oomis: I’m having a difficut time understanding your point.
“What I should have said is some form of service to the country that even those who unfortunately are NOT machshiv Torah learning, will recognize as such” and “You are correct about Zaka, Hatzalah et al. They are major chassadim and services”
So Chareidim certainly DO many services that even others should be able to recognize.
“Like it or not, people who put their lives on the line to defend their country, do not generally see the value of a talmid chochom, as we do”
You are correct, but so what? Should we change our entire lifestyle to accommodate the 6% of secular Israelis who put their lives on the line, because they are ignorant regarding the value of our contribution? And what about the 94% of secular Israelis who either don’t serve at all or serve in non-combat roles? They don’t put their lives on the line either.