Shmuel Abramson of Lakewood Calling Out the Despicable Vile Protest against the Jewish State by Chareidiem

 

 Eretz Yisroel is at war. Our brothers, fathers, and sons are literally dying on the front lines in Gaza and Lebanon. The toll of this conflict is devastating. Yiddishe families are grieving, communities are reeling, and the loss is palpable. Every day, we wake up to news of another tragedy, another life cut short. Yet, in the midst of this darkness, Eretz Yisroel, our holy land, is being kept alive through sheer nissim. Every missile intercepted, every soldier protected, every life spared feels like a miracle we must acknowledge.

And yet, at this critical moment, a protest is staged in Lakewood—our own crown jewel of Torah and Yiddishkeit—against the State of Israel. I have to ask: Who thought this was a good idea? What are we trying to achieve? I want to make it clear—I am no Zionist. I’m a proud, card-carrying Lakewood yungerman who cherishes the values of Torah and our mesorah. I understand the deep-seated issues many in our community have with the Medina and its government, especially regarding their treatment of the Torah world, the yeshivos, and the Crown Jewels of Klal Yisroel—the Torah-observant communities.

The criticisms are valid. The way the government of Eretz Yisroel treats the frum community is deeply concerning and often unacceptable. The Medina, in many ways, needs to be held accountable for its actions and policies. However, two wrongs don’t make a right. Protesting the State of Eretz Yisroel publicly, at this fragile moment, feels misguided and counterproductive. The world is watching, and we need to be mindful of how our actions are perceived beyond our own community.

We must publicly support Eretz Yisroel in the eyes of the broader world. This isn’t about Zionism; it’s about unity and survival. The Jewish people have enough enemies seeking our destruction. When we, as a community, stage protests against Eretz Yisroel in such a public way, we risk feeding into a narrative that is harmful to all Yidden, whether religious or not. Do we care that this may turn into a national news story? “Ultra-Orthodox Jews protest Israeli government”—imagine the damage this could do. What message are we sending to the rest of the world, to the media, to those who seek to delegitimize Eretz Yisroel and the Jewish people?

I am so baffled by how we even got here. We are rachmanim bnei rachmanim (merciful ones, the children of merciful ones). Our entire identity is rooted in compassion, in caring for one another. Yet, we are acting like peasants, without any strategy or foresight. Where is our wisdom? Where is our leadership? The Torah teaches us to be thoughtful, to consider the long-term consequences of our actions. In times of crisis, we are meant to come together, to show solidarity, not to create division.

Yes, there are issues that need to be addressed with the State of Israel , and yes, there are times for protest. But this is not that time. Right now, Eretz Yisroel is in the fight for its life. Our fellow Jews are under fire. Now is the time for tefillah, for achdus , for supporting our brothers and sisters who are literally in the line of fire. There will be a time to address the flaws of the Medina, but that time is not today. Let’s not lose sight of what really matters. Let’s focus on protecting and supporting the Jewish people, on standing with Eretz Yisroel, and on showing the world that we are one united people.

One final thought. My Heilige Zaideh was an Odom Gadol and leader in the Oilam Hayeshivos of America. During the 1967 war, he didn’t eat for 6 days when the “Treifeh Medina” was under attack. This was a Yid who couldn’t stand for the faults of that Medina, yet a yid is a yid is a yid!