Rabbi Slifkin, I don't think you're posting about this very important topic often enough. To you 10 articles a week repeating the same thing may sound like a lot, but if you want to really make a difference, that's not nearly enough. So I'd like to urge you to put in even more time to this holy endeavor of Chareidi bashing. I understand that you already spend close to 10 hours a day repeating yourself again and again and again, how evil the Chareidim are. I'd just like to urge you to spend at least an additional 5 hours a day on this. The Mesorah dinner can take back seat. Nobody likes grasshoppers anyhow. But if one person gets a filter on their smartphone, because they weren't sufficiently aware of the dangers of a chareidi lifestyle, then that's all on your shoulders. I know this may sound harsh, but as a deep admirer of you and your repetitious blogposts repetitious blogposts repetitious blogposts, I feel it is my place to give you this constructive criticism. So keep on repeating yourself, keep on slandering the evil chareidim, and keep on turning gray as a result. Hazaq veemats!
I am not on board with the contentious cynicism apparent between the lines in this comment, but I fully agree with the message, that it seems the Rabbi has an unhealthy preoccupation with our community. And since time heals all wounds, the time has come for him to cast aside these old feuds and rejoice in the bond of brotherhood. And I have full confidence that once the Rabbi sees all these supportive comments, he will realize that there is scarcely any difference between himself and the Yerushalmi sitting in a Meah Shearim shteeble, save for his great acumen which can be matched by only few, as what binds us is far greater than what separates us.
Your attempt to shut the Rabbi up so that your community can sit in safety while other Jews are putting their lives and limb on the line to protect even the ingrates among you, will not work. The Rabbi should be encouraged to call out the grave injustice of Chareidi exemption from army service, as well as the ingratitude shown, by even failing to pray for the well being of our soldiers. With the Rabbi's exposures, may there be many who see the true light and at the very least get the government to put into effect a full draft of ALL Jews, including "Chareidim" and enforce it with jail time and compulsory work (for the army) while in jail. I have now become firm in this, and my vote in the next election will be for any candidate that supports this. You can learn Torah during your time off in the army or in jail.
I'm assuming that's a typo, and you meant to write all Israelis. I can't imagine you wouldn't want to draft Arabs. I also can't see how you can draft Jews that aren't Israeli citizens.
Just cuz you mentioned that topic, all slifkin had on that was a raavan or something - nothing at all to do with Rashi whatsoever. Anyone who knows anything about the topic of God knows that being a corporealist is out of the question. Slifkin really doesn't know the actual topic which takes *years* of work to understand, yet he has a fully formed opinion. And while he may be right that is not kfira to think God is corporal, its really close to kfira to go against the Zohar and it's followers (because doing so undermines or entire mesorah) blue to mention against the Rambam himself well my who was very fluent in this discussion. Besides, it's also just not true. This whole ruckus is just beating a dead horse. God is incorporeal and we can safely assume Rashi was beyond aware of that. Only those who don't know the sugya think otherwise. And the sugya is much more than a couple of names being thrown around. It's a deep awareness of what God is all about
Well, naturally, if your conclusions are religiously set in stone before you even approach the topic, you'll find that all the arguments turn out to be exactly in accord with what you expect.
have you even ever learned the ramchal? the ramak? sheesh, reb elya weintraub? the chazon ish? have you learned the part of the moreh nevuchim where he explains what a wise man is and what a כסיל אשר הולך בחושך is? do you know what he's referring to? have you read where the rambam describes the king's palace and understood what he was talking about? have you seen the parts of the kuzari where he talks about philosphers? sheesh, plato, aristotle where they talk about wisdom? aquinas, or the muslim philosophers where they talk about Godliness? i almost know for a fact that this entire topic which you call mysticism is something you know nothing about. but as a complete outsider, you conclude that my conclusions are set in stone prior. goodness me.
as far as your ban which is being discussed in this thread, i agree that bans are awful i would think that if reb elyashiv said something i'd back off from sheer fear and humility but that's because he didn't call me out, i'm not judging you. i can't imagine being a chareidi and being told off by someone of that stature. in his defense, sometimes a gadol has to make a decision even if it'll hurt someone, and you can take it as a compliment that they felt your book as a threat and not other more lame ones. and who knows if the world is so crazy that maybe his yoshor decision was still wrong? but the main idea, including the "they can say it you can not" has to do with this point i made above, that you have opinions about things which you think you know a ton about, and you may even be very "scholarly" about it, but you're missing an entire component of the picture, in which you end up an outsider.
i'd be happy to discuss it with you, if you want, via email (davidschulmannn@gmail.com) or in a thread if you write about these topics again, but i promise you there are really important parts of this equation that you don't get. what you call prior convictions are just not. i was an atheist. i went further than you.
unlike a lot of my chareidi friend commentators here, i have no ill feeling against you. i actually think you have some very, very good points. and i am up for a healthy discussion about your views. of course i think i represent mainstream chareidim and you may claim i don't (by virtue of the fact that i read this blog even lol) but i really do. as far as topics of zohar and learning b'iyun, and rishonim rationalism, and as far as us being rachmanim bnei rachmanim during this war, i am quite mainstream.
That's not the issue, the issue is that Slifkin attributes this view to Rashi based on the stupidest non-evidence you have ever seen in your life, handwaves all contrary evidence based on the dumbest justifications, and then whines about how everybody else is biased so they can't accept his amazing discovery. See the Irrationalist Modoxism article that Banana quoted earlier.
Sure, the Rambam held that way. but others, while they agreed that God doesn't have a body (obviously), still held that it is nonetheless not kfira to mistakenly think otherwise
When I think of the Rabbi's exceptional acumen, there are many thought-provoking articles that come to mind, but one which keeps a special place in my heart is entitled "Was Rashi a Corporealist?", and although i disagreed with his conclusion, which I felt that was a bridge too far and even bordered on the heretical, I remember being overawed by the incredible breadth and depth of the scholarship the Rabbi displayed. And although Reb Zundel attempted to convince me yesterday that this article represents no exceptional scholarship, I remain unswayed.
Master Banana, that was the same blog article that Reb Zundel quoted to me in my previous discussion with him regarding this. But given the mean-spiritedness of the article and the blog in general, especially towards a sincere scholar like Rabbi Slifkin, I am afraid I cannot take it seriously, and so I refuse to read it fully. I also noticed that in the comments to that article, Rabbi Slifkin jumps in and claims he was misrepresented, and if he claims that, I am dan lekaf zechus that it is true. That said, I disagreed with Rabbi Slifkin's conclusion in this matter, and felt he was jumping to conclusions, perhaps also out of a desire to demolish a cherished chareidi belief, although of that I am not so sure.
