Your comment caught my attention, and I thought I would leave a quick response. It deserves a lengthier one from someone who knows more, but I can try to answer from my perspective.
First, with every political question in Israel, things are never one dimensional. The state was set up with certain agreements that are being violated.
Second, many readers of this website identify themselves as Charedim and/or have children or family in Israel who self identify as Charedi. For a person who cares about Chilul Hashem, I’m surprised that you would be so casual about leaving such a hurtful comment.
Next is the concept of Chilul Hashem. That is a term that is connected to what does or does not go according to the will of Hashem. I am very aware of the arguments on both sides. There are learned and good people on both sides, but the vast majority of great scholars alive today would, I am quite certain, disagree very strongly with your summation.
Lastly, I once heard a rabbi point out that armies don’t send their generals on to the front line. Neither will the engineers or doctors go to where the physical fighting is. K’lal Yisroel lives in this world, but Hashem makes it very clear to us that our rules are not to be what our logic will always dictate. When we fight, we also need officers and engineers, but we also have a miracle corps. They have no business fighting. Are there cowards who shirk their responsibility? Probably, but I can tell you that I have met hundreds of Charedim, and their prayers and Torah learning is an essential part of the safety to the Jewish people. They have love and respect for their less religious Jews.
I have friends and relatives in the IDF, and I honor their bravery and service. I hope that you will open your mind and your heart and get to know some more Charedim. They are not a monolithic body, despite their similarity in dress. They are, in general, God fearing, lovers of the Torah and the Jewish people. You might disagree with them, but I sincerely hope that you will allow yourself to see that these are good people that you are so opposed to. They have Torah based opinions of what is best for the Jewish people.
Mandy says
Is this about Charedim avoiding the draft? A chillul hashem, why are we praying for them?
Shmuel says
Hi Mandy,
Your comment caught my attention, and I thought I would leave a quick response. It deserves a lengthier one from someone who knows more, but I can try to answer from my perspective.
First, with every political question in Israel, things are never one dimensional. The state was set up with certain agreements that are being violated.
Second, many readers of this website identify themselves as Charedim and/or have children or family in Israel who self identify as Charedi. For a person who cares about Chilul Hashem, I’m surprised that you would be so casual about leaving such a hurtful comment.
Next is the concept of Chilul Hashem. That is a term that is connected to what does or does not go according to the will of Hashem. I am very aware of the arguments on both sides. There are learned and good people on both sides, but the vast majority of great scholars alive today would, I am quite certain, disagree very strongly with your summation.
Lastly, I once heard a rabbi point out that armies don’t send their generals on to the front line. Neither will the engineers or doctors go to where the physical fighting is. K’lal Yisroel lives in this world, but Hashem makes it very clear to us that our rules are not to be what our logic will always dictate. When we fight, we also need officers and engineers, but we also have a miracle corps. They have no business fighting. Are there cowards who shirk their responsibility? Probably, but I can tell you that I have met hundreds of Charedim, and their prayers and Torah learning is an essential part of the safety to the Jewish people. They have love and respect for their less religious Jews.
I have friends and relatives in the IDF, and I honor their bravery and service. I hope that you will open your mind and your heart and get to know some more Charedim. They are not a monolithic body, despite their similarity in dress. They are, in general, God fearing, lovers of the Torah and the Jewish people. You might disagree with them, but I sincerely hope that you will allow yourself to see that these are good people that you are so opposed to. They have Torah based opinions of what is best for the Jewish people.
Very respectfully,
Shmuel