[Be-Ahavah U-Be-Emunah - Shemini
5774 - translated by R. Blumberg]
As I wrote a week ago, Charedi Judaism
represents the authentic first floor of the Jewish People. Yet now the time has
come to add a second floor, or more precisely, to restore the second floor that
disappeared in the Exile: the rebirth of the Nation in its Land, according to
its Torah.
The Nation’s rebirth does not in the least
nullify the need for Charedi Jewry. It just augments it. As Rashi said, “The Torah’s
saying ‘these’ negates what preceded. The Torah’s saying ‘and these’ adds to
what preceded.” The Nation’s rebirth does not replace Charedism, but adds to
it. It is not an alternative. It is cumulative.
And once again, we are not talking about an
addition, but a restoration of what was previously existed. As our Sages said
at the beginning of Megillah: “They forgot them, and then they reestablished
them” (Megillah 3a). Rabbenu Ha-Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook explained all this at
length in his article, “Teshuvah U-Berur Devarim”.
Not only does the Nation’s rebirth in its land
not serve to weaken Charedism, but quite the contrary. It should strengthen it
all the more, as is explained in Letter 378 of Maran Ha-Rav Avraham Yitzchak
Hakohen Kook, which was printed at the start of Orot Ha-Teshuvah.
And altogether, such was the great vision of
Rav Kook, which he called “The Flag of Jerusalem”, meaning, bonding Torah-true
Judaism to the great ideal of the return to Zion and the rebuilding of the Land
and the entire renewing of our days as of old. Yet in his time that vision did
not find practical fulfillment. The generation was not yet ready.
All the same, that vision is now, slowly,
being revealed, in measured, cautious steps.
Indeed, before the establishment of the State
of Israel, the Agudat Yisrael was very opposed to this entire process, which
was considered a dangerous innovation, and they even did not encourage moving
to Israel. Yet after the State’s establishment a slow process of propitiation
began. A representative of Agudat Yisrael signed Israel’s Declaration of
Independence. The Charedim began joining the Knesset, and, later on, the
government. At first they did so as deputy ministers, and later on as
ministers, and now they actively strive to be part of the government.
Obviously, none of this nullifies their justified opposition to all the
processes of separating church and state, as regards civil marriage,
non-halachic conversions, etc. Yet let us not forget that all of that
opposition does not constitute hatred, G-d forbid, but vigilance. As Rav Kook said, beneath a veil of
accusations and contention lies a marvelous love (Orot, Orot Ha-Techiyah 25).
The Charedim recoiled from army service as
well, both because of Torah learners, who are the Nation’s spiritual army, and
as far as the Charedim in general, due to their fears regarding religious life
in the army. Yet the truth must be stated that during Israel’s War of
Independence, Charedim took part. There was the Tuviah Battalion, which
included Yeshiva students from all the yeshivot of Jerusalem, who defended
Jerusalem. After that, as well, there was the original version of the Nachal
Charedi during the years 5720-5730, with its base in the town of Komemiyut. And
now, in 5762, the Nahal Haredi Battalion was established once more, “Netzach
Yehudah”, which is linked to Agudat Yisrael Youth, and which enjoys the support
of Charedi rabbis. Netzach Yehudah has produced, and continues to produce
excellent fighters. Finally, in 5767, “Shachar” was created, standing for
“Shiluv Charedim” [Charedi integration], which likewise brings great blessing.
The percentages of Charedim who enlist are increasing significantly from year
to year.
All this has been happening without coercion,
without threats of imprisonment or financial penalties, out of mutual trust and
the creation of frameworks suitable for Charedim, without women, with the
highest Kashrut standards, with a battalion Rabbi, Torah lectures, times for
prayer, and more. And with G-d’s help, this trend is on the rise. As I said,
all this has happened without coercion, based on mutual trust involving
voluntary enlistment.
The same is true regarding work. At one time,
until 5750, Charedi youths learned a trade, and it is that way today with
Charedi Jewry abroad. Following the Holocaust and the destruction of the Torah
in Europe, the great Charedi rabbis ruled that Torah learning must be
strengthened before all else, and at the expense of all else. Yet down through
the years a situation of economic duress was created amongst Charedi Jewry. The
average salary of the Charedi family is half that of a secular family, and it
goes without saying that the Charedi family has more than twice the number of
children of a secular family. Here are some figures from the Bureau of
Statistics from 5769: an average income of less than NIS 2000 per person:
secular - 24%; traditional - 37%; religious - 48%; Charedim - 52%. Working
wives: secular – 88%; traditional – 80%; religious 94%; Charedim 61%. Indeed,
this creates poverty.
Not in vain did the great Charedi luminaries
rule that a person must learn until the yoke of earning a living forces him to
work (Shut Minchat Yitzchak 9:103. Kaina
De-Igreta of the Steipler Gaon). And sure enough, Charedi colleges have been
set up for the study of law, accounting, business management, architecture,
computers and more. Likewise, there are Charedi colleges for bookkeeping,
graphic art, secretarial skills, social work and more.
The last point is the unity of the Nation,
which is likewise mentioned in the famous work Em Ha-Banim Semecha, as one of
the preconditions to redemption. Perhaps the most problematic matter is the
limitation set on the number of Sephardic pupils in Charedi Ashkenazi
educational institutions, but there are also great Charedi rabbis who are
fighting against such quotas. In general, however, we needn’t go crazy over
what they say in the news, which always presents the out-of-the-ordinary, i.e.,
the exceptional, picturesque outbursts of the Charedim. One musn’t get excited
over those. Anyone with open eyes can see that there is a great love which is
ever increasing.
Thank G-d, Charedi Judaism is rising higher
and higher. This is so numerically (today it is 8% of the general population,
in another fifteen years it will be 15%, and in another 25 years, it will be
the majority!). Yet it is also true in the sense of the light shining upon
Zion, strengthening the encounter between the hidden holiness of Israel and the
hidden holiness of the Land.
We must realize that what binds us together is
greater than what separates us. We must fortify ourselves with patience. We
must maximize the positive and minimize the negative.
We must increase
trust and love.