Honestly, I wouldn't take the time were it not for the immense talent I see wasted on this nonsense. I posted a strange and obscure ocean crab, and you called it with its Latin
name in a split second . Why are you wasting this great talent shooting goldfish in a barrel. Yea, some chareidim are off the wall. Their theology is oft randomly insensitive to others. You've made the point better than anyone else. Now, stop beating this dead horse and go back to being full time productive, inspiring kids and adults with the wonders of the natural world. Life moves forward, and you, unlike the unwashed rest of us, have something to offer. There will always be another example for you to lampoon. Leave off with the negative sociology. Go forth and help people. You are seduced by this by negativity. Nothing good can come from it. Throw of your self imposed chains and return to the bright blinding light of day. Life isn't short if you know what to do with it. Seneca.
This post cannot be compared to any bashing chareidim post I have read from Slifkin. There is zero bashing in this post. I haven’t seen ANYONE else post such well researched nuances of how chareidim relate to soldiers/Israel. (I presume that is why many are feeling uncomfortable having to think about whether they EVEN have views. Personally, I find that many are simply apathetic to the entire topic - which is something Slifkin missed). To the contrary, if he continues posting real research with respectful tones, he may actually get his points across. The term itself “matzav” in Eretz Yisrael is a euphemism for many to avoid these discussions. In my (litvish) shul I saw a weekly pamphlet called דברי רבותינו לאור המצב that spends the entire weekly bashing the state of Israel and zionists, clearly there is a different meaning to the word “matzav” depending who is speaking.
"In my (litvish) shul I saw a weekly pamphlet called דברי רבותינו לאור המצב that spends the entire weekly bashing the state of Israel and zionists"
Let me guess. It was a cut & paste job, repeating trite anti-Zionist memes from the 1970s or earlier, offering no new insights or thoughtful ideas. Also probably oblivious to the fact that government has been (partially) Charedi for most of the preceding decades. And no doubt the pamphlet offers no real solutions other than to withdraw further inwards, and leave the development of the country to the secular, because we know how good they are at running things. I would be very surprised if the pamphlet called for Torah Jews to become more involved in inculcating government & society with values beyond funding for institutions and continue draft exemptions.
I agree that this post as a standalone was not too bad. Guys are just riled up cuz he's been chomping at the bit non-stop for the last month spewing all sorts of trash. And this post got thrown in along with the rest of them.
What about your obsession to knock RNS!? I understand the truth hurts. It's' hard to hairsplit with excuses for disgraceful utterances and actions in of some the chraidi
Thank God he has an obsession. Jews are dying and harmed on the front, while others are sipping their coffee, or hanging out safely shielded by exemption ( yet, many collecting various government financial benefits.). Such inequity deserves "obsession" and a desperate need for change.
Well if he intends to do research exclusively about chareidim, I would advise he writes some positive things about them as well. Otherwise, he comes across as bitter depressed and angry.
Master Eli, based on my recollection of what happened about 20 years ago, and aided by the voluminous material available on the Zoo Torah site, I would agree that Rabbi Slifkin was handled poorly, but I would hardly describe him as crushed by a monster. To the contrary, it seems that like St. George of legend, Rabbi Slifkin stabbed the monster in the eye, no doubt thanks to his mastery of all Torah and Natural History related matters, and successful wielding of the rhetorical pen. Nevertheless, I believe the labors of the battle and subsequent estrangement from the chareidi community embittered him greatly. In any case, I think that Rabbi Slifkin is now in a strong and confident position, and the time has come for him to cast aside these ancient unpleasantries.
But aside from past "history", the Rabbi speaks facts and truth and about terrible inequities in Jewish Israeli society: that a group: Chareidi sit around while other Jewish boys and girls are being harmed and killed defending the country, our country, their country ( they do collect government subsidies) is a terrible inequity that needs to be addressed and reconciled. Thanks to Rabbi Slifkin there is finally a strong voice to address it to the "religious" community. Unfortunately he does not do it on a Modern Hebrew platform to reach a broader community.
Master Stuart, although I hear your concerns, I must go on the record in dissent. There is no terrible inequity, since anybody can choose to learn in yeshiva, and those who fight choose to fight instead of learn. Since both of these are honorable decisions that contribute to the welfare of the Jewish people, and any young man can freely decide which task he wants to take on, there is no inequity or unfairness. Therefore, what you have stated is not truth and facts, but is just an opinion, and I am sorry to say it is one that is not rooted in truth.
I don't know anything about that. O am new here and I don't know much about chareidim either. I just thought he was a random hater. If he has been through some serious trauma maybe we should cut him slack. But he should in that case get help! These things don't get better by themselves.
Those who attack him constantly are "random haters". He has a reason to hate. He was as charedi as you or me before he was lynched by Leib Tropper and others.
Honestly I'm very disappointed that you attack him constantly, despite being "new here" and not knowing anything about his history
Master Charles, I believe Rabbi Slifkin sincerely maintains that chareidim are the greatest threat to Israel that exists. You can see this from many past posts where he claims that chareidim are a looming catastrophe that will lead to the downfall of the country. Therefore, it is no surprise that he spends so much energy writing about chareidim, since for him, it is truly the most important thing in the world. The only surprise is that Rabbi Slifkin doesn't post about them even more often, twice a day and three times on Shabbos, since he holds it is pikuach nefesh. However I want to go on the record saying that I strongly disagree with Rabbi Slifkin on this matter, and to the contrary, the chareidim's merits are what enables the endurance of Israel, may Hashem bless all her inhabitants. I believe that Rabbi Slifkin unfortunately has an exceedingly powerful enmity in his heart for chareidim, no doubt generated by his decades old personal feud with them, which is the cause of this unbelievably warped perspective. However, I have no doubt that upon seeing all the comments here in support of chareidim, he will soon change his opinion for the better. There is nothing like constructive, amicable dialogue to cause a meeting of the minds, and the internet, despite its many flaws enables this better than anything else.
