The Dati Roshei Yeshiva Speak Out
About the charedi avoidance of army service
It has been an especially challenging week, with the deaths of numerous soldiers, including many from the dati-leumi community. Meanwhile at the Knesset, the charedi parties UTJ and Shas, along with their enablers from Likud and Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit, are figuring out how to legalize the charedi avoidance of army service and how to grant financial benefits for charedim and remove any incentive for them to serve. Consequently, two roshei yeshiva from the Dati-Leumi community have just spoken up again about the charedi avoidance of the army. One is Rav Yitzchak Shilat, Rosh Yeshiva of Maale Adumim, in a letter to his students, presented here in English translation:
To our dear students and graduates, to the dear parents, and to all friends of our Yeshiva, may they live long.
These are difficult days. Mourning and sorrow, courage and hope fill our hearts, bringing forth intense emotions and complex thoughts. The involvement of the religious Zionist community, including the Torah scholars from our yeshivas, rabbis, and their students, in the war effort, and regrettably also in the hospitals and military cemeteries, has already become part of the public discourse.
We stand in awe of the extraordinary bravery of the bereaved families, who express words of faith, encouragement, and hope even amidst their grief, drawing strength from them to continue boldly the process of Israel's restoration, defeating its enemies, and realizing its purpose and redemption.
The matter at hand is the participation of our Haredi brothers in the war effort. We must state clearly and unequivocally: there is no halachic or moral justification for exempting part of the nation from military service and participation in the mitzvah of assisting Israel in need, neither for “those who do not study” nor for those who do. “For a milchemet mitzvah, all must go out, even a groom from his chamber,” (citing Rambam - N.S.) “and certainly Torah scholars” (citing Keren Orah - N.S.). The misconception that learning Torah exempts one from army service is nothing less than a distortion of the halacha, whether accidentally or intentionally. Lies and injustice in the name of the Torah are worse than ordinary lies and injustices.
It is clear to us that the problem will not be solved through coercion by military police. Persuasion, education, and personal example through gentle and brotherly means will be more beneficial, even if they take a long time. However, it must be made clear unequivocally to all members of the Knesset who see themselves as religious Zionists, from all parties, that legislation that permanently exempts Torah students from military service is a betrayal of the values of religious Zionism. One can think of partial, temporary, and gradual solutions, but under no circumstances should there be a permanent exemption by law.
We will continue to stand and fight as long as we are required. The spirit of courage, faith, and brotherhood of the fighters, shoulder to shoulder with all the soldiers of the IDF in regular and reserve service, will continue to prevail in the battlefield. The Torah, by the strength of which we go to war, will accompany us and illuminate our path until complete victory soon, with God’s help and salvation.
Be strong and we will strengthen ourselves for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God (in Israel). May the Lord give strength to His people; may the Lord bless His people with peace.
Yitzhak Shilat
The other Rosh Yeshiva to speak up is Rav Tamir Granot, in a powerful video directed at the charedi community:
Please spread these messages to those who need to hear them.
A full list of my posts on the topic of IDF service is at Torah and Army: The Big Index
While I appreciate these talmidei chachamim speaking to our community in a reasonable way, I think they would be better off focusing on the problems in their own community, which are far worse. The fact is that they have failed to balance both the Torah and Zionism while upholding the integrity of the Torah. Zionism is a far greater value to them, which is why these communities have much worse observance and a much greater OTD rate than chareidim. Let them rectify their own problems before they preach to us.
I didn't listen to the audio yet, but on the first letter, it's so simple that there is milchemes mitzvah today? (It's not.) And even if it does apply (it very much may), does that mean there are no other legitimate reasons within a Torah framework to navigate the system carefully and not act to hasty at risk of jeopardizing charedi values? There are clear halachos on how the chachmei hatorah of every generation have the right to make decisions to uphold the upkeep of Torah. I'm not sure why it's a "distortion of Torah" just because things are more complicated and grey.
That said, most people here know position that there absolutely needs to be a change within the Charedi community and it's truly not right that they are living a different life and not sharing the burden. But the lack of understanding, while understandable from the hamon am (I can even justify anger on their part), from a Rosh Yeshiva who is representing torah, is sad.