As an Israeli, I can tell you this with deep sincerity: if you had spent months on end in uniform, risking your life, leaving your family behind, and carrying the weight of protecting this country, you would understand the frustration, and more importantly, the urgent need for shared responsibility.
This isn’t about bashing anyone. It’s about fairness, solidarity, and survival. When we are at war, when our people are in danger, it’s only natural to expect that everyone who can - should take part in protecting the home.
This is not just a military issue, it’s a moral one. No society can thrive when a growing part of its population refuses to carry the same burden as the rest, especially at a time of existential threat.
People can do both!
Take for example (and there are so many more):
1. Rabbi Shlomo Goren
Chief Rabbi of the IDF and later Chief Rabbi of Israel. Fought in the War of Independence and Six-Day War. Was at the liberation of the Western Wall in 1967, sounding the shofar in tears and triumph. Deeply religious and committed to both Torah and national defense
2. Ro'i Klein
An observant Jew and IDF major in the Golani Brigade. In the Second Lebanon War, he threw himself on a grenade to save his soldiers. Died reciting Shema Yisrael, his final words. Remembered as a symbol of religious faith and self-sacrifice
3. Eliraz Peretz
Son of Miriam Peretz, a bereaved mother turned national figure. A religious IDF commander in the elite Golani unit, was killed in combat in Gaza; his brother Uriel also fell in service. Known for his deep Torah study and humility alongside fearless leadership
4. Hadar Goldin
An officer in the elite Givati Brigade, kidnapped and killed by Hamas in 2014. Deeply rooted in Torah, values, and moral responsibility. His family continues to fight for the return of his body.
Your comment "that the meal you had, you would remember for a long time". Reminds me of the time we went to Manchester and were staying at the Foyders hotel. The Israeli Lady taxi driver when we told her where we are going, told us somrthing we were surprised - you will remember this hotel for a long time. She was right we stayed at hundreds of hotels in our lives, but have hardly a memory of but we can never forget this one.
Sweet ,nice people but for an American this will stay with your memory
In July of 2024 I saw the mothers of Agam and Omer Shem Tov speak. I wrote about it on Substack , before it was trendy to cite Agam Berger. These parents and many others were influenced by Kesher Yehudi (in fact this is the organization which brought them to speak), as well as Ayelet HaShachar. Both of these are Chareidi organizations which have provided support and encouragement. They brought the families of hostages to Kever Rachel, to kvarim in the North, and to trips for “chizuk” to kvarim in chutz l”Aretz. These organizations started a kollel in hostage square. They introduced families to the idea of Shabbat and prayer, which were life-savers in times of unbearable suffering. Yes, Chareidi organization.
The quote of one who has saved the life it's as if they saved the world is my Jewish parachute safety net
I'm running with the theory that the three human lives that I saved were Jewish therefore all of my shrugging of my duties is covered and then I refer to the rabbis in the camps who put God on trial and found him guilty as for the reinforcement of it will be fine doing what I'm doing... What a wonderful wacky tribe we are
The whole point of that story is that immediately after finding God "guilty" someone klops on the table and gheh begin davening Maariv. No one shrugs anything.
Not sure why this has to be a bash. It's obsessive and weird. Whatever.
Here's my take, along with many others: Shai is a true gadol and so is Agam. And I'm charedi.
Why do you perceive it as a bash?
As an Israeli, I can tell you this with deep sincerity: if you had spent months on end in uniform, risking your life, leaving your family behind, and carrying the weight of protecting this country, you would understand the frustration, and more importantly, the urgent need for shared responsibility.
This isn’t about bashing anyone. It’s about fairness, solidarity, and survival. When we are at war, when our people are in danger, it’s only natural to expect that everyone who can - should take part in protecting the home.
This is not just a military issue, it’s a moral one. No society can thrive when a growing part of its population refuses to carry the same burden as the rest, especially at a time of existential threat.
People can do both!
Take for example (and there are so many more):
1. Rabbi Shlomo Goren
Chief Rabbi of the IDF and later Chief Rabbi of Israel. Fought in the War of Independence and Six-Day War. Was at the liberation of the Western Wall in 1967, sounding the shofar in tears and triumph. Deeply religious and committed to both Torah and national defense
2. Ro'i Klein
An observant Jew and IDF major in the Golani Brigade. In the Second Lebanon War, he threw himself on a grenade to save his soldiers. Died reciting Shema Yisrael, his final words. Remembered as a symbol of religious faith and self-sacrifice
3. Eliraz Peretz
Son of Miriam Peretz, a bereaved mother turned national figure. A religious IDF commander in the elite Golani unit, was killed in combat in Gaza; his brother Uriel also fell in service. Known for his deep Torah study and humility alongside fearless leadership
4. Hadar Goldin
An officer in the elite Givati Brigade, kidnapped and killed by Hamas in 2014. Deeply rooted in Torah, values, and moral responsibility. His family continues to fight for the return of his body.
Yes and yes! But don't let word get out that you had a meal with the gedolim ;)
And refua shleima from the food poisoning. It seems to happen more frequently on Pesach. Maybe time for a rationalist post about that
It seems you had to title your post, "The גדולים and גדולות Among Us."
The latter are definitely out there. As you have so convincingly demonstrated.
Toda Raba! Thank you for writing and sharing these essays with us. I print them out and enjoy them on Shabbat.
I'd like to invite you to read my post, as I've only recently started writing and sharing:
https://michalila.substack.com/p/on-love-and-freedom-part-1-the-freedom
Your comment "that the meal you had, you would remember for a long time". Reminds me of the time we went to Manchester and were staying at the Foyders hotel. The Israeli Lady taxi driver when we told her where we are going, told us somrthing we were surprised - you will remember this hotel for a long time. She was right we stayed at hundreds of hotels in our lives, but have hardly a memory of but we can never forget this one.
Sweet ,nice people but for an American this will stay with your memory
BS"D
And why?
Thanks for quoting the פלא יועץ.
It's an amazing piece of advice.
well said. Agam, as well as all the IDF soldiers, are the true gedolim of this world. more credit should be given to them
Shai Graucher will be lighting a torch on Yom HaAtzmaut.
In July of 2024 I saw the mothers of Agam and Omer Shem Tov speak. I wrote about it on Substack , before it was trendy to cite Agam Berger. These parents and many others were influenced by Kesher Yehudi (in fact this is the organization which brought them to speak), as well as Ayelet HaShachar. Both of these are Chareidi organizations which have provided support and encouragement. They brought the families of hostages to Kever Rachel, to kvarim in the North, and to trips for “chizuk” to kvarim in chutz l”Aretz. These organizations started a kollel in hostage square. They introduced families to the idea of Shabbat and prayer, which were life-savers in times of unbearable suffering. Yes, Chareidi organization.
"Similarly they said that even the “empty ones” of Israel are as fully of mitzvot as a pomegranate is full of seeds"
So Rav Dov Landou has a chelek in olam haba, just like anyone else Jewish.
The quote of one who has saved the life it's as if they saved the world is my Jewish parachute safety net
I'm running with the theory that the three human lives that I saved were Jewish therefore all of my shrugging of my duties is covered and then I refer to the rabbis in the camps who put God on trial and found him guilty as for the reinforcement of it will be fine doing what I'm doing... What a wonderful wacky tribe we are
The whole point of that story is that immediately after finding God "guilty" someone klops on the table and gheh begin davening Maariv. No one shrugs anything.
THIS one was clear and straight, without jabs, hyperbole self aggrandizement.
Yeishar koiakh. A gut Moed, to Gedoilim and katanim : )
Seems we have our own Passover plagues….
Wow!