The Turning of the Tide

American yeshivish donors take a stand

Here’s an amazing new development. A group of people in the US - the sort who write checks to yeshivos - have created “The Coalition for Talmud Torah and Security.” They issued a press release announcing that while they tremendously value supporting Torah study, they also value the IDF, and they will not donate to yeshivos that denigrate the IDF!

Here’s the text of the letter:

“The Jewish nation is under sustained attack from enemies of Hashem and His Torah who find common cause in harming His people. The battle against the Jews has been globalized. Intimidation and violence are now taking place across the streets of Europe and North America, and in other parts of the world, culminating most recently in the horrific massacre at Bondi Beach, Australia. Enemies of the Jewish people grow more vocal and emboldened by the day, and the illusion that any country is a safe haven for Jews is rapidly collapsing.

“The security of Israel has become a personal and critical matter. Developments worldwide indicate that our people’s future is increasingly tied to Eretz Yisrael, and that Jewish safety across the Diaspora depends on the strength of the Jewish state and its unique capacity to deter and respond to threats beyond its borders.

“In these dangerous times, we feel the imperative, as servants of Hashem and lovers of His Torah, to stand as one in support of our unified interests. The Israel Defence Forces (“IDF”) bear the responsibility for the physical protection of the Jewish people in the State of Israel. We support them and daven for their success, together with the broader security and intelligence apparatus that assists in safeguarding all Jewish life.

“Therefore, we make our position explicit. We remain wholly committed to the support of Torah, Yeshivas, Kollelim and Talmidei Chachamim — the very life force of our holy nation. And because of that commitment to the Torah Chaim, we cannot in good conscience support institutions whose public posture undermines those charged with defending Jewish life. Accordingly, we will only provide financial support to Torah institutions that do not publicly speak against, protest, or delegitimize the IDF while they bear the burden of defending Jewish lives. This policy will remain in effect until such positions are reconsidered in a manner consistent with the defense of Jewish life.

“This stance takes no position on the current debate regarding the draft. It addresses only the propriety of public opposition to the IDF during an ongoing defense of Jewish life.

“We state this position in unity and responsibility, confident that the strength of our people lies in the alignment of Torah, security and mutual commitment. Through achdus, may we merit the geulah sheleimah, b’karov.

“The undersigned have approved this letter and electronically affixed their signatures hereto.”

The above is followed by a list of around 100 signatures, notably including David Schottenstein.

I have to say that when I first saw it, I had mixed feelings. On the one hand, it’s incredible to see people actually taking a stand. On the other hand, the letter sets a very low bar. It explicitly does not take a stance on there being an exemption for charedim. And it’s not saying that they will only support yeshivos that support army service; it’s only saying that they will not support yeshivos that publicly speak out against the IDF.

But then I changed my mind. By taking a more restrained stance, they doubtless managed to recruit much wider support. And even this very limited position is pushing all the right buttons. At the popular charedi news site Bechadrei Charedim, the reaction is one of hysteria. They describe it as “shocking,” as “a harsh blow to the world of Torah,” as “harming and insulting(!)” the Gedolei Torah who are suffering from government budget cuts and need to travel abroad to raise funds.

It’s interesting that Bechadrei Chadarim rates the very idea of not financially supporting rabbis who explicitly insult the IDF and hesder yeshivos as being “insulting” to Gedolim. But this attitude perfectly demonstrates the value of this letter. In charedi society, even the slightest public pushback against the most extreme behavior is unthinkable. When people do it, even in the most polite and restrained way, it’s ground-shattering.

Note that there are no rabbis’ names on the list of signatories. I think that this is wonderful. These people are not playing the game of “whose rabbi is bigger.” As a friend of mine pointed out, the Charedi yeshivos don’t need the Torah of the donors and their rabbis, they need their money. And as much as they profess to believe that everything is in the Hands of Hashem, Who only cares about rewarding Torah study, they clearly don’t actually believe that - as the hysterical reaction and vitriol to the signatories demonstrates.

I’m in a WhatsApp group with many parents of (frum) soldiers and reservists, and they are profoundly grateful for this letter. The organizers of the letter have invited others to attach their signatures, at this link. I strongly encourage people to do so!