A couple of weeks ago I took a visiting American haredi family to a barbeque we were doing for about a hundred soldiers in an outpost on the Lebanese border. Before the visit, the father of this family had said that he thought he understood both positions, the haredi position as well as the army position and that he was "on the line" so to speak between the two sides. I believe the bbq changed everything for him. He had an opportunity to speak to a number of soldiers. These were 30-40 year-old miluimnikim soldiers. He heard how some were on their 6th call-up!! Some had lost their jobs due to being away too long. They were all away from their families for far too long and wouldn't be home for the holidays coming up. It was a real eye opener hearing these stories.
I only wish I could package up that experience they had and make it available to our American brethren. By the way, I'm from Baltimore and I know what you mean.
"There is so much going on in Israel of which English-speaking frum Jews are unaware."
Which is one reason I minimize my involvement in Israeli political discussions. We have more than enough problems here in the United States. :(
BTW I suggested a few weeks ago that we all join Daf Yomi and learn tractate Horayot next month. The main topic is the halachah regarding what to do when our leaders err! Chazal knew that leaders err!! And so did the Author of the Torah!!!!! (Infallibility is a Catholic thing, and even there the total number of infallible statements issued by all popes combined over a period of almost two thousand years is exactly two.)
We start Wednesday, September 3, and conclude on Monday, September 15. We can have a siyum via Zoom on Tuesday, September 16. Anyone else interested?
A couple of weeks ago I took a visiting American haredi family to a barbeque we were doing for about a hundred soldiers in an outpost on the Lebanese border. Before the visit, the father of this family had said that he thought he understood both positions, the haredi position as well as the army position and that he was "on the line" so to speak between the two sides. I believe the bbq changed everything for him. He had an opportunity to speak to a number of soldiers. These were 30-40 year-old miluimnikim soldiers. He heard how some were on their 6th call-up!! Some had lost their jobs due to being away too long. They were all away from their families for far too long and wouldn't be home for the holidays coming up. It was a real eye opener hearing these stories.
I only wish I could package up that experience they had and make it available to our American brethren. By the way, I'm from Baltimore and I know what you mean.
"Perhaps even more predictably, he lives in Baltimore." 🤣
"There is so much going on in Israel of which English-speaking frum Jews are unaware."
Which is one reason I minimize my involvement in Israeli political discussions. We have more than enough problems here in the United States. :(
BTW I suggested a few weeks ago that we all join Daf Yomi and learn tractate Horayot next month. The main topic is the halachah regarding what to do when our leaders err! Chazal knew that leaders err!! And so did the Author of the Torah!!!!! (Infallibility is a Catholic thing, and even there the total number of infallible statements issued by all popes combined over a period of almost two thousand years is exactly two.)
We start Wednesday, September 3, and conclude on Monday, September 15. We can have a siyum via Zoom on Tuesday, September 16. Anyone else interested?