Oct 31, 2023
Mobilizing To Help Or Learning
Rav Dov Landau, one of the two leading rabbonim of Degel Hatorah, doesn't like what he has been seeing, what we have all been seeing, over the past few weeks since the war began on Simchas Torah with the Hamas massacre in southern Israel.
We have seen Israel go to war, and at the same time that the front lines mobilized, the home front also mobilized, and the Haredi community has mostly been a big part of the home front mobilization. We see people from the Haredi community getting involved as much as anyone else - whether it is raising funds to buy equipment for the soldiers, whether it is donating for the various causes, grilling for the soldiers, bring soldiers food and equipment, tying tzitzis, visiting army bases and raising morale, helping the displaced people from southern Israel, tefilla and learning for the success of the soldiers and for the return of the hostages, and even with over 2000 Haredi men voluntarily signing up for army service.
While most of us have loved the spirit of all Israelis at this time, and of Jewish communities around the world, including the Haredi communities, as the saying goes in the yeshiva world, daas baaleibatim hefech daas torah - the wisdom of laymen is the opposite of the wisdom of daas torah. Rav Landau does not look at all that spirit and volunteerism and home front mobilization as a good thing.
Rav Landau published an open letter about this to the Haredi community today in the Yated Neeman. In the letter Rav Landau writes that all Torah learners and all Haredim should know that we only have torah learning and nothing else. Those involved in other activities who pretend that they are bringing salvation from the dangers around us should know they are causing damage to themselves, their children and to their families and to others.
A phrase that has been used a lot in other contexts over the past year applies here, as well. What was, will no longer be. I can only imagine that this letter is a result of the fear, or maybe just awareness, of that.
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i suppose one man's weak heart is another's hishtadlut. I'd want to be very sure that my talmud tora is pure enough to warrant an exemption from hishtadlut.
ReplyDeleteHashem Oz Lamo Yiten Hashem Yvarech Et Amo Bashalom
יְֽקֹוָ֗ק עֹ֖ז לְעַמּ֣וֹ יִתֵּ֑ן יְקֹוָ֓ק׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם:
Why would you think that any talmud torah gives one an exemption?
Deleteרמב"ם הלכות תלמוד תורה פרק ג הלכה ד
Deleteהיה לפניו עשיית מצוה ותלמוד תורה אם אפשר למצוה להעשות ע"י אחרים לא יפסיק תלמודו, ואם לאו יעשה המצוה ויחזור לתלמודו.
I feel like I should add a note to my comments/thoughts.
DeleteI have heard rabbonim in interviews say that yeshiva bochurim should be learning now, not tying tzitzis, not grilling, etc. Learning is the biggest chessed we can do right now, learning protects and it is with our learning that the army will succeed. And I think that is totally legitimate. not only is it legitimate, but it is precisely for that the exemptions and deferments were given to them all those years, so yes, torah magna umatzla, yeshiva bochurim should be learning torah.
That is NOT what Rav Landau is saying in this letter. he isnt even addressing yeshiva bochurim, but all haredim. And he says nothing about learning because that provides the best protection. He says to stop your mistaken and imaginary behaviors, you are making things worse..
I have heard rabbonim in interviews say that yeshiva bochurim should be learning now, not tying tzitzis, not grilling, etc. Learning is the biggest chessed we can do right now, learning protects and it is with our learning that the army will succeed.
Delete========================
Aspirationally perhaps for a ben yeshiva who learns straight. What of one who learns 6 hours a day?
Hashem Oz Lamo Yiten Hashem Yvarech Et Amo Bashalom
יְֽקֹוָ֗ק עֹ֖ז לְעַמּ֣וֹ יִתֵּ֑ן יְקֹוָ֓ק׀ יְבָרֵ֖ךְ אֶת־עַמּ֣וֹ בַשָּׁלֽוֹם:
Rafi: Why is it legitimate? Where do we get any idea that study of Torah "protects," or at least protects any more, than, say, Avodah or Gemillat Chassadim- which this definitely is?
DeleteJoel: No one "learns straight." People have to eat, sleep, daven, do a million other things. There's no reason "helping soldiers and refugees" can't be included.
I think it would be a legitimate statement to make because, rightly or wrongly, society has accepted that by agreeing to give exemptions for it. those exemptions might not last much longer in the same format, but until now society allowed for it, so at least do what you were claiming needs to be done - learn.
DeleteThe word "society" is doing a lot of work there.
DeleteAnd even if it's true, not everything "society" approves of is legitimate.
I think it is worth a debate, a discussion, as to how the draft should work in the future with the Haredim but again, at this time when there was such an arrangement, I think it is fair and legitimate for them to say now is the time to keep our side of the deal. Unless they dont really believe the torah magna umatzla thing anyway and just use it as a political ploy
DeleteI think it's pretty obvious it's a political ploy, for several reasons. But they've been using it for so long they might have begun to believe it themselves.
Deletethis letter isnt even about the issue of exemptions for learning. this is about the tremendous amount of chessed being done by people who feel connected in some way and wanting to help.
ReplyDeleteI think he should be taken at his word, as he writes it, that his comments are directed at specific programs that are misleading people and not at all of the efforts taken.
ReplyDeleteI don’t claim to have inside information, but those who do are writing the following: “Rav Dov Landau shlita issued a harsh letter that was printed in the Hebrew yated Neeman. The paper reports the letter is in response to new initiatives by social activists and frum organizations and businessmen who have begun collaborations with organizations and bodies some of which have waged war on the values of the Torah and kedoshei yisrael and the collaboration has led to initiatives that are of no use and may even cause serious damage in the future by breaching fences.”
Delete"some of which have waged war on the values of the Torah and kedoshei yisrael "
DeleteLike who? The IDF, afra lpumea? "Misleading" how?
You ask me, we need a lot more "breaching fences" now, not less.
And why can't he be that clear in the letter itself, without requiring a perush from those unnamed ones with "inside information" who then say things he doesn't even hint at?
Unfortunately, this is just another incident of two groups simply speaking past each other. Haredi insider messaging is understood one way, but when translated to outsiders, it sounds differently. Rav Landau's letter in the Yated Ne'eman means simply that people in his orbit should focus on learning, and to remember that as the most significant task we can fulfill.
DeleteRafi, perhaps you can become a media spokesmen for Roshei Yeshiva, so that their messages can be better received in the new world of instant worldwide communication.
JAN - Thanks for commenting and clarifying that.
DeleteYou nailed it.
חזק.
There should be nothing to discuss here other than Truth. As believing G-D fearing Jews, who deep down all believe whether they consciously know it or not. There are two ways for the Jew to be victorious and that is the 'army and the protection of Torah learning - G-D's Words'. We are in G-D's Hands (so to speak) and VICTORY comes from Hashem. If we heed His Words, HE is with us.
ReplyDeleteKing David went to war knowing he will succeed. He carried his weapon in one hand and
his Torah in the other hand! That is the way for the Jewish nation to win our wars.
Netzach Yisrael lo Y'shaker.
One commenter ask where do we know that Torah Learning is more effective than other acts of Chesed. A legitimate question. The answer is the Gemara where the malach come to Yehoshua and says "ata bosi -see tosfos there, and the comment of Reb Elya Lopian. The message was that the malach who showed up in an army uniform (of that era) was telling Yehoshua, if you want to be successful in battle, then you need to be engaged in serious torah study -iyun, in order to empower the malach on high to win the battle for you.
ReplyDeleteDoesn’t that sound like the same person who was studying was the one who went to battle?
DeleteBsorot tovot