Q&A: A Post About Work and Army Service for the Haredim
A Post About Work and Army Service for the Haredim
Question
Hello and blessings,
Recently there has been a lot of shouting about the Haredim, calling them parasites, freeloaders, and the like, and I was wondering whether that is actually true. Common sense says yes, that the Haredim are indeed parasites, but I feel I’m missing the logical analysis from the Rabbi that would bring what seems obvious from potential into actuality. [Recently I saw that people asked about this on the site, but the Rabbi didn’t explain very much. Also in the third column, “Michi’s Laws,” the Rabbi just presented it as a self-evident assumption that the Haredim are parasites, but you didn’t explain it.]
I saw three articles on the Tzarikh Iyyun site, but each one approached it from only one angle, and even there it didn’t become clear to me.
I would be glad [and I believe the other questioners on this issue would too] if the Rabbi would write a post on why the Haredim are obligated to work and serve in the army, from three angles: A. Torah-based — is there an obligation from the Torah, and why is it not overridden by the high chances of spiritual or moral corruption? B. Moral and democratic — every group has its own beliefs, so why is this group different from any other? C. And are the Haredim really exploiting the state?
Thank you.
Answer
I understand that the column I am being asked to write is: why are the Nazis murderers? Who says it is forbidden to murder Jews?! Or why is it forbidden to steal, and so on. At the moment, this seems self-evident to any rational person, and I do not see what there is to write here.
Discussion on Answer
On the Tzarikh Iyyun site, Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer wrote some things about this issue, which implies that there is at least some discussion to be had about it. And isn’t it the Rabbi’s way to explain things logically? https://iyun.org.il/sedersheni/how-should-we-respond-to-criticism/
Still, quite a few people asked this here on the site, but they didn’t ask why the Nazis are murderers. Maybe the Rabbi is so wise that he can no longer distinguish between simple things and complex ones, and therefore I, a tiny one on the back of a giant, and in the name of all the tiny ones, ask his honor, the giant: give us some of the free gift that was given to you.
With blessings,
Mr. Tiny One
Chairman of the Association of Tiny Ones