“Daas Torah.” These two words are among the most loaded in modern hashkafic - and political - discourse. But what, in fact, does it mean, and how might it apply to the current crisis over chareidi conscription, whatever one’s view of the matter?

 It would be presumptuous to attempt to treat the topic of Daas Torah comprehensively on one episode of a conversational podcast. One is referred to Lawrence Kaplan’s classic article on the matter, and many other sources, for this more holistic treatment.

Instead, we evaluate how this contention is marshaled within the current discourse around Chareidim and army service. Rabbinic opposition often is cited as the most substantial argument against participation. This impulse is deeply embedded in the charedi psyche, and one can argue that this is with good reason: after all, on matters of legitimate communal guidance, who is more qualified to issue directives that will preserve societal commitments and observance?

On the other hand, in today’s landscape, many people seek more transparency and wish to debate the issues on their merits, without recoursing to an “argument from authority.” Furthermore, students of even recent history wonder when this issue became so monolithic, and extreme.

This fascinating article explores charedii military participation during the War of Independence. Telz Rosh Yeshiva Rav Elya Meir Bloch attended a communal Yom Ha’atmaut celebration in Cleveland in 1954.

And consider these statements, cited in a Tzarich Iyun article by Iyun founder Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, made decades ago by the greatest sages of the previous generation:

Rav Elazar Shach (1980 letter on behalf of Vaad Hayeshivos): “The right given to yeshiva students of deferring their enlistment into the army, is contingent on his study being his sole occupation. He must not be engaged in any material pursuits, whether during yeshiva hours or outside of them.”

Rav Yechezkel Abramski: “Anyone who “abuses this right, is considered a rodef (a “pursuer”) of those yeshiva students who study Torah diligently.” And he instructed Roshei Yeshiva “to conduct a strict vetting of students and remove from their ranks any student whose Torah is not his sole occupation.”

The Steipler (in Orchos Rabbeinu): “Those who are registered in yeshiva, allowing them exemption from the army even as they engage in gainful employment, are absolute rodfim.” To be sure, none of these quotes imply a pro-army stance for full-time yeshiva students; quite the opposite.

Still, they do reflect a willingness - even responsibility - to reserve this exemption for those most deserving. (And of course, while many opponents would still decry such privilege for full-time learners, a stance that demands army service for all non-learners would be welcomed in our moment by most Israelis, and reflect a far more liberal position than currently espoused.)

So…in a society that seems to have grown only more traditional, why has the chareidi community grown more resolute and isolated? Why has the Daas Torah changed? Or is all not as it appears?

We will attempt to unravel some of these questions on this episode.

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Link to Outro reference: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/T/bo3636037.html

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On May 26th, 2024, the Iyun Institute co-presented a special symposium with The Israel Law and Liberty Forum, titled "Chareidim, the Draft & the Law: Where Do We Go Now?" The panel, moderated by ILLF Executive Director Mrs. Aylana Meisel-Diament, also featured Iyun's own Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, as well as Prof. Ron Shapira (Bar Ilan University) and Prof. Barak Medina (Hebrew University).

As a part of our ongoing series on Chareidim and the Army, we present this symposium, lightly edited, for your enjoyment in podcast form.

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Rabbi Eliyahu Chait, the youngest child of famed rabbi, author and singer-songwriter Rabbi Baruch Chait, is making a mark of his own. An IDF alumnus of Netzach, R' Eliyahu recognized a need for a post-army framework servicing young men from chareidi backgrounds with serious Torah learning and options for "re-entry" into civilian life. Kochot, his nascent organization, is offering authentic Torah-based experiences to those who have sacrificed for the People of Israel, as they chart a course for the rest of their lives.

KOCHOT'S WEBSITE: https://lp.we-be.co.il/kochot/

KOCHOT on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gzT_Uq775Y4?si=_cilGPsZzDsoj8b6

Struggling after service? Help us empower Orthodox veterans. Many young Orthodox men returning from the IDF find themselves grappling with their faith and unsure of their path forward. KOCHOT, a Jerusalem-based program, is there for them. We provide these veterans with the support they need to rebuild their connection to Judaism and navigate life after the military. Through a strong spiritual foundation and practical guidance, KOCHOT helps them find meaning and purpose in their civilian lives. Your donation can make a difference. Help us empower these brave veterans as they transition to the next chapter.

Donate today! https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML7PCN6QEN3QX/checkout/FPRO5FLJF6A7F2MYAEVE76K7?src=webqr

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On this episode, two wonderful, "regular" yungermen - each a talmid chochom of stature who has thought and written considerably about this subject - join us for an "Oxford-Style Debate" (sans the audience).

Today's proposition: "The time has arrived for many more chareidim to begin to draft to the army."

R' Chaim Goldberg is an educator, clinical psychologist and author.

Jewish Press Article: https://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/opinions/the-idf-a-torah-true-calling/2024/04/12/

Substack ("View From Jerusalem"): https://chaimgoldberg.substack.com/

Rav Aharon Lichtenstein on the Ideology of Hesder: https://traditiononline.org/the-ideology-of-hesder/

R' Mordechai (Mordy) Twersky is an educator and scholar in Har Nof, Jerusalem, Israel.

