9 Responses

1. וְלַמַּלְשִׁינִים אַל תְּהִי תִקְוָה וְכָל הָרִשְׁעָה כְּרֶגַע תֺּאבֵד וְכָל־אֹיְ֒בֶֽיךָ מְהֵרָה יִכָּרֵֽתוּ, וְהַזֵּדִים מְהֵרָה תְעַקֵּר וּתְשַׁבֵּר וּתְמַגֵּר וּתְכַלֵם וְתַשְׁפִּילֵם וְתַכְנִיעֵם בִּמְהֵרָה בְיָמֵֽינוּ: בָּרוּךְ שׁוֹבֵר אֹיְ֒בִים וּמַכְנִֽיעַ זֵדִים:

2. It would be best if Yeshivas cancelled or turned down on Bein Hazmanim in such difficult times. It was done before during the Yom Kippur war.
   Alternatively, Yeshivos could take all the bochrim to a camp with a very structured program.
   At least Elazar is honest admitting it’s HATRED nothing to do with manpower.

3. why cant they go on vacation, they are humans too.

4. Ouch. His comment hurts davka because the Roshei Hayeshivos asked the talmidim to keep a low profile during the period of the Gaza War. And that meant not going on hikes and tiyulim in the very public sites and trails. Not to mention the search and rescue resources used every bein hazmanim.

5. This headline is very misleading and doesn’t share the full context of the statement. It leaves out the second half – “when you see them in the Galil during Bein HaZemanim?”

   He’s not wrong about this part. If learning Torah is so important and especially during war time, why are they on vacation in the Galil? At the minimum, it’s insensitive to go on vacation while so many soldiers are not able to be on leave. How do you think any family whose child is serving is feeling when they see bachurim enjoying their vacation? Again, if learning is so crucial to the success of the war and country, then they should all remain in the beis medrash.

6. I think this is taken out of context. I am Haredi and spent time in Israel over Passover speaking with Dati Leumi/Hardal. There is incredible animosity towards the Haredi community because many in the Hardal community who learn Torah have lost loved ones in the war. In addition, they are exhausted from serving in the reserves and wives and children have been left at home alone while husbands have served many, many more days than they usually would. They blame Haredim for not serving and feel like they have been directly damaged. Bein Hzmanim trips are a symbol that Haredim don’t serve and are even taking vacations while other communities are serving and sacrificing and even dying. I think he’s referring to that sentiment, not saying that he himself hates Haredim. We are at war. The justification for not serving is that learning Torah protects the land of Israel. Bein Hzmanim trips don’t do that. This is a basic issue of sensitivity.

7. Rav Shach observed that after cancelling Bein Hazemanim during the Yom Kippur War, the next zman was not the same. He regretted cancelling bein hazemanim.
   The break is crucial, espeacilly as Yeshivas generally learn 3 sedorim aday, finnishing at 11pm, and Friday/Shabbos are not exactly weekend off, just less learnign. Even Bein Hazemanim, most bochurim and yungerleit dedicate the mornings to learnign, and often, the evenings too. Learnign in Yeshiva is not like university. It’s generally not a picnic. (though there are yeshivos that cater for those that cannot maintain such a demanding schedule)So when boys hike in the galil, it is a small percatage of their vaaction, after a rigid, demanding strecth of learning. During zeman they are not messing around in labs, or field trips, bank hiolidays, or free periods…

8. Shas MK Yinon Azoulay retorted, “I don’t recognize Jews who hate other Jews. If you hate Jews, your Judaism needs to be examined.”

   Start with the Peleg hooligans, and those who scream “nazi” at Jews.

9. @gotagoodpoint. You know who else is not having a picnic? Those soldiers who are leaving their families behind while going to the army. Yes, it requires a bit of sacrifice on the bachurim to forgo bein hazemanim. But that’s the point – they should have some sensitivity/empathy while everyone is also sacrificing.