Rabbi Slifkin, this is an excellent question. And the answer is that as far as I can tell, there are very few people, barring those who are extremely anti-religious, who are as pre-occupied with this topic as you are. You have been posting an article about the chareidim every day, for weeks at a time, which makes it look like your entire relationship with the war in Israel revolves around your dispute with chareidim, which I'm sure must be unusual even for people who have concerns and critiques of chareidim. Some would even term it a full-blown obsession. Besides for this, you also go far beyond the economic and military concerns regarding the chareidim, and delve deeply into their feelings and beliefs, attempting to show that they don't really have concern and gratitude for soldiers, or that they don't really believe their learning and tefillah is a defensive contribution, and thus you try to paint them as a cynical, selfish community. This is why I strongly believe that the roots of this pre-occupation of your's lies in your personal trauma involving the chareidim, rather than dry economic and military analysis, which truth be told, I have not seen much of on this site. Of course, I may be wrong, but as the Gemara says, ain ledayan ela ma she'einav ro'os. In any case, I am positive that the immense outpouring of support for both you and your chareidi brothers will soon convince you to end this crusade, and to return to a state of idylic, brotherly love.
כל הכבוד RNS. Your articles are revealing. These ליציםwon't face the truth. Hence they run like the cowards they are.The truth hurts and they are part of the hairsplitting pretzel making crowd who want to run from it .
In Williamsburg/Boro Park, the filters on computers are controlled by the Mosdos. It is insufficient to sign that you have a filter, you need to show them that you have a specific filter, or one of a number of approved filters. Satmar, the largest operation in Brooklyn, allows filters that permit ivelt.com (the Yiddish site linked to in the post), but not those that allow kaveshtiebel.com. The reason for this is, Ivelt follows their rules, and kaveshtiebel does not.
For this reason, Ivelt must strictly self-censor to the Satmar standards. They cannot allow a post that would not be permitted in Der Yid. Most people writing there, when corresponding in private, chafe about these rules. But they know that they have no option, the filters will stop allowing ivelt through if 'Zionism' is permitted, and the parameters of Zionism are very strict, perhaps even stricter than Satmar, because they are too scared to allow anything.
So Ivelt does not represent anything more than Satmar, who always held that Zionism is evil, and the Tzahal is more damaging than helpful, and that we must pray for salvation without the assistance of Tzahal. I don't agree with them, but this is one opinion.
So there are many different people called Charedim, with many different attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyles.
What an insight!
There is no central command controlling people's thoughts, there are no belief police out there. The only thing they have in common is that they have dedicated their lives to keeping Torah as best as they understand. They are not looking to compromise with their Yetzer Hara, they are not looking to put a hechsher on their assimilation. That is Charedism in a nutshell. Whether they support soldiers or not is immaterial, that is mere details. Some believe that supporting soldiers is a spiritual danger, others believe that it is not. But both take spiritual dangers seriously.
It is immaterial to the essence of Charedism. Charedism isn't about having or not having hakaras hatov to soldiers. It is about taking Torah and Yiddishkeit seriously. How to interpret the Torah is mere details.
Then what differentiates it from Dati Leumi? There are many Dati Leumi who take Judaism seriously as well. There are also chareidim who dont take halacha seriously.
Can someone please sponsor some groups to the museum. I’m afraid it’s reached a point of pikuach nefesh. The poor Doctor has become so obsessed, he’s in danger of completely losing it!!
Could be I thought the numbers were smaller than they really are. People should have no problem davening for soldiers. Period. For our brothers. They're how we're meant to look at it. I have no idea how that will turn into glorifying them over talmidei chachamim.
But for sure in America the numbers of people who share the ideology that there's something wrong with this is very small. There are lampreys me letters and cards with names circulating all around and people are definitely talking about the war and sakana as if they truly care. They do.
I wonder how many people in Israel share this sentiment. It could be brisk thinks like this so that probably includes a whole bunch of people. But they are a smaller number than you think, and not the mainstream opinion at all at all.
So is one to be mevatel daas to the gedolim or not? I think not because I'm not a charedi/charedi lite. But if you are a charedi, then you aren't being consistent if you ignore the moetzes when you don't like what they say.
On Nachshon Wachsman who was kidnapped (and later killed) by Hamas, RMDS complained "What's the whole world making a fuss, he's no more than a Zionist soldier!"
"bemoans the fact that this has become something that needs to be said."
Yes I bemoan the fact that a Palestinian group whose ideology isn't much different from that of the Nazis started a war and (1) Jews aren't 100% unified against them, and (2) they are getting tacit support from poltical extremists on both the Right and the Left in the United States.
"Besides for maybe Neturei Karta, all Jews are against Hamas."
Unfortunately, not true. I've seen articles/pictures (from various news sources) from both the USA and Britain of Jews joining pro-Palestinian marches for a cease-fire. Well, at least they claim to be Jews. (I guess I should hope that they're not.) But certainly the world sees them as Jews and therefore sees that not all Jews agree with Israel's position.
Correct. But those are generally liberal secular Jews. I understood Mr. Hall to be referring to religious Jews, which was the context of the conversation.
Because the answer should be obvious. While I don't believe that the prayer of those who shirk their obligation carries merit, at least it would show that they care somewhat.
What Rabbi Slifkin? You don't believe the prayers of the people who shirk what you think is their obligation carries any merit? Where on earth did you get that from? Is that something that you concluded from studying Hilchos Tefillah? Do you believe that the chareidim are reshayim, and therefore fall into the category of zevach reshayim to'evah? Such a perspective is almost too unbelievably warped to imagine, and I am confident that you cannot really mean what you wrote.
Other than 'solidarity' with Israel, did the rally accomplish anything tangible? Israel was not in existential danger and the US was already supportive of their push to wipe out Hamas. Assuming one believes in the tremendous merit of Torah learning, I would think that he was assuming more responsibility for the cause by telling his talmidim and followers to stay in Yeshiva and Kollel and learn.
This, of course, is aside from Rabbi Feldman's reason for opposing the rally.
He himself said it was a matter of pikuach nefesh. There are plenty of actors here in the US who would like to force Israel into a ceasefire and it is a continuing effort to get US support for Israel. Direct financial aid has been held up now and will be subject to political fights in congress. And Israel is definitely facing an existential threat with the hit to the economy this war is taking. It costs a lot to fight.
Ok. So the next time agudah or whoever boast about the millions of people attending the daf yomi siyum, go tell them 1,000 was enough and the rest should be learning torah somewhere in a beis hamedrash (or at home). What do the extra folk achieve tangibly exactly? More than learning torah)? That justifies leaving learning?
If you don't appreciate how each individual on his own is nothing, but if that individual would not turn up, the numbers would be low and innefective, no amount of explaining will help.
I do give answers to Halachic questions that I know the answers to. I don't "rule". However, if you and I ever get shipwrecked on an abandoned island, feel free to consult me on anything you're having issues with. I'm a wealth of opinions ( or consult your nearest other human).
