Q&A: A Commission of Inquiry into the Failure in Torah Study in the Yeshivot That Caused the October Seventh Pogrom
A Commission of Inquiry into the Failure in Torah Study in the Yeshivot That Caused the October Seventh Pogrom
Question
In the media and in politics there is a great deal of talk about establishing commissions of inquiry to examine which failures led to the outbreak of the October Seventh pogrom, and who is to blame.
Since the Haredi public holds that Torah study in the yeshivot protects the Jewish people no less than the fighting of the soldiers, because “Torah protects and saves,” it seems to me that a commission of inquiry should be established as well (perhaps by the Chief Rabbinate) to examine what failures in the yeshivot brought about the outbreak of the war.
Here are a few suggestions:
Thousands of Gur Hasidic yeshiva students study only broad coverage study (“mezumanim,” in their terminology) and have neglected in-depth study; perhaps they bear the blame.
Thousands among the Lithuanian public study Torah not in purity; they are not careful to go to the mikveh every day, and presumably some of them, Heaven forbid, study without Ezra’s immersion.
The Ashkenazi public boycotts the Torah of the Land of Israel and the writings of Rabbi Kook, and perhaps because of that the storm broke.
Thousands of Belz yeshiva students refrain from studying the Hebrew Bible, and perhaps because of their ignorance the plague broke out.
Most of the Torah-observant public shuts itself away in the study hall and studies not in order to teach, and perhaps if it went out more for “outreach” activities (including giving our fellow Jews the merit of tefillin and Sabbath candles at booths like Chabad Hasidim, and dancing on vans like Breslov Hasidim), the decree would not have been issued?
Maybe it is because they do not study midrash; maybe because they do not study the Jerusalem Talmud; maybe because they do not study the Zohar and Kabbalah; maybe because they do study in-depth analysis; maybe because they do study broad coverage; maybe because they do not study enough lomdus; maybe because they do not study enough Jewish law; maybe because they insisted on the strict law of the Torah; maybe because they did not recite the blessing over Torah first…
In short, why and how is it that only the army has to examine itself, while those who sit in the study hall are exempt from soul-searching?
Answer
This has already come up here more than once. I assume you are not expecting an answer from me.
Discussion on Answer
I will judge you favorably and assume that you are probably new here and don’t know the site or me. In any case, questions for the Haredi public should be directed to them and not here.
Shlomi, your writing is fluent and amusing.
With God’s help, 9 Tammuz 5784
To Shlomi — greetings,
You are right that yeshiva students too need to strengthen themselves in Torah study, both in quantity and in quality, and each person should add diligence and grow stronger, in in-depth study and broad coverage, in Jewish law and aggadah, and in outreach to those far away. But it is also fitting that those who are not in “regular service” in the world of Torah, but serve in the “reserves” by setting fixed times for Torah study, should also increase and add to their engagement in Torah!
The “commission of inquiry” here cannot be external. Here each person has to take responsibility for himself and decide in what he needs to strengthen himself, as it is written: “Let us search and examine our ways… and return.” “Our ways” specifically…
With blessing, Fish”l
Well said to Shimshon Tzvi Levinger.
Of course, someone who spends his time writing comments on the internet should also try to reduce that and devote his share to Torah study.
Ch.Z.B.
I am expecting an answer — why not?