Q&A: Drafting Haredim into the IDF
Drafting Haredim into the IDF
Question
Regarding drafting Haredim into the IDF, this topic has been discussed here from several angles, and I wanted to clarify that it’s impossible to discuss this issue at all in a way that presents arguments and answers about a matter that is already decided by the rabbis, where the individual chooses only to listen to them. And as for those spokesmen of the Haredi public whom no one appointed [including the Knesset members, who are only functionaries for the public for allocations, permits, and the like], who make ridiculous claims, some of which were presented here—one should not discuss their words at all and conclude that if their claim is incorrect then the Haredim need to enlist. All the arguments and discussions need to be conducted מול the decision-makers, who are the rabbis.
And in any case, I think it would be worthwhile for me to correct things a bit and offer an explanation that may somewhat settle the matter, and I would still be glad to hear the Rabbi’s opinion on the issue.
First of all, one has to believe in the Written Torah and the Oral Torah and not add anything of our own to them.
And afterward, one has to believe that the Torah is the exclusive instruction book for every aspect of our lives, and it alone is the source through which every issue must be discussed [and even ordinary human decency, which preceded the Torah, is so only because that is what is written in the Torah]. And if so, in this issue as well one must discuss it in terms of Jewish law [from my perspective, the word “worldview” does not exist; everything falls within the framework of Jewish law].
And the discussion is whether we are in exile or in redemption, and whether it is permissible to conquer and kill in such a situation, and whether there are obligations on the collective in such a state, and to what extent it is permissible to cooperate with wicked people, and from the standpoint of saving life, etc.
Answer
I have always liked the Geviha ben Pesisa routine among the Haredim. You begin by saying that you are insignificant and that one must discuss the matter with the great ones. And then you go ahead and explain anyway, because if you succeed then “the smallest among you has defeated me,” and if not—you can always hang your failure on your insignificance. True, I am unworthy, but I know the Talmudic passage about Geviha ben Pesisa too.
As for your arguments themselves, I will immediately explain why you did not succeed. So it would be worthwhile for you to pass us along to your all-knowing, seraphic teachers.
What you brought here is a collection of empty slogans. “One must not add to the Written Torah or the Oral Torah” is an empty statement. After all, interpretations are part of the Oral Torah, so when is my interpretation an addition to the Oral Torah, and when is it part of it? Or perhaps the person himself is the determining factor?
The Torah does not guide us in all our ways, and not you either. Maybe you live under the illusion that it does—but factually you are mistaken. You live by reasoning, interpretations, and intuitions, which sometimes you push into the Torah and sometimes not.
And if the Torah itself said that ordinary human decency preceded the Torah (where did it say that? Or perhaps the interpretations of the sages are also Torah. So why not mine?), then now we know that ordinary human decency preceded the Torah. Why should I care that this itself is the result of learning from the Torah? At this point one must act with ordinary human decency—which the Haredim do not do.
And if everything falls under Jewish law, which is of course complete nonsense and something that you yourself do not live by either, I will only ask you: what determines what Jewish law is? Are my interpretations and yours Jewish law? Or is the person himself the determining factor?
The questions of whether we are in exile or redemption, and whether in exile or redemption it is permissible to conquer and kill—these are halakhic questions? Where did you draw such nonsense from?
In short, pass us on to the next authority.