Because it's the right thing to do! It shows concern, sympathy, empathy. It may even push you over to physically do something to help the soldiers, like volunteer services, donate for protective and other necessary equipment that the government does not provide. Just put you in a whole other frame of mind existence, that may even influence others to paray and do, and encourage and anything positive other than sitting on your ass like a stone!
He isn't going to. He is moving on to an entirely new topic. He will soon be nauseatingly repetitive by bashing chareidim. He's out and about and mixing things up.
I have read all the posts that accuse the Rabbi of charedi bashing. But I have a question to all those offended people. The soldiers of the IDF are risking and in some cases losing their lives in order to protect the country from being overrun by terrorists. If Moshe Rabbeinu had hakarat hatov to the nile why can't your communities have the same for the soldiers who are risking their lives for them? And why won't you daven for the safety of people who have put themselves in danger to protect you?
This is the exact point of contention though , the counter claim from the Chareidim here is literally that , that they do have hakarat hatov.No one is condoning any lack of that.(Of course there are exceptions etc etc..)
It does exist. On the more extreme end of the spectrum. But these posts make it sound like it is mainstream. You don't have multiple posts condemning Neturei Karta, because everyone realizes that they are a fringe group and do not represent the beliefs of others. The majority of Charedim do have hakaras hatov to the soldiers.
Charles Joseph claims that RNS is obsessed with charedi bashing, but Charles has posted more comments bashing RNS than RNS has posted threads bashing Charedim
Beautiful video at the end from Lipa, who has a long history of supporting the IDF (in spite of the fact that he grew up in New Square which is far from Zionist) - however there has been pushback against him in the community. I read recently that a concert of his was cancelled because of his support for soldiers, however in spite of that he did not apologize or back down from his support.
Rabbi Slifkin, it appears that you are conflating not davening for the soldiers specifically with not being grateful to the soldiers, or not caring for the soldiers, or not having them in mind when davening. But this is a totally unwarranted conclusion. Although in my very yeshivish community, we daven for specific soldiers through specific names, I know plenty of communities where they don't, yet still are grateful for the soldiers and care deeply about them, and have them in mind when davening and saying tehillim for acheinu.
It would appear to me that most of the commentators arguing with you take the notion that Tefillah works as a "soft factor." That is to say, there are some "hard factors" in war, such as military production, amount of soldiers, and technology. But there's other components as wells, known as "soft factors." These are harder to measure things, such as morale, ergonomics of equipment, and communications.
Soft factors are clearly important, but it is very difficult to measure the specific marginal benefit of incremental increases of them. How much does one extra hour of sleep impact a soldier's performance? It's hard to tell.
I don't think there is much analysis done beyond this. It's just, "learning torah is a soft factor contributing to the success of the IDF, and therefore, we should continue as things are."
I don't have a solution about how to balance Torah as a soft factor. There seems to be a complete refusal to seriously engage in calculation for these. For example, with regards to R' Feldman - there are approximately 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza. If 1000 women would recite 20 tehillim every day, then that would wipe out the entire Palestinian population living in Gaza in under four months.
We are obviously not seeing this, meaning that R' Feldman was "exaggerating," because how can we calculate these soft factors?
So, in the same sense that we demand less sleep for our soldiers because the hard factor of another solider on duty is greater then the marginal benefit of him being more alert, I think it's reasonable to say that the marginal benefit of reducing overall Torah learning would be compensated via the hard benefit of having more soldiers.
Even if many can't bring themselves to say the word "soldiers", who do you think they're davening for? The danger away from the front isn't that significant.
Rabbi Slifkin, I don't think you're posting about this very important topic often enough. To you 10 articles a week repeating the same thing may sound like a lot, but if you want to really make a difference, that's not nearly enough. So I'd like to urge you to put in even more time to this holy endeavor of Chareidi bashing. I understand that you already spend close to 10 hours a day repeating yourself again and again and again, how evil the Chareidim are. I'd just like to urge you to spend at least an additional 5 hours a day on this. The Mesorah dinner can take back seat. Nobody likes grasshoppers anyhow. But if one person gets a filter on their smartphone, because they weren't sufficiently aware of the dangers of a chareidi lifestyle, then that's all on your shoulders. I know this may sound harsh, but as a deep admirer of you and your repetitious blogposts repetitious blogposts repetitious blogposts, I feel it is my place to give you this constructive criticism. So keep on repeating yourself, keep on slandering the evil chareidim, and keep on turning gray as a result. Hazaq veemats!
I am not on board with the contentious cynicism apparent between the lines in this comment, but I fully agree with the message, that it seems the Rabbi has an unhealthy preoccupation with our community. And since time heals all wounds, the time has come for him to cast aside these old feuds and rejoice in the bond of brotherhood. And I have full confidence that once the Rabbi sees all these supportive comments, he will realize that there is scarcely any difference between himself and the Yerushalmi sitting in a Meah Shearim shteeble, save for his great acumen which can be matched by only few, as what binds us is far greater than what separates us.
Your attempt to shut the Rabbi up so that your community can sit in safety while other Jews are putting their lives and limb on the line to protect even the ingrates among you, will not work. The Rabbi should be encouraged to call out the grave injustice of Chareidi exemption from army service, as well as the ingratitude shown, by even failing to pray for the well being of our soldiers. With the Rabbi's exposures, may there be many who see the true light and at the very least get the government to put into effect a full draft of ALL Jews, including "Chareidim" and enforce it with jail time and compulsory work (for the army) while in jail. I have now become firm in this, and my vote in the next election will be for any candidate that supports this. You can learn Torah during your time off in the army or in jail.
"ALL Jews"
I'm assuming that's a typo, and you meant to write all Israelis. I can't imagine you wouldn't want to draft Arabs. I also can't see how you can draft Jews that aren't Israeli citizens.
