It is known that flying the national flag on the roof of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak is an Independence Day custom. This has been so since HaGaon HaRav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman ZT”L established the yeshiva. But this year, someone tried to prevent observing the minhag.
According to a Kikar Shabbos report, vandals glued the lock that permit access to the rooftop of the building. It is believed this is not a coincidence but an effort to prevent flying the flag on this Yom HaAtzmaut.
The obstacle was overcome and the flag was raised in keeping with the yeshiva’s tradition.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
חג עצמאות שמח
It not, and never was a “minhag” to raise the the Zionist flag any more than it is a “minhag” to have fireworks on the 4th of July. The flag is raised as a recognition of Hakoras Hatov but it is not a religious act or “minhag”. Rav Kahaneman and Ponovezh are not Mizrachi.
The article is a reminder that gadolim such as
Rav Kahaneman ZT’L had the courage to speak out
about the importance of maintaining a strong national
defense for the medinah and to respect the IDF and those
who were mesiras nefesh for the medinah even if they were
not shteiging at his yeshiva or others. His moderate words should be a reminder for the zealots who sadly have become the predominant voice in many sectors of the Chareidi tzibur.
The article is also a reminder that YWN relishes on sensational news especially when they can put in a bad light people that have the slightest difference of opinion then them……..
#2, “minhag” is a Hebrew word for “custom”. If one is accustomed to doing something again and again, it fits the definition of “Minhag”.
Hakoras Hatov is fundamental in Yiddishkeit.
Standing still during the siren might be חוקות הגויים, but flying a flag is surely not. One thing is certain: seeing a soldier and not having a feeling of Hakoras Hatov is most certainly חוקות הגויים…
Remember Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz told בחורים to give their seat on the bus to soldiers out of Hakoras Hatov…
Minhag is a holy word.
#5, This is the closest translation of the word Minhag. However, as is usually the case, it’s not a literal translation. You see, Minhag is based on mesorah in the hebrew sense of the word, whereas custom is closer to the status quo in the english definition. Ie, custom is not necessarily bound to mesorah as minhag.
What do you think? Any other differences between the two?
To # 2 crazykanoiy, your names says it all about you,feel sorry for you.
It’s not a minhag. It’s a simple de facto recognition of the “facts on the ground” after the Zionist invasion and occupation of large portions of Eretz Yisrael and subsequent (farcical) declaration of their independence.
The Zionists have, of course, declared their “sovereignty” (which isn’t all that sovereign, but they and their supporters like to play make-believe that it is sovereign) so, the Yeshiva is simply acknowledging their being under Zionist control.
HaKatan, be that as it may, if the Ponevezher Rav had held that Zionism was tantamount to avodah zarah, he would never have allowed the Israeli flag to fly over his yeshiva. This proves that many of the gedolim were not so strongly anti-Zionist.
יום העצמאות is a day of hak