Ynet

The 200 New Israeli Shekel banknote.

As the equal share of the burden movement continues to demonstrate in favor of universal military or national service for all Israeli citizens, Israel's Ultra-Orthodox insist that Torah study helps the nation no less than the army, and were it not for prayer, the country would be in parlous state. The haredim recently noticed that their claims are backed up by a rather unexpected source.

Shazar Provides ‘Backup’ for Charedi Draft Opponents

Ynet

The 200 New Israeli Shekel banknote.

As the equal share of the burden movement continues to demonstrate in favor of universal military or national service for all Israeli citizens, Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox insist that Torah study helps the nation no less than the army, and were it not for prayer, the country would be in parlous state. The haredim recently noticed that their claims are backed up by a rather unexpected source.

In the past two weeks, the haredi press has trumpeted a recent “financial discovery”: that the NIS 200 banknote bears a quote from former president Zalman Shazar about the importance of Torah study.

The Kikar Hashabbat site and the haredi newspaper “Mishpacha” both presented the quote as evidence that bears out their stance.

Indeed, the design of the NIS 200 bill features words from a speech Shazar made in 1949, in which the late president said that the Jewish people, even in its darkest periods, had always known to make Torah study mandatory for all children, “in every village in every country.”

“Rich or poor, only children or large families, single or married – we must all carry the burden of Torah study,” Shazar’s quote reads.

In the weekend edition of Yated Ne’eman, the official media outlet of the Lithuanian haredi community, editor-in-chief Yitzhak Roth reiterated the haredi position and even hinted that Torah study was many times more important than military force.

“If the Jewish community exists here in the Holy Land, it is not because of military might, economic strength or the hundreds of thousands of goyim that have come here. Torah study, and only Torah study, guarantees not only the spiritual but also the physical existence.”

16 Comments

  • what!?

    just serve your 3 years that will be a three years of “light service”,whats the big deal

  • NK

    They could try studying Torah AND serving in the military… But that would be work, and “work” is another four-letter-word to this charedis.

  • Response to comment 1

    What’s the big deal?!
    Did you totally just miss what the article was trying to tell you?!
    The point is that Torah study is what keeps our enemies out of our land, and our people safe. The big deal is that your taking boys, in their prime, the only time in which they do not have to provide for their families, and therefore Torah study is their sole occupation, and your sending them to the army, which will the help of Hashem manages fine without them, thereby dramatically lessening the quality and quantity of Torah being learned!Do you not understand that it is the Torah that sustains us, nourishes us, and is ensuring the continuity of the Jewish people?!

  • Dovid

    Many positions in the army allow for torah study such as being a jobnik. As well as the new intel program Bibi started for heradim. Torah study needs to quit being an excuse for not working as well as not being a part of society. I have a compromise for haredim. If haredim do not want to do any army or national service than they should also not qualify for child allowances, subsidized health care ect. Let the wealthy haredim choose to fund this life style of no work and learning all day long.

  • Milhouse

    #1, Does the Rebbe’s opinion mean nothing to you?! This is a Lubavitcher site, and the Rebbe’s word is law.

  • AA

    To “what!?” (#1):

    No less a personage than Avraham Avinu was punished – by having his descendants suffer for 210 years in Egypt – because he drafted Torah scholars into his army (Gemara, Nedarim 32b). This, even though it was for a single campaign, and for the noble purpose of saving his nephew Lot.

    So yes, I think it is fair to say that it is a “big deal.”

  • to no. 1. what !?

    and who will be the big dealer to compensate for 3 years of bitul Torah? by thousands of students?

  • mg

    ““Rich or poor, only children or large families, single or married – we must all carry the burden of Torah study,” Shazar’s quote reads.”

    This quote from P. Shazar does not in any way prove that he was in favor of learning Torah full-time to evade national or civilian service.

  • Even the US army

    There is a saying in the American Army:“If you don’t have people praying, those bullets don’t shoot.” If this true of a goyishe army, how much more so does this apply to a Jewish Army! The Yidden in the Israeli government, who want to give the Charedim a hard time, should be ashamed of themselves.

    This exemption was the status-quo since Israel’s inception. Now you want to mess with that? I’m afraid this will put Israel in more peril, CH”V! Do not underestimate the role of Divine power assuring Israel’s security.

  • CR

    Shazar’s quote is about basic Torah study for young children such that, as they grow up, they will be literate in their own heritage. He is not talking about the current abomination of a quarter-million able-bodied young men being Yoshvei Botel while mooching government benefits and perks. indeed, the number of true scholars who uphold Klal Yisroel in accordance with Degel HaTorah fantasies probably numbers less than a thousand.

  • klotz meyer

    dovid hamelech instituted those who learn gaurd just as much as on the front lines and that they SHARE the loot…

  • Knowledge vs Wisdom

    Torah study does not keep the enemies out of the land, obedience to Gd and His commands keeps the enemies at bay!

  • AA

    #10 (CR), please note this:

    “An apikoros: what is an example?… Rava says that it is someone like the members of the family of Binyamin the Doctor, who would say, ‘What good have the rabbis ever done for us…?’”

    (Sanhedrin 99b, bottom)

    G-d forbid that any Jew speak like an apikoros!

  • klotz meyer

    correctoon to 11 accomplish the gaurd as much as those on front lines

  • A proud mom of a former soldier

    It would not hurt yeshiva students to spend a few hours doing public service.They still would have time to learn and still support the country that takes care of them. Take away their benefits if they don’t. We should be proud of our Boys who serve in the IDF and still manage to learn. Protecting Eretz Yisroel is holy. Might make a mentch of them!

  • CR

    AA did not read my comment to the end.

    “the number of true scholars who uphold Klal Yisroel in accordance with Degel HaTorah fantasies probably numbers less than a thousand.”

    Your citation of “’What good have the rabbis ever done for us” is irrelevant to the discussion. The proper scholars deserve support; not every Tom, Dick and Harry who seeks to avoid taking responsibility for himself.

    G-d forbid that any Jew speak like such an ignoramus!