Brief monograph on Chareidi opposition to army service: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xYDEKI7DjfXBzhNR_QXz8KomWURliPkqeg4lqJgc85E/edit?usp=sharing

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Rabbi Aviad Goldwicht is a business professional and Torah teacher who also serves as a rabbinic chaplain in the Israel Defense Forces. Since October 7th he has been servicing soldiers and engaging in extremely taxing and holy work.

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Rabbi Karmi Gross, son of legendary Miami day school founder Rabbi Alexander (Sender) Gross, is a pioneering educator and Jewish leader. A founding rebbe at Yeshivat Maarava, then a principal at day schools in Vancouver, Detroit, and Los Angeles, he finally returned to Israel to found the first Chareidi Hesder yeshiva: Derech Chaim.

On Episode 5 of The Iyun Podcast - and Pt. 4 of our mini-series on Chareidim and Army Service - we speak with Rabbi Gross about his background, and this groundbreaking project.

Yeshiva Derech Chaim: https://www.derechaim.com/en/our-staff/

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Chareidim & the Army (Pt. 3): What is Nachal Chareidi/Netzach?

In Episode 4 of the Iyun Podcast - and Pt. 3 of our mini-series on Chareidim and Army Service - we begin exploring various frameworks that currently exist to absorb those chareidim seeking to draft into military service. We begin with what is known as Nachal Chareidi, or Netzach Yehuda (now Netzach). These two are often conflated, although actually they are related but not identical institutions.

We speak with CEO Yossi Levi about these programs, how they are actually constructed, how they differ from other IDF units, and the future of this enterprise.

Learn more about Nachal Chareidi and Netzach at https://nahalharedi.org/

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In Episode 3 of the Iyun Podcast - and Pt. 2 of our mini-series on Chareidim and Army Service - we interrogate the "moral claim" leveled by Israeli society, broadly writ, against those Jewish brothers who elect not to serve in the IDF. With Moshe's rhetorical repudiation of, "Shall your brothers go to war and you will stay back?" (Bamidbar 32:6) as a backdrop, we evaluate whether this intuitive, viscerally powerful contention is dispositive on this vital topic.

Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer has written extensively about this issue, and is joined by Mrs. Ilana Cowland, a noted parent educator and speaker, with "feet" planted firmly in multiple communal "camps."

IMPORTANT LINKS:

An Open Letter to our Haredi Sisters (Hebrew):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfT7lDYfGJTKmTysGESMB6-Y-iHHxTU4FmSjFSprLkdzBzyYQ/viewform

Ilana Cowland's recent Times of Israel column on the current intra-chareidi divide:

https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/kornreich-vs-dunner-a-haredi-womans-opinion/?_gl=1*1nv2abx*_ga*MTAyNjk0MDk4OC4xNjk5OTkxMjAx*_ga_RJR2XWQR34*MTcxMjIzNzExMi4xMzI1LjEuMTcxMjIzOTM0NS4wLjAuMA

"Now It’s Brotherhood’s Turn," by R' Yehoshua Pfeffer

https://iyun.org.il/en/sedersheni/now-its-brotherhoods-turn/

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EPISODE SUMMARY

This episode of the Iyun Podcast begins our discussion of the complex relationship between Chareidi society and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Featuring insights from Iyun Institute founder Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer and guest Rabbi Yosef Chaim Simchon, the conversation explores the historical, moral, and societal aspects of Charedi participation in the army. From Rabbi Simchon's personal journey and transformational experiences in the IDF to the nuanced objections within the Chareidi community, this episode offers an in-depth look at the intersection of faith, identity, and national service.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

00:32 Chareidim and IDF: The Core Issues

02:17 Guest Introduction: Rabbi Yosef Chaim Simchon

02:26 Rabbi Simchon's Personal Journey

11:11 The Moral and Practical Realities of Army Service

50:11 Concluding Reflections and Calls for Unity

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EPISODE SUMMARY

On this pilot episode of the Iyun Podcast, we begin our in-depth exploration into Chareidi society, focusing on its integration into modern Israeli society and the implications for the Jewish community at large. Featuring Iyun Institute founder and director Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer, we delve into the various factions within Chareidi society, including Litvish, Hasidic, and Sephardi groups, and explore the balance between traditionalism and modernity.

Our episode also highlights the cultural contributions of the Chareidi community and its evolving role within both Israeli society and the broader Jewish diaspora, aiming to foster a sense of identity and cultural exchange. We begin to outline communal challenges, and sketch out potential pathways for more harmonious integration and participation in the shaping of Israel's future.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Welcome and Introduction

03:36 Special Guest: Rabbi Yehoshua Pfeffer on Chareidi Identity and Challenges

06:29 Rabbi Pfeffer's Journey: From London to the Heart of Israeli Chareidi Society

10:54 Defining Chareidi Identity: A Complex Tapestry

20:02 The Shift Towards Addressing Broader Societal Challenges

28:28 Navigating Academia as a Chareidi: Rabbi Pfeffer's Experience

35:14 Understanding the Diverse Factions within Chareidi Society

41:36 Comparing Hasidic, Litvish, and Sefardi Isolationism

45:31 The Spectrum of Chareidi Identity: Traditional vs. Modern

01:07:45 The Role of English-Speaking Chareidim in Israel

01:12:15 Launching the Iyun Podcast: A New Chapter

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