Ask the Rabbi
Question
Which Chareidi Rabbanim celebrate/d Yom Yerushalayim?
Answer
All great rabbanim are "Haredi", which literally means "in awe of God", which really includes all rabbis! But if you are asking about rabbanim clearly associated with and among the Torah leadership of the so-called Haredi stream, the most famous is Rav Sraya Deblitzky zt"l of Bnei Brak who was extremely outspoken regarding the obligation of all Haredim to say Hallel and celebrate Hashem's miraculous salvation of Israel in the Six Day War. He even went so far as to question the Emuna of one who doesn't celebrate & thank God. . Rav Yisrael Gillis also publicized that at his Haredi Vatikin minyan at the Kotel, they say Hallel, and mentions that it's not uncommon among those old enough to remember the miracle, including in Meah Shearim. He remembers that in the Hevron Yeshiva during the time of R. Yechezkel Sarna they celebrated and said Hallel. Similarly Rav BZ Abba Shaul celebrated at first (until he saw that most "Haredim" weren't ready to make any changes in the davening.). If you're really interested, see Makor Rishon on Yom Yerushalayim 22 years ago, 5762, p.12-13. In general, religious people are wary of changes, even when it's warrented and obligated by the halacha (see their opposition to serving in the IDF, which is clearly halachically obligated, see Sotah 44a; Rambam hil M'lachim u'Milchamoteihem 7, 4 & 5, 1). It's hard to take the Jews out of galut, but it's even harder to take the galut out of the Jews!