Just cuz you mentioned that topic, all slifkin had on that was a raavan or something - nothing at all to do with Rashi whatsoever. Anyone who knows anything about the topic of God knows that being a corporealist is out of the question. Slifkin really doesn't know the actual topic which takes *years* of work to understand, yet he has a fully formed opinion. And while he may be right that is not kfira to think God is corporal, its really close to kfira to go against the Zohar and it's followers (because doing so undermines or entire mesorah) blue to mention against the Rambam himself well my who was very fluent in this discussion. Besides, it's also just not true. This whole ruckus is just beating a dead horse. God is incorporeal and we can safely assume Rashi was beyond aware of that. Only those who don't know the sugya think otherwise. And the sugya is much more than a couple of names being thrown around. It's a deep awareness of what God is all about
Well, naturally, if your conclusions are religiously set in stone before you even approach the topic, you'll find that all the arguments turn out to be exactly in accord with what you expect.
have you even ever learned the ramchal? the ramak? sheesh, reb elya weintraub? the chazon ish? have you learned the part of the moreh nevuchim where he explains what a wise man is and what a כסיל אשר הולך בחושך is? do you know what he's referring to? have you read where the rambam describes the king's palace and understood what he was talking about? have you seen the parts of the kuzari where he talks about philosphers? sheesh, plato, aristotle where they talk about wisdom? aquinas, or the muslim philosophers where they talk about Godliness? i almost know for a fact that this entire topic which you call mysticism is something you know nothing about. but as a complete outsider, you conclude that my conclusions are set in stone prior. goodness me.
are you going to respond to this? how can i reach you via email?
as far as your ban which is being discussed in this thread, i agree that bans are awful i would think that if reb elyashiv said something i'd back off from sheer fear and humility but that's because he didn't call me out, i'm not judging you. i can't imagine being a chareidi and being told off by someone of that stature. in his defense, sometimes a gadol has to make a decision even if it'll hurt someone, and you can take it as a compliment that they felt your book as a threat and not other more lame ones. and who knows if the world is so crazy that maybe his yoshor decision was still wrong? but the main idea, including the "they can say it you can not" has to do with this point i made above, that you have opinions about things which you think you know a ton about, and you may even be very "scholarly" about it, but you're missing an entire component of the picture, in which you end up an outsider.
i'd be happy to discuss it with you, if you want, via email (davidschulmannn@gmail.com) or in a thread if you write about these topics again, but i promise you there are really important parts of this equation that you don't get. what you call prior convictions are just not. i was an atheist. i went further than you.
unlike a lot of my chareidi friend commentators here, i have no ill feeling against you. i actually think you have some very, very good points. and i am up for a healthy discussion about your views. of course i think i represent mainstream chareidim and you may claim i don't (by virtue of the fact that i read this blog even lol) but i really do. as far as topics of zohar and learning b'iyun, and rishonim rationalism, and as far as us being rachmanim bnei rachmanim during this war, i am quite mainstream.
How is it not kfira to say that Hashem has a body? Acc to the Rambam it very much is.
Raavad says that "greater and better" people than Rambam believed that Hashem has a body.
That's not the issue, the issue is that Slifkin attributes this view to Rashi based on the stupidest non-evidence you have ever seen in your life, handwaves all contrary evidence based on the dumbest justifications, and then whines about how everybody else is biased so they can't accept his amazing discovery. See the Irrationalist Modoxism article that Banana quoted earlier.
Sure, the Rambam held that way. but others, while they agreed that God doesn't have a body (obviously), still held that it is nonetheless not kfira to mistakenly think otherwise
Sorry that was meant to be tagged to your next response
When I think of the Rabbi's exceptional acumen, there are many thought-provoking articles that come to mind, but one which keeps a special place in my heart is entitled "Was Rashi a Corporealist?", and although i disagreed with his conclusion, which I felt that was a bridge too far and even bordered on the heretical, I remember being overawed by the incredible breadth and depth of the scholarship the Rabbi displayed. And although Reb Zundel attempted to convince me yesterday that this article represents no exceptional scholarship, I remain unswayed.
I believe that this post puts that "scholarly" article to rest:
https://irrationalistmodoxism.substack.com/p/was-rashi-a-corporealist
Master Banana, that was the same blog article that Reb Zundel quoted to me in my previous discussion with him regarding this. But given the mean-spiritedness of the article and the blog in general, especially towards a sincere scholar like Rabbi Slifkin, I am afraid I cannot take it seriously, and so I refuse to read it fully. I also noticed that in the comments to that article, Rabbi Slifkin jumps in and claims he was misrepresented, and if he claims that, I am dan lekaf zechus that it is true. That said, I disagreed with Rabbi Slifkin's conclusion in this matter, and felt he was jumping to conclusions, perhaps also out of a desire to demolish a cherished chareidi belief, although of that I am not so sure.
Sincere Scholar - LOL. The only thing NS is sincere about is bashing charedim.
Where do you see the word "Evil"? You can criticize someone without calling them evil. We're not "Palestinians"
"You can criticize someone without calling them evil"
Correct.
But you can't obsessively post derogatory and inciteful posts, about one specific group, without implying that they're evil.
See here as well https://www.rationalistjudaism.com/p/rats-rabbis-and-racists/comment/17456930
Hope that helps!
Please surprise us with a new topic. Maybe something that falls squarely within your area of expertise. Like animals.
Feel free to grow bored and unsubscribe.
Honestly, I wouldn't take the time were it not for the immense talent I see wasted on this nonsense. I posted a strange and obscure ocean crab, and you called it with its Latin
name in a split second . Why are you wasting this great talent shooting goldfish in a barrel. Yea, some chareidim are off the wall. Their theology is oft randomly insensitive to others. You've made the point better than anyone else. Now, stop beating this dead horse and go back to being full time productive, inspiring kids and adults with the wonders of the natural world. Life moves forward, and you, unlike the unwashed rest of us, have something to offer. There will always be another example for you to lampoon. Leave off with the negative sociology. Go forth and help people. You are seduced by this by negativity. Nothing good can come from it. Throw of your self imposed chains and return to the bright blinding light of day. Life isn't short if you know what to do with it. Seneca.
Please no. Aderaba. As R' Hutner allegedly said about the Lubavitcher Rebbe "Ich vinch im a lang lebben zohl di gantze velt zehn vi mushege er iz."
This post cannot be compared to any bashing chareidim post I have read from Slifkin. There is zero bashing in this post. I haven’t seen ANYONE else post such well researched nuances of how chareidim relate to soldiers/Israel. (I presume that is why many are feeling uncomfortable having to think about whether they EVEN have views. Personally, I find that many are simply apathetic to the entire topic - which is something Slifkin missed). To the contrary, if he continues posting real research with respectful tones, he may actually get his points across. The term itself “matzav” in Eretz Yisrael is a euphemism for many to avoid these discussions. In my (litvish) shul I saw a weekly pamphlet called דברי רבותינו לאור המצב that spends the entire weekly bashing the state of Israel and zionists, clearly there is a different meaning to the word “matzav” depending who is speaking.
I agree with this. This post was a great improvement from the previous series, and surely a harbinger of sweet tidings to come.
