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Beit Midrash
Translated by Hillel Fendel
Question: I am searching for the right spiritual path, after deciding that the time has come to do G-d's will. I now understand that G-d is true, His Torah is true, and that the source of everything is spiritual. For instance: There is no connection between PA incitement and terrorism, because terrorism against Israel is a result only of the sins of the People of Israel; if there would be no sins, no terrorist would be able to hurt us.
My question concerns going to the army. I see many religious-Zionist rabbis who shirk all responsibility for the fact that many boys they sent to the army have deteriorated from a religious point of view. For if instead of sending him to the army or to some college, the rabbis would have sent him to a Yeshiva, it is almost certain that he would not have gone off the right path, or at least the chances of that happening would have dropped prodigiously.
I have asked this question of several rabbis, and from the answers I received, I get the feeling that they don't really care if their students falter spiritually while in the army, as long as they fulfill their obligation towards the country. I would imagine that if a rabbi would send his student to work in an office in a mixed-gender environment [sic; rabbis don't "send" their students to work or anywhere else; every student has Free Will], and he in fact becomes less spiritual or observant because of what he sees and hears there, G-d will apparently have claims against that rabbi.
I feel that the rabbis were gambling with my life and my friends' lives when they sent us to serve in the army. I have friends who were strongly religious before they went to the army, but today are totally secular; I saw them change before my eyes. What will those rabbis say when they see many of those they sent to the army leave religion? What about the Sages' teaching to "stay away from a bad neighbor and don't be close with one who is wicked" (Pirkei Avot 1,7) – such basic advice as to how to remain an observant Jew?
Answer: In every spiritual movement of our nation, there are some points in which the followers are strong, and some in which they are weak. No movement is appropriate for everyone; one type of person can be uplifted and connect with certain spiritual ideas, and others tend more towards other types of Torah ideas. A person is tested based on what type of choice he makes, and it is generally a very personal issue. And even within the hareidi and religious-Zionist publics there are different flavors; some religious-Zionists find themselves closer ideologically to hareidim than to other religious-Zionists.
There is therefore no reason to allow yourself to generalize or to accuse. Everyone should rather find "the good and the straight" and the most holy that he can attain.
Regarding your accusation that rabbis send boys to the army or to workplaces in the knowledge that they will falter spiritually – I hope there are no such rabbis; if you find such rabbis who don't care about their students' Torah future, stay far away from them.
I assume that every G-d-fearing Jew also fears that his students will not be that way, and does everything he can to make sure they remain G-d-fearing. Who exactly is responsible if a student falters? We'll leave that God; He'll decide. There is certainly no doubt that the responsibility that lies on our leaders' and teachers' shoulders is tremendous. But this does not exempt the individuals from their own responsibility as well.
As far as army service is concerned, I agree that one should go to the army only after he has filled himself with spiritual strengths, which will enable him to contribute to the army and the nation not only by being a high-quality soldier, but also by adding sanctity to the Camp of Israel. For we believe that Israel's victories in its wars and battles are dependent on our fulfillment of the Torah's command, "Your [army] camp must be holy." It is therefore a matter of life and death for the entire nation to ensure that there are G-d-fearing soldiers in the army. An army without such soldiers would have no Divine help, and the Divine Presence over such a camp is very small. It is therefore the responsibility of all of us to save and protect Israel by ensuring that there are G-d-fearing people in our nation and that they enlist in the IDF.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
Question: I am searching for the right spiritual path, after deciding that the time has come to do G-d's will. I now understand that G-d is true, His Torah is true, and that the source of everything is spiritual. For instance: There is no connection between PA incitement and terrorism, because terrorism against Israel is a result only of the sins of the People of Israel; if there would be no sins, no terrorist would be able to hurt us.
My question concerns going to the army. I see many religious-Zionist rabbis who shirk all responsibility for the fact that many boys they sent to the army have deteriorated from a religious point of view. For if instead of sending him to the army or to some college, the rabbis would have sent him to a Yeshiva, it is almost certain that he would not have gone off the right path, or at least the chances of that happening would have dropped prodigiously.
I have asked this question of several rabbis, and from the answers I received, I get the feeling that they don't really care if their students falter spiritually while in the army, as long as they fulfill their obligation towards the country. I would imagine that if a rabbi would send his student to work in an office in a mixed-gender environment [sic; rabbis don't "send" their students to work or anywhere else; every student has Free Will], and he in fact becomes less spiritual or observant because of what he sees and hears there, G-d will apparently have claims against that rabbi.
I feel that the rabbis were gambling with my life and my friends' lives when they sent us to serve in the army. I have friends who were strongly religious before they went to the army, but today are totally secular; I saw them change before my eyes. What will those rabbis say when they see many of those they sent to the army leave religion? What about the Sages' teaching to "stay away from a bad neighbor and don't be close with one who is wicked" (Pirkei Avot 1,7) – such basic advice as to how to remain an observant Jew?
Answer: In every spiritual movement of our nation, there are some points in which the followers are strong, and some in which they are weak. No movement is appropriate for everyone; one type of person can be uplifted and connect with certain spiritual ideas, and others tend more towards other types of Torah ideas. A person is tested based on what type of choice he makes, and it is generally a very personal issue. And even within the hareidi and religious-Zionist publics there are different flavors; some religious-Zionists find themselves closer ideologically to hareidim than to other religious-Zionists.
There is therefore no reason to allow yourself to generalize or to accuse. Everyone should rather find "the good and the straight" and the most holy that he can attain.
Regarding your accusation that rabbis send boys to the army or to workplaces in the knowledge that they will falter spiritually – I hope there are no such rabbis; if you find such rabbis who don't care about their students' Torah future, stay far away from them.
I assume that every G-d-fearing Jew also fears that his students will not be that way, and does everything he can to make sure they remain G-d-fearing. Who exactly is responsible if a student falters? We'll leave that God; He'll decide. There is certainly no doubt that the responsibility that lies on our leaders' and teachers' shoulders is tremendous. But this does not exempt the individuals from their own responsibility as well.
As far as army service is concerned, I agree that one should go to the army only after he has filled himself with spiritual strengths, which will enable him to contribute to the army and the nation not only by being a high-quality soldier, but also by adding sanctity to the Camp of Israel. For we believe that Israel's victories in its wars and battles are dependent on our fulfillment of the Torah's command, "Your [army] camp must be holy." It is therefore a matter of life and death for the entire nation to ensure that there are G-d-fearing soldiers in the army. An army without such soldiers would have no Divine help, and the Divine Presence over such a camp is very small. It is therefore the responsibility of all of us to save and protect Israel by ensuring that there are G-d-fearing people in our nation and that they enlist in the IDF.
In order to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox every week, subscribe to the Israel National Torah newsletter here.
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.