Published May 01, 2009
HaRav Shlomo Goren z"l told the story of a meeting of army generals with David Ben Gurion, which took place in the early days of the State. One general proposed that there be a separate division of the army for religious soldiers. This division would adhere to the laws of Kashrut, Shabbat, etc. and the “rest of the army” would be able to conduct itself otherwise. It was not Rav Goren who responded; it was Ben Gurion. We are one people and we have one army. And since you do not refuse to eat kosher, but he (pointing to Rav Goren) objects to eating non-kosher, then everyone in the army will eat kosher. The IDF has many rules and regulations that require adherence to halacha. It is against army regulations to violate Shabbat in public. It is forbidden by the army to mix milk and meat utensils. The army must provide adequate davening time for soldiers who request it. And the list goes on and on.
This does not mean that these regulations are always followed in practice. But that can be said for many army regulations. A lot depends upon how many soldiers need and want the religious regulations to be followed. And that is part of the point of this article.
We, the people of Israel - and we, the Jewish People, owe a debt of gratitude to the Israeli Defense Forces for all they have done and will continue to do in defense of this country. To be sure, this debt of gratitude is to G-d for all He has done. And since He works hand-in-hand (so to speak) with the IDF, they share our gratitude and appreciation.
Which brings us to the main point of this article - all Jews in Israel should be doing military service or National Service of some kind, in order to help in the national effort to keep our enemies at bay and to help make our society more secure and productive.
“But what about the fact that someone learning Torah full time is also contributing to betterment of society and the defense of the country?”
This is so, but there are two main problems with this argument.
The State of Israel is at war with its enemies. Sometimes the war is “hotter” than at other times, but it is no less war. And this kind of war can clearly be classified as MILCHEMET MITZVA (defined as an obligatory battle such as those for the original conquest of Eretz Yisrael, and a war defending ourselves from threat of anihilation). There are no exemptions for this kind of war. A Chatan is taken from his Chupa and a yeshiva student from the Beis Medrash. The Torah’s exemptions for someone who recently betrothed a woman and has not yet married her, someone who has built a house and not yet started living in it, etc. apply to MILCHEMET R’SHUT (classically defined as a war declared by a king for the purpose of expanding territory), not to a MILCHEMET MITZVA.
If for no other reason, all our children should be taught and encouraged to do national service - either in the army or in a myriad of civilian positions that benefit society. Yes, we have to daven and yes we have to learn Torah. And yes we have to increase the amount and quality of mitzvot and chessed we do. And all of that greatly benefits the Jewish People. But these activities do not necessarily replace military and national service.
How do we know this to be so? Let’s learn a lesson from Yehoshua. “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and transmitted it to Yehoshua…” (Avot 1:1).
“...but his servant Yehoshua bin Nun, a young man, departed not from the Tent.” Moshe Rabeinu taught Torah to all of Israel. He was the Rebbi of every single Jew who stood at Har Sinai. Yehoshua was his main Talmid Muvhak. Not only did he learn Torah from Moshe Rabeinu, he was entrusted with being the main force in transmitting Torah to the next generation.
And when Amalek attacked the people, whom did Moshe call upon with the TZAV SHMONEH of the time? Yehoshua. Wait a minute - that was before Matan Torah! And how many battles did he lead and fight after the Torah was given? After he became the one to learn from Moshe and to be the next Gadol HaDor. Yehoshua was the quintessential yeshiva bocher who served in the army. He was the first Hesdernik. Or, perhaps the first Nachal Chareidi soldier.
There are many yeshiva boys who serve in the army. Many distinguish themselves as soldiers and officers.
There should be more. Many more. The more religious fellows there are in the army, the more Jewish and halachic the army is. Many non-religious soldiers respect their dati comrades. Many develop a respect and interest for Torah and mitzvot because of the dedication shown by the religious soldiers. (Of course this isn’t always so, unfortunately, but it would increase with more of our young men sharing the responsibility for protecting our nation and our people.)
One more item to add to the above. And no small item it is. Fact: There is a resentment in the non-observant population (and even in the Dati Leumi “camp”) towards the “Chareidi” segment who do not serve in the army (or at least participate in some National Service framework) and a lowering of the esteem they have for Torah and Torah Jews. They resent having to do more reserve duty and having their children serve longer in the army because of those who do not serve. Behaving in such a way that lowers the esteem for Torah in the eyes of the beholder is defined as CHILUL HASHEM.
Do I think that there will be more respect for Torah on the part of the not-yet observant if more religious people would serve this country as the rest of society does? ABSOLUTELY, YES. This doesn’t mean that non-religious people will “return” to Torah overnight. But it will be a major step in that direction.
Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut are occasions to acknowledge the sacrifice and dedication of thousands of people - those who were killed and those who, B"H, live on - to the survival and growth of the Jewish People in Eretz Yisrael.
May we merit the day when all nations will know HaShem and His relationship to the Jewish People and our enemies will become friendly neighbors. When the Jewish People will lovingly embrace Torah values and practice. When all the Jews will return to Eretz Yisrael, to rebuilt Jerusalem with the Third Beit HaMikdash, BIMHEIRA B’‘YAMEINU AMEN.
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