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| Yeshivat Hesder Yeruchem in Southern Israel (Jewish Press) |
It is fairly common knowledge that Charedi leaders are vehemently opposed to their youth serving in the IDF. The reasons for which are either out of fear that they will ultimately lose their religion by being exposed to a military culture populated by non observant recruits. Or that at the very least they would of necessity face Halachicly compromising situations.
But they also assert that it is the diligent 24/7 Torah study by their young that gives Israel their real protection. And since every single Charedi young person automatically does that, not a single one of them serves in the IDF since taking any of them them out of the Beis HaMedrash reduces the number of people protecitng Israel.
Which of course also gives them the great advantage of never having to worry about the lethal dangers of combat. How lucky of them that Torah Umnaso - that Torah as their profession. Charedim therefore go about living their lives just as they did before the war. They studied 24/7 then and they study 24/7 now. Their families never miss them for months at a time. Not knowing if they will ever see them alive again. Nope. Its business as usual life goes on as before.
If someone complains about that ufair advantage - what are they supposed to do? Torah study is their job. Somebody has to do it. And they have volunteered to sacrifice themselves that way.They can't help being exempt from the tragedy most of the rest of the country is exposed to.
This attitude must be maddening to the rest of the country.
Making matters worse, the shortage of manpower in the IDF continues. Which means extended tours of duty for the already over worked soldiers. Not the least of which are the Hesder Yeshiva students. As noted in the Jewish Press one solution to this shortage is to extend active service period for Hesder yeshiva students. Increasing their already heavy burden even more.
Why should Hesder students be more upset at the Charedi world than would be anyone else whose active service period might be increased because of the lack of Charedi participation?
It’s because of the very fact that Charedim are so dismissive of Hesder even though they have very same commitment to Torah study that Charedim do. While at the same time sacrificing a portion of that time as combat soldiers in the IDF. The following is what a Hesder student looks at in terms of his dedication to the Jewish people:
Hesder service typically spans five years, during which participants serve as official soldiers in the IDF. Of these five years, 17 months are spent on active duty, including both training and operational service. In certain Hesder Yeshivas, the program extends to six years, with 24 months dedicated to army service. The majority of Hesder Yeshiva students serve as combat soldiers, with the remainder of the time focused on full-time Torah study.
Under the new plan, the active service of Hesder students will be extended by several months...
Hesder yeshiva students enlist in a special track, divided so that they begin with 12 to 24 months of unpaid service in the yeshiva. They then embark on 17 months of active service, during which they undergo basic training and perform regular duties.
Finally, they conclude their service with another unpaid period, completing a total of 44 months of service...
Hesder soldiers and Hesder graduates disproportionately serve in front-line combat units and have had a large share of the casualties in the war…
How can someone who is as dedicated to Torah study as is a Hesder student not be upset at the fact that they are not recognized for that by their Charedi counterparts? Making matters worse - they leave the Beis Hamedrash only to risk their lives for extended periods of time fighting for the Jewish people. People that include the very same Charedim that do exactly the same thing Hesder students when they are not fighting and sometimes dying for their people! Does this make sense to anyone? Well not to me it doesn’t.
It is one thig to say that the Jewish people needs both soldiers and Torah scholars for it survive. They might be able to claim that each side has a role that is not fulfilled by the other side. And they are the ones fulfilling their role as students who study Torah full time. While soldiers fulfill their roles by fighting mortal enemies.
But they cannot say that to Hesder students. Because Hesder students do both. And yet are treated by the Charedi world as though their Torah study is non existent. The Torah 24/7 Torah study at Hesder Yeshivos doesn’t count because it is interrupted by IDF service. That they risk their lives doesn't matter. Point being that since their Torah study is interrupted they can't possibly be studying at the same high level as Charedim are. They are soldiers. Not students of Torah.
Meanwhile Charedim get on with their lives almost as though there was nothing unusual happening in Israel right now.
Thing is, I have not heard about a single Hesder student complaining about it. They seem to be able to live with being slighted in this way by a world that refuses to recognize either their contributions as religious IDF soldiers who risk their lives disproportionately compared to other IDF soldiers; and even less as committed Torah students.
Which makes Hesder students a lot better people than I am. Because I am outraged by it.
Off my soapbox.