Avi K, you and some others persist in trying to persuade the Chareidi community, by somehow thinking you can turn to the community without the Rabbonim “interfering.” But, I’ll say it again. You are wasting your time. Just like you are wasting your time citing a lengthy essay by someone (Rabbi Melamed) who has zero standing in the Chareidi community. I’m not trying to upset or antagonize you. I’m certain that he’s a fine person, although I wish I could figure out why he likes to dress up in clerical garb, that is reminiscent of the galus. But, at the end of the day, his opinion in Torah matters does not carry any weight in the larger Chareidi community. The Chareidim (at least the ones that I know) are not losing sleep over the fact that the national religious don’t do as we do. We are not going out of our way to “proselytize” anyone. Yes, it’s painful to us and unfortunate that the dati leumi don’t obey da’as Torah. But, it’s not an obsession among the Chareidim to persuade them to accept it. We understand that most will not, indeed cannot accept the da’as Torah of the Sages. In fact, until a few years ago, the dati leumi refused to acknowledge the very concept of “Gedolei Torah” and “da’as Torah” altogether. Used to be that a politician’s or a MK’s opinion about Torah and halacha was considered equivalent (or even better) than that of a rabbi, even a gadol beTorah. The dati leumi rabbis back then realized that they had to accept this state of affairs, and, as a rule, refrained from issuing public statements on matters of public policy. Just as a reminder, didn’t Rav Soloveichik from Boston write in his book that there’s no such thing as “da’as Torah?” Today, the situation has changed somewhat. The dati leumi community learns much more than in the past, and this has most likely has had a positive influence. A new generation is growing up realizing that rabbinical opinion is more important that was previously thought or admitted. So, yes, many in the dati leumi community consult and follow rabbinical opinion more than their parents’ generation did.
But, to try to persuade me and the rest of the Chareidi tzibbur to abandon the Batei Medrash and join the army – based on an essay written by someone whom I and the rest of the Chareidi tzibbur do not consider to be a “bar-plugta” of the Gedolei haTorah? It’s as pointless as it is absurd. You need to meet with and (try to) persuade the Gedelei Torah to change their minds. I imagine that there is not much chance of that happening, but that is the ONLY way to make such a seismic change among the Chareidim: that only if the Gedolim change their opinions about learning vs. army service. But, given the current situation, the same way I understand that you are not going to forsake Rav Melamed and start following Rav Chaim Kanievsky and the other Gedolei Torah (although I wish you would!). Similarly, you ought to understand and accept that the Chareidi tzibbur is not going to abandon those whom it understands to be the Gedolei Hador, and whose opinions to be da’as Torah. Especially by citing the words of someone who has no rabbinical standing in the Chareidi world. The only possibility would be discussing it with the Gedolim. And as you probably realize, the chances of getting them to change their minds on this is probably nil. So, accept the situation. The same way the Chareidim accept the unfortunate situation that so many people disobey the opinion of the Gedolei Torah.
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