Anti-IDF Propaganda in Ramat Beit Shemesh

But what are we going to do about it?

The following event is taking place tomorrow night in Ramat Beit Shemesh, targeting Anglos:

There is no doubt whatsoever that it will be full of nasty lies. Note how it declares that it’s about dealing with the “threats and temptations of the IDF against the chareidim.” It’s going to condemn the excellent IDF programs that have been set up by charedim and for charedim, such as Chashmonaim and Yeshivas Derech Chaim.

And you can be certain that, as mentioned in this statement, the prevalent theme will be that the entire push to enlist chareidim is all about being “against the chareidim.” They’re going to present it as an anti-religious “war on Torah,” and mention nothing about the crushing burden on the reservists and their families, about the increased demands of IDF service which mean that even without any further wars, our sons will have to serve a minimum of two and a half months of reserve duty every year until they are fifty.

How do I know that this is what they will be doing? Well, aside from the fact that this is the modus operandi of the charedi leadership in general, it’s also something for which these particular speakers are renowned.

There’s Rav Aharon Feldman, who wrote a letter declaring his opposition to drafting any charedim at all, based on the utterly false claim that at least half of charedim who draft would leave religious observance. There’s his son-in-law Rav Elimelech Kornfeld, who denounces even charedi high schools that offer a bare minimum of general studies, since they “go against the Gedolim.” And there’s Rav Yehoshua Eichenstein, who has declared that any attempt to draft charedim, even those who are not learning, even putting them in an all-charedi hesder unit like Chashmonaim, is about tearing them away from Torah and Judaism. Not one of them has ever acknowledged the cost and suffering endured by everyone else who has to shoulder the burden of national defence which has increased due to charedi non-participation.

And who will be listening to all these lies and slander that are so harmful for Israel? A bunch of naive idealistic Anglos who live in a bubble and believe that these men represent the only religious Judaism that exists and are valiant warriors fighting against anti-Torah secularists.

The question is, what should we do about this disgraceful event? Should people attend it (dressed in white shirts of course) so that they can call out the lies as they are stated? Should they distribute a QR code that links to the website with R. Moshe Klausner’s book refuting charedi false claims about Torah sources on army service? Should people stand outside with placards pointing out that the army issue is about the terrible suffering of a lot of people, and that’s why so many frum Jews want charedim to help ease the burden? Should we have frum soldiers in army uniform set themselves up with shtenders outside to learn? All of the above?

I’m open to ideas and I strongly people to take initiative, even if it’s uncomfortable. If we expect our sons to make enormous sacrifices and risk their lives in Gaza and Jenin and Lebanon for the next thirty years of their lives, the least we can do is to take action in a situation that is perfectly safe in order to try to get people to help take some of pressure off our children. This is a time to act.

After I posted this on FaceBook, someone offered to coordinate efforts for a response. He can be reached via writing to RealAchdus@gmail.com.