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- Passover - Pesach
The famed Nazir of Yerushalayim, R. David Cohen, among the closest students of Rav Kook, once asked him: if both religious-Zionism and Chabad love & care about each and every Jew & their observance, and both take the ge'ula seriously as realistic and genuine, so what's the difference? Rav Kook answered: "We are out to build the nation" (Introduction to Orot HaKodesh, p. 21). We appreciate & support all streams of Judaism for their positive contributions, but today's current strengthening of Breslav chassidut sharpens this point even more, where the focus is upon MY individual connection with G-d (as opposed to Chabad, where it's EVERY individual's), while relatively ignoring the status of Jewish national spirituality, security & physical welfare.
This year's unique "Erev Pesach which falls on Shabbat" situation drives this point home (as does selling chametz, Shemitta observance, and many other issues), regarding questions like: what hotels will serve for the double-challah obligation at the 3 Shabbat meals? Without going into all of the details, even in the private home, there's no perfect solution (we don't want chametz Challa around the house especially while hosting our grand-children; matzah is prohibited; after the morning- chametz is prohibited; there's a difference of opinion between Ashkenazim and Sefaradim regarding egg matzah; frying/boiling and then drying matzah is technically infeasible for so many people when there is so much going on at home: finishing Pesach cleaning, preparing for Shabbat, and for the Seder)! How much more so multiply this complexity many times over in hotels. But have you thought of what the entire Israeli army should do, where it's not just individual affluent families who volunteer to enter this hotel predicament, but rather MANDATORY IDF service for all 18-21 year-olds on a national level?! Especially now during war, when there are more than 100,000 soldiers and thousands of army bases involved!
An individual family can be machmir (stringent) upon themselves to choose the best among problematic solutions, but hotels, and how much more so a national army, simply cannot. Anyone who cares about Am Yisrael realizes that we must "shift gears" regarding the "klali" halacha of a Jewish State, where it's not just a difficulty of quantity (both technically and costly), but in a DEMOCRATIC nation of over 7 million Jews, there are obviously going to be many various customs and levels of observance, where there's both a highest and lowest common denominator, and either way, many will feel slighted.
My Haredi relatives in Brooklyn don't even think about such questions, but anyone who cares about Am Yisrael definitely does! A Haredi living in Israel hopefully at least thinks about the question, but then probably sticks his head in the sand, for not wanting to get involved and possibly sacrificing a tiny part of his personal share in the "world-to-come", for the sake of the national Jewish need.
The issue comes to the fore now where Haredim know very well that their not serving in the IDF is forcing more and more girls into battle units, with all of the technical and modesty issues involved, for all other (including orthodox) Jews aside themselves. They are against drafting both Haredim and girls, and in the meantime haven't even taken the trouble to publicize which they prefer: saving their own boys' "spirituality" while sacrificing the religiousity of the army and the nation, or vice-versa. And what about compromising Jewish security, for the level of those combat units will be lowered to suit the girls' physical capabilities, or do they only consider their individual selves? I truly hope that war will not strike Haredi neighborhoods, but if so, they might begin to understand that Israel "is really" in danger.
The IDF has grappled with similar questions every Pesach like negating the holiday-joy of Sefaradic soldiers to effectively eat just potatoes (especially immediately before Pesach where matzah is prohibited) instead of their rich cuisine of satiating kityniyot including: corn, rice, peas, beans… What about R. Yisrael Salanter's saying, "my fellow Jew's (or in our case: Jews'!) physical needs are my spiritual needs"!
The IDF Rabbinate ruled that the army's order (based on the inability to kasher thousands of army bases on the last 4 days!) to not bring chametz into any army base already the week before Pesach, deems the custom of placing 10 morsels of bread for bedikat chametz impossible & illegal. This halachically non-essential custom would be seen by most Haredi Jews as an afront to their religious freedom, but what do they expect the IDF to do?!!
A childish response would be to say "it's their problem", but that's clearly not Judaism. In case you haven't noticed, the G-d Who runs history and brings our national redemption, has decided to force us to take our head out of the sand. Statistically, according to the #1 Jewish demographer Prof. Sergio Della-Pergola, by the end of the 21 st century, 20 million Jews (about 80% of world Jewry) will be living in Israel and (as life-expectancy advances), yes, many of you will still be around! Yes, our loving Father is good enough to redeem Israel and extend our life-expectancy, but keeping one's head in the sand for too long will begin to be dangerous! Especially as Haredim will begin to approach the 50% mark of the national 18 year-olds. The national orientation must eventually change (or more accurately, return to the original).
Such a "klali" altruistic national mindset will inevitably return all religious to the authentic Torah outlook & realization, that we are not individuals in a tiny shtetl, but once again, we are the authentic Am Yisrael with the Living Torah, who really care not just for ourselves, but about EACH OTHER'S religiosity AND security. With all true respect which we obviously have to always do double-Chalot, and customs regarding kitniyot on Pesach, every (even non-Zionist) rabbi will agree that the present Milchemet Mitzva (saving Israel, Rambam, hil. Milachim u'Milchamoteihem 5, 1 & 7, 4) which should be pre-occupying all of us, is an even greater mitzvah than all these aforementioned examples which are preoccupying us.
Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.
Ein Aya Practical Tricks How Not to Accept Gossip by Giving the Benefit of the Doubt
Ayn Aya, Shabbat v, 65
Additional Lessons Stealing the Afikoman
How to Keep Our Kids at the Seder and On The Derech of Torah
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Rabbis in Midrash
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Shoftim TESHUVA IN COURT OF LAW?
Parshat Shoftim-Chodesh Elul
Why does parshat Shoftim always come out during Elul? This innovative and central explanation is an eye-opener regarding many aspects of Judaism.
The Month of Elul TESHUVA IS THE ANSWER
The month of Elul serves as a vital time for self-reflection and personal accountability to prepare for true repentance.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Realtor’s Fee on Large Commercial Building – part I
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 85031 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
P'ninat Mishpat Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part I
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the laying of the cornerstone of the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh)
Chemdat Yamim The Goal of an Agricultural Yeshiva – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 263 (address at the cornerstone laying for the Yeshiva Chakla’it in Kfar Haroeh – 1938)
Re'e NEVER EXTREME EXCEPT ISRAEL
Parshat Re'eh
Judaism is against extremism, so how can we understand the seemingly extreme statements found in our sages in favor of living in the Land of Israel and against living in Chutz laAretz? The article deals with the seeming contradiction between the strength of Free-Will and the strength of being influenced by our surroundings.
Ekev DANCE FOR ISRAEL- FOR YOUR BENEFIT
Parshat Eikev
Description: The 7 Haftarot we read after Tisha B'Av ("Shiva D'Nichemta") surely get us excited that they're coming TRUE, and awaken us to yearn, dance & join the return to Zion! The short article also deals with the problems and solutions facing the American Jewish community as discussed at a recent panel, as well as the question why Jews come from America to Israel to help when we face problems, but Israelis don't come to aid Jews in America when they face anti-Semitism.
P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