"In my (litvish) shul I saw a weekly pamphlet called דברי רבותינו לאור המצב that spends the entire weekly bashing the state of Israel and zionists"
Let me guess. It was a cut & paste job, repeating trite anti-Zionist memes from the 1970s or earlier, offering no new insights or thoughtful ideas. Also probably oblivious to the fact that government has been (partially) Charedi for most of the preceding decades. And no doubt the pamphlet offers no real solutions other than to withdraw further inwards, and leave the development of the country to the secular, because we know how good they are at running things. I would be very surprised if the pamphlet called for Torah Jews to become more involved in inculcating government & society with values beyond funding for institutions and continue draft exemptions.
(All speculation, of course.)
I agree that this post as a standalone was not too bad. Guys are just riled up cuz he's been chomping at the bit non-stop for the last month spewing all sorts of trash. And this post got thrown in along with the rest of them.
It's not about the content of the post per se. It's about his obsession.
What about your obsession to knock RNS!? I understand the truth hurts. It's' hard to hairsplit with excuses for disgraceful utterances and actions in of some the chraidi
Thank God he has an obsession. Jews are dying and harmed on the front, while others are sipping their coffee, or hanging out safely shielded by exemption ( yet, many collecting various government financial benefits.). Such inequity deserves "obsession" and a desperate need for change.
Exactly as I just said.
Although I don't think it's 100% accurate. If I were his friend, I would have a few small friendly quibbles on some of the nuances.
Well if he intends to do research exclusively about chareidim, I would advise he writes some positive things about them as well. Otherwise, he comes across as bitter depressed and angry.
While I do agree that RNS wastes his talent and time on relentlessly bashing charedi society, I feel when you write
"I believe that RS has a powerful enmity in his heart...generated by his deacdes long personal feud"
is really unfair on him
It wasn't a personal feud
He was crushed by a monster and anyone in his position would feel broken and bitter about it. It's understandable
Master Eli, based on my recollection of what happened about 20 years ago, and aided by the voluminous material available on the Zoo Torah site, I would agree that Rabbi Slifkin was handled poorly, but I would hardly describe him as crushed by a monster. To the contrary, it seems that like St. George of legend, Rabbi Slifkin stabbed the monster in the eye, no doubt thanks to his mastery of all Torah and Natural History related matters, and successful wielding of the rhetorical pen. Nevertheless, I believe the labors of the battle and subsequent estrangement from the chareidi community embittered him greatly. In any case, I think that Rabbi Slifkin is now in a strong and confident position, and the time has come for him to cast aside these ancient unpleasantries.
"no doubt thanks to his mastery of all Torah"
Is he a master in kabbalah as well?
But aside from past "history", the Rabbi speaks facts and truth and about terrible inequities in Jewish Israeli society: that a group: Chareidi sit around while other Jewish boys and girls are being harmed and killed defending the country, our country, their country ( they do collect government subsidies) is a terrible inequity that needs to be addressed and reconciled. Thanks to Rabbi Slifkin there is finally a strong voice to address it to the "religious" community. Unfortunately he does not do it on a Modern Hebrew platform to reach a broader community.
Master Stuart, although I hear your concerns, I must go on the record in dissent. There is no terrible inequity, since anybody can choose to learn in yeshiva, and those who fight choose to fight instead of learn. Since both of these are honorable decisions that contribute to the welfare of the Jewish people, and any young man can freely decide which task he wants to take on, there is no inequity or unfairness. Therefore, what you have stated is not truth and facts, but is just an opinion, and I am sorry to say it is one that is not rooted in truth.
I don't know anything about that. O am new here and I don't know much about chareidim either. I just thought he was a random hater. If he has been through some serious trauma maybe we should cut him slack. But he should in that case get help! These things don't get better by themselves.
Those who attack him constantly are "random haters". He has a reason to hate. He was as charedi as you or me before he was lynched by Leib Tropper and others.
Honestly I'm very disappointed that you attack him constantly, despite being "new here" and not knowing anything about his history
מי שמך לראש עלינו
Though he insists of course that's NOT the reason he is such a hater.
Ok, you are right. I won't attack him like that any longer. I don't know who Leib Tropper is.
Getzel, very unfair
אל תדין עד שתגיע למקומו
What would you have done in his position.
Thrown away labour of several years because of things you were unjustly accused of writing?
Remember he had very decent haskomos.
Master Charles, I believe Rabbi Slifkin sincerely maintains that chareidim are the greatest threat to Israel that exists. You can see this from many past posts where he claims that chareidim are a looming catastrophe that will lead to the downfall of the country. Therefore, it is no surprise that he spends so much energy writing about chareidim, since for him, it is truly the most important thing in the world. The only surprise is that Rabbi Slifkin doesn't post about them even more often, twice a day and three times on Shabbos, since he holds it is pikuach nefesh. However I want to go on the record saying that I strongly disagree with Rabbi Slifkin on this matter, and to the contrary, the chareidim's merits are what enables the endurance of Israel, may Hashem bless all her inhabitants. I believe that Rabbi Slifkin unfortunately has an exceedingly powerful enmity in his heart for chareidim, no doubt generated by his decades old personal feud with them, which is the cause of this unbelievably warped perspective. However, I have no doubt that upon seeing all the comments here in support of chareidim, he will soon change his opinion for the better. There is nothing like constructive, amicable dialogue to cause a meeting of the minds, and the internet, despite its many flaws enables this better than anything else.
How do you account for all those who share my exact concerns and critiques of charedi society but did not have their books banned?
They don't have blogs dedicated to the downfall of charedim.
Rabbi Slifkin, this is an excellent question. And the answer is that as far as I can tell, there are very few people, barring those who are extremely anti-religious, who are as pre-occupied with this topic as you are. You have been posting an article about the chareidim every day, for weeks at a time, which makes it look like your entire relationship with the war in Israel revolves around your dispute with chareidim, which I'm sure must be unusual even for people who have concerns and critiques of chareidim. Some would even term it a full-blown obsession. Besides for this, you also go far beyond the economic and military concerns regarding the chareidim, and delve deeply into their feelings and beliefs, attempting to show that they don't really have concern and gratitude for soldiers, or that they don't really believe their learning and tefillah is a defensive contribution, and thus you try to paint them as a cynical, selfish community. This is why I strongly believe that the roots of this pre-occupation of your's lies in your personal trauma involving the chareidim, rather than dry economic and military analysis, which truth be told, I have not seen much of on this site. Of course, I may be wrong, but as the Gemara says, ain ledayan ela ma she'einav ro'os. In any case, I am positive that the immense outpouring of support for both you and your chareidi brothers will soon convince you to end this crusade, and to return to a state of idylic, brotherly love.
