With the military operation going on in and near Gaza, affecting the entire southern part of the country, the residents of the areas are suffering terribly. Lack of sleep, trauma, inability to go to work, lack of routine and schedule, and that is besides for the fear and witnessing of rocket strikes, and the injuries and deaths. It is difficult to fathom how difficult their situation really is.

While we might like to see people staying strong and fighting back, even if just by remaining home and not evacuating the area, how can one ask that of them? The residents of the south havent had a good nights sleep in a very long time. They are on the edge and are going through a very tense situation. The people of Israel, all over the country, are opening up their homes and communities to host, whether it be for a couple of days, a Shabbos, or even longer periods of time, residents from the south who need to get away for a bit and calm down and get some rest, and quiet.

We like to see, as much as is possible, people staying put. It is a certain sign of strength that they aren't abandoning the area. Especially the yeshivas who have students learning Torah, doing their part for the success of the operation and for the safety of the soldiers and residents of the area. There have been many halachic discussions and debates whether from a halachic perspective one should leave, go somewhere quiet and relatively safe to rest or to learn better, or if one should stay put, even if it means they will be running to bomb shelters, being at risk, unable to learn uninterrupted. Both halachic opinions are valid and understandable, though, admittedly, many prefer to see the final psak be to stay put - if Torah really protects, stay put and learn there to protect the area.

I don't know that it says anywhere that one must be in the war zone learning for his learning to protect the people in the war zone. Doesn't the  learning of Torah in Jerusalem, Beitar, Tel Aviv, Bnei Braq, Ranaana, Petach Tikva, Haifa, Tiberias and many other places equally protect the southern sector of Israel, and the whole of Israel, as much as learning in Ashdod, Ashqelon, Sderot, Beer Sheva, Netivot and Ofakim? Or does the learning in the south have more weight in the protection of the area and of Israel because they are in the "red zone"? I don't know, though I have never seen written that being in the "red zone" offers more protection. Yes, it perhaps raises morale. And, perhaps it offers the opportunity for more valued learning as to stay and learn while under fire is proof in the pudding of more mesirus nefesh, more dedication, for the Torah learning, and therefore perhaps does offer better protection, as the quality goes up by the increased dedication, even if it is not uninterrupted due to the sirens and danger.

It is a difficult decision, and a difficult situation to be thrown into.

As much as I would want to praise those who stay, for reasons of increased morale and dedication, I would not want to criticize those who choose to leave. The charedi rabbonim have called for increased learning, for establishing round-the-clock-shifts, and taking care to learn in stretches of uninterrupted time, so the yeshiva boys will be doing their part, but they have also said the boys should leave the south and go home or to quiet areas. With so many other people leaving the south for some quiet and safety, it is not unreasonable that parents will want their kids out of harms way, nor that the yeshivas will want their kids out of harms way, nor that for the quality of learning they might go to a quieter area.

There is tremendous chessed in this time of need, with people opening their homes, and communities offering refuge to those who need or want it. It is a time for remaining positive and understanding of those suffering the most.