. That the only reason they
would have stayed is because of inertia and peer pressure.
Is this what
the Charedi rabbinic leadership sees as the will of God? ...to psychologically
force them into a life of poverty, mediocre Torah study, and the shirking all responsibility
to the state? Is exempting them from
learning how to provide for their families which often results in family dysfunction
really a Godly mandate?
This is not
in my view what God wants of His people.
