14 Comments
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Yossi Kenner's avatar

It's really strange how the Charedim decide when and when not to obey Halakha. It's almost like they are reformed Jews!

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Just Curious's avatar

It's interesting that you put it that way. It pains me to say this, but I too have started thinking that, to a disturbing extent, Chareidism constitutes a form of "cultural" Judaism (much like many Reform/irreligious Jews boast of) wherein rituals are performed and traditions maintained for the sake social/cultural conformity but little else.

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David Ilan's avatar

Exactly they are only cultural Jews

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Moshe Abrams's avatar

Every branch of Judaism does this, to one extent or another, and they all have their own "culture". As such, they, and we, are all "cultural Jews". You just don't like that the Haredim do it, and haven't looked at your own branch's practice to see what they are picking and choosing. I am not criticizing - I'm just saying that everyone does it. Reform and Conservative do it significantly more than everyone else. So I think that this critique of Haredim is unwarranted.

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Weaver's avatar

I would say that trying to defend Israel from annihilation is a higher priority than spending three hours with a magnifying glass making your hadassim are meshulash.

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Yossi Kenner's avatar

The real person who destroyed Judaism was the inventor of the microscope.

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Moshe Abrams's avatar

I read the English PDF, "the truth will be absent". I will admit that I was hoping for significantly more. It really is no different than a Haredi publication, that repeats the same tired talking points ("torah protects" etc), except the opposite ("that's not what that gemara means" etc). Many of the interpretations of midrashim and such are not such great pshatim, and the ones that are, are things that are fairly well known already.

While he does discuss מלחמת מצוה, he doesn't do it extensively, and that is really the only relevant סוגיא.

As has been repeatedly stated on this blog, the reason that Haredim don't serve isn't really because of anything discussed in this pamphlet, it's because of an apathy towards the state, a lack of identification with non-Haredim, and (mainly) because they don't have to. Everything else is just talking points.

As such, I would actually say that there is no reason to send this to your Haredi relatives, since it will just convince them that there isn't any good reason to join the army.

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Miriam Álvarez Fernández's avatar

בשלב זה אני לא יכול לתרום כלכלית, אבל אני אפיץ את זה דף מלא חוכמה ואור. תודה רבה.

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Building Worlds's avatar

While these two books look like they will make for a fascinating read, his previous book:

https://www.amazon.com/Tears-Oppressed-Examination-Background-Halakhic/dp/0881258679/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.-atWXipjMKHHkg-Zm2mfV3G0c4JqjTAoB2ouP0PAxHQbWoLRLf3QKvPq3jOQpeFvqDBCitSHu3SvdVnPC4FwkqxNNO2Vej5p6ai7fzovUJQZZnu3xteNPHMHCNaqMrq0.IzriJr-Br6PcuYB9YqYnDfze7sx_zem4kbs7vxpb7TM&dib_tag=se&qid=1744132795&refinements=p_27%3AAviad+Hacohen&s=books&sr=1-5&text=Aviad+Hacohen

makes a complete mockery of Halacha. One cannot dissolve marriages, just because it conveniently solves problems. To arbitrarily employ halachic principles out of context - is a desecration of Judaism and Halacha.

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Natan Slifkin's avatar

He's not the author of this book. It's a compilation of articles from different people.

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Building Worlds's avatar

Same thing. It's an endorsement of far left non Torah values. By compiling such, is equivalent to an endorsement.

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Stefan's avatar

I am interested to learn about how a Jewish army should function according to halacha. How they should fight, how do they relate to enemy civilians, etc. Does anyone have recommendations on such a sefer?

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Ash's avatar

Theres Ethics of Our Warriors by R Brody.

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Tzvi Goldstein's avatar

*of our Fighters (play on Fathers)

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