Maybe the gedolim made him into who he is by canceling him. Thats a possibility. They pretty much stopped major banning since.
Furthermore, Why should Natan have followed some Rabbis over others? There are and were Gedolim who had no issue with what he wrote.
כל הכבוד RNS. Your articles are revealing. These ליציםwon't face the truth. Hence they run like the cowards they are.The truth hurts and they are part of the hairsplitting pretzel making crowd who want to run from it .
It's already Monday, a full moon, and no werewolves yet?
Right on Rabbi! Write on!!!
Here, here! Power to ya!
Oh I'm not bored. You are too much fun and too easy of a target for me to be bored.
You don't like hearing the truth! Sad. Learn from it to be a better person.
To what truth am I resistant?
Maybe that you're a sadistic and despicable human being for being motivated, as an adult let alone as a frum person, by things like this (?) :
"Oh I'm not bored. You are too much fun and too easy of a target for me to be bored."
and did I say anything about being a frum person?
It's possible
For those who are unaware.
In Williamsburg/Boro Park, the filters on computers are controlled by the Mosdos. It is insufficient to sign that you have a filter, you need to show them that you have a specific filter, or one of a number of approved filters. Satmar, the largest operation in Brooklyn, allows filters that permit ivelt.com (the Yiddish site linked to in the post), but not those that allow kaveshtiebel.com. The reason for this is, Ivelt follows their rules, and kaveshtiebel does not.
For this reason, Ivelt must strictly self-censor to the Satmar standards. They cannot allow a post that would not be permitted in Der Yid. Most people writing there, when corresponding in private, chafe about these rules. But they know that they have no option, the filters will stop allowing ivelt through if 'Zionism' is permitted, and the parameters of Zionism are very strict, perhaps even stricter than Satmar, because they are too scared to allow anything.
So Ivelt does not represent anything more than Satmar, who always held that Zionism is evil, and the Tzahal is more damaging than helpful, and that we must pray for salvation without the assistance of Tzahal. I don't agree with them, but this is one opinion.
This is fascinating and illuminating, Reb Zundel, and surely goes a long way in explaining the limited variety of material available on ivelt.com.
So there are many different people called Charedim, with many different attitudes, beliefs, and lifestyles.
What an insight!
There is no central command controlling people's thoughts, there are no belief police out there. The only thing they have in common is that they have dedicated their lives to keeping Torah as best as they understand. They are not looking to compromise with their Yetzer Hara, they are not looking to put a hechsher on their assimilation. That is Charedism in a nutshell. Whether they support soldiers or not is immaterial, that is mere details. Some believe that supporting soldiers is a spiritual danger, others believe that it is not. But both take spiritual dangers seriously.
Something so foundational is far from immaterial. It all depends on life priorities
It is immaterial to the essence of Charedism. Charedism isn't about having or not having hakaras hatov to soldiers. It is about taking Torah and Yiddishkeit seriously. How to interpret the Torah is mere details.
Then what differentiates it from Dati Leumi? There are many Dati Leumi who take Judaism seriously as well. There are also chareidim who dont take halacha seriously.
It's about the culture and belief system, not the individual.
I thought that was obvious.
The Dati Leumi belief system dosent emphasize שמירת התורה any less. Its about what is included in Torah.
Can someone please sponsor some groups to the museum. I’m afraid it’s reached a point of pikuach nefesh. The poor Doctor has become so obsessed, he’s in danger of completely losing it!!
His name is Lipa Schmeltzer and he has a long history.
Indeed.
Could be I thought the numbers were smaller than they really are. People should have no problem davening for soldiers. Period. For our brothers. They're how we're meant to look at it. I have no idea how that will turn into glorifying them over talmidei chachamim.
But for sure in America the numbers of people who share the ideology that there's something wrong with this is very small. There are lampreys me letters and cards with names circulating all around and people are definitely talking about the war and sakana as if they truly care. They do.
I wonder how many people in Israel share this sentiment. It could be brisk thinks like this so that probably includes a whole bunch of people. But they are a smaller number than you think, and not the mainstream opinion at all at all.
I'm guessing you don't live in Boro Park or Williamsburg.
Chasidim are not part of the same category as chareidim at all. You know that.
He knows very well. He realizes he is defeated and is desperate so he's moving the goal posts - Now all charedim are represented by Satmar and co.
Why? We are all connected. On a similar note, Litvish apathy is a default win for chasiddish shitos
So is one to be mevatel daas to the gedolim or not? I think not because I'm not a charedi/charedi lite. But if you are a charedi, then you aren't being consistent if you ignore the moetzes when you don't like what they say.
Which part of what Shulman wrote is not being mevatel da'as to the Gedolim?
On Nachshon Wachsman who was kidnapped (and later killed) by Hamas, RMDS complained "What's the whole world making a fuss, he's no more than a Zionist soldier!"
https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/709561 - 69 minutes
Your daughter is a hero of the Jewish people
"bemoans the fact that this has become something that needs to be said."
Yes I bemoan the fact that a Palestinian group whose ideology isn't much different from that of the Nazis started a war and (1) Jews aren't 100% unified against them, and (2) they are getting tacit support from poltical extremists on both the Right and the Left in the United States.
Tacit support? There are open demonstrations across the US by progressives in support of Hamas.
Besides for maybe Neturei Karta, all Jews are against Hamas.
Which far-Right US politicians are providing tacit approval to Hamas? I was only aware of far-Left ones.
"Besides for maybe Neturei Karta, all Jews are against Hamas."
Unfortunately, not true. I've seen articles/pictures (from various news sources) from both the USA and Britain of Jews joining pro-Palestinian marches for a cease-fire. Well, at least they claim to be Jews. (I guess I should hope that they're not.) But certainly the world sees them as Jews and therefore sees that not all Jews agree with Israel's position.
Correct. But those are generally liberal secular Jews. I understood Mr. Hall to be referring to religious Jews, which was the context of the conversation.
You still haven't answered why you care if we daven for the IDF if it doesn't change things....
Because the answer should be obvious. While I don't believe that the prayer of those who shirk their obligation carries merit, at least it would show that they care somewhat.
What Rabbi Slifkin? You don't believe the prayers of the people who shirk what you think is their obligation carries any merit? Where on earth did you get that from? Is that something that you concluded from studying Hilchos Tefillah? Do you believe that the chareidim are reshayim, and therefore fall into the category of zevach reshayim to'evah? Such a perspective is almost too unbelievably warped to imagine, and I am confident that you cannot really mean what you wrote.
