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| JNS International Policy Summit in Jerusalem (JNS) |
According to a JNS article by Atara Beck, there is a quiet
shift taking place in Israel's Charedi world. One that positively addresses
many of the issues that have concerned me and many other religious Jews for
years. A shift toward a more proactive role in serving the country through
enlistment in the IDF and a greater openness to secular studies throughout
one's educational life. All while maintaining their value of Talmud Torah
K'neged Kulam—the Mishnah's teaching (Peah 1:1). Which places the highest value on Torah
study.
A panel was convened by JNS consisting of Charedim who have
made it their mission to advance what they see as an evolutionary change by
actually doing something concrete about it.
As I read the names of the participants, I recognized two of
them: Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer and Rabbi Menachem Bombach. I consider both of
them heroes for their efforts to solve what are among the most divisive issues
in Israel.
The arguments they make for the changes they advocate are,
in my view, the solution to many of the problems I - and so many others - have
with the current direction of the Charedi community. The fact that thousands of
Charedim have listened to their arguments and acted upon the options they
present is encouraging.
If only their numbers came anywhere close to those who
regard these two individuals and their ideas as bordering on heresy with
respect to traditional Charedi values and lifestyle.
Sadly, most Israeli Charedim look to Rabbi Moshe Hillel
Hirsch and Rabbi Dov Lando as their sole spiritual guides. And they vastly
outnumber those who have opened their minds to a more rational approach while
remaining loyal to the essential values of the Charedi world.
When Bombach's name comes up, he is viewed by many as an outcast for the "audacity" of opening a yeshiva high school that teaches both Torah and secular subjects. They consider it an affront to the traditional ‘no secular studies at all’ approach to the Yeshiva world - chutzpah akin to ‘spitting in the face of the Gedolim’ who forboid it!
Charedi Gedloim see no value in preparing students to pursue higher education. since it takes away valuable time that would have been used for Torah study. The goal of earning a respectable living to better support their typically large families cannot come at the expense of sacrificing any time that could have been spent learning Torah...
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