Zakein HaPoskim, HaGaon HaRav Avigdor Nebenzahl, who has refrained for decades from intervening in public matters, published a letter paskening that even Chareidi bochurim who aren’t learning should not enlist in the IDF.
HaRav Nebenzahl began his letter with words of chizzuk to the bochurim who were arrested in recent weeks for the “sin” of learning Torah and failing to report to the draft offices: “I wish to be mechazeik the precious Bnei Torah who were thrown into prison because they fulfilled their true obligation to learn Torah and did not enlist in the army,” the Rav wrote.
HaRav Nebenzahl then issued an unequivocal p’sak: “In addition, I wish to state my opinion clearly, that even a Chareidi bochur who, unfortunately, isn’t learning Torah, must not be tempted to enlist in the army, not even into the frameworks established there for Chareidim, as the Gedolei Yisrael have instructed.”
According to B’Chadrei Chareidim, HaRav Nebenzahl’s p’sak is unprecedented, as he is known for refusing to publicly express his opinion on current issues, despite his tremendous influence across all communities and circles—even among those far from the Torah world.
Until now, when asked about the enlistment of Chareidi bochurim who aren’t learning, HaRav Nebenzahl would refuse to answer, saying, “A Chareidi bochur must sit and learn! How can it be that a Chareidi bochur isn’t learning?!”
On another occasion, HaRav Nebenzahl added, “Either way—if the bochur asks for Daas Torah, we must instruct him to sit and learn. And if he does not listen to Daas Torah, what use is there in forbidding him to go to the army?”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
The article is not an accurate reflection of the letter.
For those in the know, this short letter is a beautiful articulation of the Chareidi position in the moment.
The article reflects the Chareidi response to other tense moments of the Tal saga.
It’s an instance of a vast difference between a chacham’s letter and a journalists take.
The problem is that Israel is at war. The traditional Hareidim (as opposed to the ones who are involved in Israeli politics, sit in the Kenesset, and strive for patronage and subsidies from the Zionists) are unable to offer a solution to the war, and for all purposes have given up trying (since Jacob Israel De Haan was murdered by the Zionists, a century ago). As long as the Zionists are at war with the Palestinians (and their allies throughout the Muslim world), it is a bit awkward to oppose the army. To be intellectually consistent, one can not oppose the IDF, unless one favors peace with the Muslims (and while most Hareidim would be content to be an autonomous community operating in accordance with halacha, most secular Jews will settle for nothing except a well armed western state in which Jews are first class citizens, and everyone else is not).
The Hareidim, a century ago, were supporting a return to the Ottoman Millet system, which if modified a bit was also acceptable to the Zionists (cf. Weizmann-Faisal agreement) – which is why British sabotaged such an agreement (a Jewish-Arab alliance would threaten their Empire) and why the Zionists used violence to prevent the Hareidim from working with the Muslims.
And then you wonder why they don’t like religious Jews
it is assur to serve in the IDF even if a boy is on the brink of OTD he cannot serve in the IDF.
He didn’t give a reason. Just said no
the reasons are well known and he doesnt have to give reasons.
the people inquiring know why not to go they just want to know his opinion
and his opinion is no
i guess the mezrachis need to find themselves a new rabbi