Rabbi Yitzchok Berkovitz in Aish |
The following does not represent some original thought or halachic innovation. Others have said things like this before, and more will say them after. I’m simply joining an existing chorus, and demanding that hypocrisy be called out and, potentially, avoided.
In the most recent issue of Mishpacha Magazine (April 3, 2024), in the wake of the Attorney General’s ruling that the Israeli army must initiate the process of drafting previously-exempt yeshiva students, Gedalia Guttentag interviewed Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits, the rosh yeshiva of Aish HaTorah, about the Chareidi position regarding exempting ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service.
In response to the interviewer’s question about the IDF manpower shortage, Rabbi Berkovits acknowledged the problem and said,
“We need miracles. The most important asset that Klal Yisrael has is the olam hayeshivos, now more than ever. And the fact that we’re protecting Klal Yisrael means that we need to take ourselves seriously. If we recognize that at a time like this, when Klal Yisrael is in danger, the yishuv in Eretz Yisrael is in danger, then we need to take what we’re doing seriously… I know it’s very difficult to maintain a state of chizuk long term, but in the first days after Simchas Torah, when the yeshivos reopened early, people were learning like crazy. There were all-night sedorim. You know, it was very difficult to maintain that. And I think people have gone back to normal life. We really do have to strengthen our passion, our hasmadah and our tefillah.” (Emphasis mine)
I have written numerous articles explaining why I don’t agree with this perspective. Nonetheless, let’s assume that Rabbi Berkovits is correct: that the people learning Torah, rather than those who are fighting for Israel, are, in fact, the authentic source of Israel’s protection.
Let’s work with this oft-cited reason for military exemptions for those who are learning in yeshivot. (In my less generous moments, I summarize this as, “You’re fighting in Gaza, and we’re learning in yeshiva. You’re welcome.”)