Israel’s Religious Divide By Rabbi David Eliezrie
The Jewish Home
july 18, 2013
20
Israelis are debating the role of Haridiem-traditional orthodox (I find the term ultra orthodox deeply offensive) in society. The big issue is the draft. Mothers in Tel Aviv, whose children stand on the front wonder why others should be studying in Yeshivas. Religious families fear that the effort to remove deferments from Yeshiva students is just another foray by the
elites to get their kids and mold them into secular Israelis It’s an issue filled with emotion. The media tends to lump all Haridiem together, in truth there are many varied viewpoints. In my segment community, Chabad, our young men serve in the army after they completed their Yeshiva studies and Kolel. My classmate was killed in the Yom Kippur war. Afterwards they enter the workforce. For other segments of religious world a life of scholarship is considered a greatest aspiration. This is a noble goal that should be supported. Many make a choice to spend 6-7 years studying after marriage and then choose to seek employment. The politicians leading this debate are ignoring trends underway in the Haridie community. Young men have been joining the army, units like Shachar in the ground forces and in
the Air Force have created environments more friendly to Jewish observance. Many others are enrolled in college programs run by the Haridie sector that prepare young men and women for the a career path. Professor Yeddia Stern, of the liberal Israeli Democracy Institute, argues that initiative championed by Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party to force change will ultimately set this agenda of integration backwards. He says part of the religious community wants to balance between Jewish scholarship and integration into the society, the other advocates a total separation from secular Israeli culture. The present approach of forcing change is marginalizing the voices of moderation. The government is now threatening jail for Yeshiva students who ignore the draft. Even defense minister Moshe Yaalom opposed this move saying “Israel should not be a country that jails those who study Torah”. Lapid is demanding this law be passed or he will break the coalition. Stern laments “the state is threatening a doomsday weapon-mass incarceration-against a group that includes one tenth of the Israeli population, it is planting a time bomb in the fabric of Israeli existence”. He says this move is only emboldening those advocating against integration into the army and workforce. Yair Lapid stated in a speech two years ago at the Haridie college in Kiryat Ono that “Israel has become a nation of tribes, religious tribes, secular tribes, Russian tribes” He said the secular Zionists socialists who created the state “saw religious Jews as relic that would fade into oblivion and oppressed them.”. Arguing “it’s time to create a consensus that brings all together.” When I heard the speech I thought, “wow this guy gets it”. Now I am convinced his way of force will fail. You can’t jail thousands, cut off their funding for their schools and destroy the social net and not expect a harsh response. The effort to change the Haridie society from within was already underway. I fear that Lapid will only set that agenda backwards. Some of the reactions on other side
of the debate have not been encouraging either. Attacks against religious soldiers walking the streets of Jerusalem are reprehensible. Over 5,000 young women prayed with dignity at the Wall on Rosh Chodesh to preventing a liberal group for imposing their changes on tradition at the holy site. A group of Yeshiva students harassed the liberal women in a deeply troubling fashion sabotaging the good accomplished by the women. Deeply distressing has been the expressions of hostility from both rabbis and Knesset members. Politicians are labeled Amalek, others are derided in the most disrespectful fashion. Instead of focusing on the issues they attack the personalities in a vile fashion. Occasionally we hear statements from the orthodox community that it is bad pr. It is a much deeper problem. It’s simply wrong to speak about others in such a fashion. Challenge their ideas, debate their proposals. Do so with decency and never forget the obligation of Ahavas Yisroel, which includes the Jew who does not share your values. What needs to be done? The answers are not simple. Today tens of thousands are studying in Yeshivas , at the same time large numbers are moving into the mainstream. Force will not bridge the gaps. Conversation, compromise are the key. There is no one solution. Job training, financial incentives, an army sensitive to religious needs are a few of many suggestions. We must never forget the values of Torah study, it is the key to Jewish survival, and this is an ideal that cannot be compromised. Israeli political leaders must convince the religious community that the policies of decades ago using government coercion in forcing young people to abandon observance are a relic of the past. With patience infused with a sense of common destiny and Ahavat Yisroel love for our fellow Jews, solutions can be found. Rabbi David Eliezrie is president of the Rabbinical Council of Orange County and Rabbi of Congregation Beth Meir HaCohen/Chabad in Yorba Linda. He can be reached at rabbi@ ocjewish.com