But wait a minute. Aren't Rabbi Feldman and his talmid in Baltimore? So how are they "shirking their obligation"?
R. Feldman shirked his obligation with fhe rally.
Other than 'solidarity' with Israel, did the rally accomplish anything tangible? Israel was not in existential danger and the US was already supportive of their push to wipe out Hamas. Assuming one believes in the tremendous merit of Torah learning, I would think that he was assuming more responsibility for the cause by telling his talmidim and followers to stay in Yeshiva and Kollel and learn.
This, of course, is aside from Rabbi Feldman's reason for opposing the rally.
He himself said it was a matter of pikuach nefesh. There are plenty of actors here in the US who would like to force Israel into a ceasefire and it is a continuing effort to get US support for Israel. Direct financial aid has been held up now and will be subject to political fights in congress. And Israel is definitely facing an existential threat with the hit to the economy this war is taking. It costs a lot to fight.
He said it was a matter of pikuach nefesh?
Israel is always in existential danger. Check their history.
Talmidim can carry their gemarrah to the rally and learn. ( They do take showers without their chavrusah)
Great idea!
Ok. So the next time agudah or whoever boast about the millions of people attending the daf yomi siyum, go tell them 1,000 was enough and the rest should be learning torah somewhere in a beis hamedrash (or at home). What do the extra folk achieve tangibly exactly? More than learning torah)? That justifies leaving learning?
If you don't appreciate how each individual on his own is nothing, but if that individual would not turn up, the numbers would be low and innefective, no amount of explaining will help.
Why is it shirking? he gave a reason , you may not agree, but why should you define others responsibilities?
In your opinion.
Yes, they're obligated to ALL Jews, where ever they are.
Thanks, Stu! I'll take note of that. Do you rule on Halachic questions as well? Please post your WhatsApp so I can start sending you my maros.
I do give answers to Halachic questions that I know the answers to. I don't "rule". However, if you and I ever get shipwrecked on an abandoned island, feel free to consult me on anything you're having issues with. I'm a wealth of opinions ( or consult your nearest other human).
Are you admitting that if they wouldn't be shirking then it WOULD carry weight?
Welcome home Achi❤
"While I don't believe that the prayer of those who shirk their obligation carries merit" Do you have a source for this belief?
Is their a source for this? One who lacks השתדלות has no merit? Or is he just punished for lacking השתדלות.
Good point.
Because it's the right thing to do! It shows concern, sympathy, empathy. It may even push you over to physically do something to help the soldiers, like volunteer services, donate for protective and other necessary equipment that the government does not provide. Just put you in a whole other frame of mind existence, that may even influence others to paray and do, and encourage and anything positive other than sitting on your ass like a stone!
He isn't going to. He is moving on to an entirely new topic. He will soon be nauseatingly repetitive by bashing chareidim. He's out and about and mixing things up.
I have read all the posts that accuse the Rabbi of charedi bashing. But I have a question to all those offended people. The soldiers of the IDF are risking and in some cases losing their lives in order to protect the country from being overrun by terrorists. If Moshe Rabbeinu had hakarat hatov to the nile why can't your communities have the same for the soldiers who are risking their lives for them? And why won't you daven for the safety of people who have put themselves in danger to protect you?
This is the exact point of contention though , the counter claim from the Chareidim here is literally that , that they do have hakarat hatov.No one is condoning any lack of that.(Of course there are exceptions etc etc..)
So why was R. Kirschenbaum upset, if the phenomenon doesn't exist?
Did you actually listen to Rabbi Kirschenbaum's speech? Or did you hear a third-hand synopsis?
He isn't upset at a phenomenon, he is upset at the questioners for asking what they asked.
It does exist. On the more extreme end of the spectrum. But these posts make it sound like it is mainstream. You don't have multiple posts condemning Neturei Karta, because everyone realizes that they are a fringe group and do not represent the beliefs of others. The majority of Charedim do have hakaras hatov to the soldiers.
Come on, you know that. Stop playing dumb!
This is the exact point that I just cannot understand.
Charles Joseph claims that RNS is obsessed with charedi bashing, but Charles has posted more comments bashing RNS than RNS has posted threads bashing Charedim
Pot calling kettle, anyone?
Really now. So what's the final tally?
Beautiful video at the end from Lipa, who has a long history of supporting the IDF (in spite of the fact that he grew up in New Square which is far from Zionist) - however there has been pushback against him in the community. I read recently that a concert of his was cancelled because of his support for soldiers, however in spite of that he did not apologize or back down from his support.
Rabbi Slifkin, it appears that you are conflating not davening for the soldiers specifically with not being grateful to the soldiers, or not caring for the soldiers, or not having them in mind when davening. But this is a totally unwarranted conclusion. Although in my very yeshivish community, we daven for specific soldiers through specific names, I know plenty of communities where they don't, yet still are grateful for the soldiers and care deeply about them, and have them in mind when davening and saying tehillim for acheinu.
What community are you part of, just by the way?
I would guess he's a Chafetz Chaim type. Very yeshivish because in his shul they wear gray hats instead of cowboy hats.
And your super yeshivish cuz you can't even spell chofetz correctly. Get a life.
Lol, sorry! He's actually a personal friend and I was kidding!
It would appear to me that most of the commentators arguing with you take the notion that Tefillah works as a "soft factor." That is to say, there are some "hard factors" in war, such as military production, amount of soldiers, and technology. But there's other components as wells, known as "soft factors." These are harder to measure things, such as morale, ergonomics of equipment, and communications.
Soft factors are clearly important, but it is very difficult to measure the specific marginal benefit of incremental increases of them. How much does one extra hour of sleep impact a soldier's performance? It's hard to tell.
I don't think there is much analysis done beyond this. It's just, "learning torah is a soft factor contributing to the success of the IDF, and therefore, we should continue as things are."
I don't have a solution about how to balance Torah as a soft factor. There seems to be a complete refusal to seriously engage in calculation for these. For example, with regards to R' Feldman - there are approximately 2 million Palestinians living in Gaza. If 1000 women would recite 20 tehillim every day, then that would wipe out the entire Palestinian population living in Gaza in under four months.
We are obviously not seeing this, meaning that R' Feldman was "exaggerating," because how can we calculate these soft factors?
So, in the same sense that we demand less sleep for our soldiers because the hard factor of another solider on duty is greater then the marginal benefit of him being more alert, I think it's reasonable to say that the marginal benefit of reducing overall Torah learning would be compensated via the hard benefit of having more soldiers.
Even if many can't bring themselves to say the word "soldiers", who do you think they're davening for? The danger away from the front isn't that significant.