Rosh Chodesh Elul, marking the beginning of the final forty days during which Moshe remained on the mountain before the sin of the Golden Calf was forgiven and the second set of tablets was given on Yom Kippur, has become a day of special significance, symbolizing a fresh start and a shaking off of the dust. It is no coincidence that this date is noted as the day when the prophecy of Haggai was given to the returnees of Zion during the Second Temple period. They saw a reality where everything was stuck, with no horizon of hope, yet through the power of prophecy, Haggai instilled in them the enthusiasm that led to the building of the Temple and the establishment of the settlement—it is worthwhile to study the beginning of the Book of Haggai in this regard. Over the years, Rosh Chodesh Elul has become the day when preparations for Rosh Hashanah begin, with Sephardic communities starting to recite Selichot and Ashkenazic communities blowing the shofar to awaken hearts.
With the formation of the Torah world as we know it today, Rosh Chodesh Elul also became the “start of the term,” essentially the beginning of the year in the world of yeshivot and study halls. In addition to the meanings mentioned above, this date gains even greater significance. This year, as those who violate the covenant attempt to wield an axe against the Torah world through draconian decrees aimed at destroying the beit midrash (study hall) and emptying it from students, it is incumbent upon us to strengthen ourselves even more in the study of the holy Torah and in internalizing its values, concepts, ideas, and foundational principles. These—more than the practical commandments—are the primary targets of the assault by those who hate Hashem, who barely conceal their hatred for the holy Torah under the guise of phrases like “equality in the burden.”
And now, in the midst of Rosh Chodesh Elul, we learn that the Tel Aviv Municipality, determined to advance the agenda of a “Tel Aviv State,” is issuing Soviet-style directives to synagogues, with the clear intent of undermining the very foundational values that form the basis of our holy Torah. The mask is being removed, and the truth is becoming clear: concern for the army and its soldiers was never a priority for the left. Those pushing for a surrender deal with Hamas do not need too many soldiers for that purpose. The hostages, whom they claim to care so deeply about, have never been anything more in their eyes than pawns to ensure the continuation of the Oslo process—a process that has nothing to do with foreign policy but is solely about domestic policy. [In a separate article, it would be worthwhile to elaborate on how they even support a partial deal, thereby sealing the fate of the hostages left behind, as long as the war is halted…]
As mentioned, the Oslo Accords were designed to strip Israel of its Jewish identity. This was explicitly stated by the architect of that disaster, Dr. Ron Pundak, a little over a decade ago, in words that leave no room for ambiguity: “Oslo was not meant to bring peace. It was meant to create an Israelization of the state instead of its Judaization.” This is a debate about the very core of our existence as a nation. Are we a continuation of the Jewish people formed at Sinai, founded on the covenant with the Patriarchs, in which Hashem gave them the land and they committed to accepting His kingship? Or is the Jewish people a thing of the past, replaced today by an Israeli people defined merely by living here and holding a blue ID card, and nothing more?
This is about the complete elimination of all Jewish values—the belief in the Creator, His sovereignty over creation, His choosing of Israel, His giving of the land to His people, reward and punishment, and all thirteen principles of Jewish faith. This is at the root of the Oslo Accords, the root of the Tel Aviv Municipality’s actions against synagogues, the root of the support for a reckless surrender deal with Hamas, and the root of the war against the Torah world under the pretext of “equality in the burden.”
And if anyone tries to delude themselves into thinking these struggles are unrelated, here is a particularly interesting survey conducted recently, which went almost unnoticed but must be highlighted, as it explains more than anything else what lies at the heart of the battle against the Torah world. The survey, conducted by *Israel Hayom*, asked respondents about their views on renewing Jewish settlement in Gaza. The results speak for themselves: 83% of the Haredu (ultra-Orthodox public), 67% of the religious public, 29% of the secular public, and 20% of left-wing voters expressed support for the move.
There are several surprising findings here, but I want to focus on the significant gap between the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) and religious-nationalist support. While those in the religious-nationalist community are educated from childhood to support settlement and the conquest of the land, the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community has not directly absorbed these values, and in fact, many within it, including its political representatives, have pushed in other directions. How, then, does it happen that the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) public supports the conquest and settlement of Gaza more strongly than the religious-nationalist public?
The answer is clear: the light of the Torah is stronger than any ideological treatise. Those immersed in Torah values, who study the Torah and internalize its principles, naturally distance themselves from leftist positions. Those who are not exposed to foreign culture and media brainwashing can approach current issues with a much clearer mind. In the religious-nationalist community, many of whom are connected to general culture, despite the strong emphasis on conquering the land, there is significantly more weakness. By the way, I am certain that if the survey results were analyzed in greater detail within the religious-nationalist public, it would be found that the higher the level of Torah study and connection to Torah values, the greater the support for conquering and resettling Gaza, and the lower the level, the more prevalent the phenomenon of “Bennettism” [a reference to adopting liberal values of Naftali Bennett].
Drafting yeshiva students is the left’s last hope to strip the Haredim (ultra-Orthodox) Jews of the fundamental values that stand against Osloization, Israelization, and the stripping of the state’s Jewish identity. This is, plain and simple, a decree of spiritual destruction, with all that it implies, and it must be treated as such. When they truly desire the good of the army, victory in battle, and genuine equality in bearing the burden—including the spiritual burden—I am confident they will know how to approach the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) public with reverence and say: “Please, we need the holy Torah to instill its values in the army. Come, give us classes, teach Torah to the soldiers, instill true heroic spirit in the fighters, teach us the laws of war. Please, teach us what the Torah says about the sanctity of the camp, modesty and purity, starving the enemy, imposing a siege, taking revenge, and waging a war of annihilation.”
When they come in this manner, they will suddenly find a listening ear. But for that to happen, the army must rid itself of its senior command, steeped from head to toe in progressive values, and tear apart the defeatist ethical code, the joint service order, and all the other abominations that are killing our soldiers today. Such a step would contribute more to victory than any military maneuver!
The author is Rabbi Yehuda Epstein, Chairman of the Kedushat Zion Association. The translation was by vilnagaon.org
Editor’s comment: Rabbi Prof. Dov Fischer proposed the following compromise regarding to draft or not to draft the Haredim. He stated:
This proposed solution to the profound controversy deeply perplexing Israelis of all backgrounds and ideologies is based on the Occam’s Razor principle: sometimes, the best resolution of a complex problem is the simplest solution available. (Yes, “Occam,” even though here for Jews.) To “cut to the chase”: Haredi yeshiva boys should be allowed full permanent draft exemption, and all their public benefits should continue unabated — in return for them learning Torah full-time in new Haredi yeshivos, kollelim (kollels), and batei midrash (study halls) to be built immediately within Gaza’s borders.
The remainder of this article (at https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/411250 ) offers context, background, necessity, and seeks to rebut anticipated challenges to this compromise proposal.
I wish to improve Rabbi Prof. Dov Fischer’s suggestion.
Because the army currently has not rid itself of its senior command, steeped from head to toe in progressive values, and the army does not tear apart the defeatist ethical code, the joint service order, and all the other abominations that are killing our soldiers today, I do not want to force any person (even secular Jews) to join the army. Given that this is such a radical change for Israeli society. As a compromise, I would start with an army exemption for anyone who commits to live in Gaza or in Judea and Samaria. Filling these areas with Jews does more to save the country than conquering parts of Gaza 6 times in a row and then giving it back to the Gazans for some stupid left-wing progressive reason.
I further suggest setting up a new (right of center) court for Judea, Samaria, and Gaza that has the power to override, Israel’s left-wing judicial establishment. Otherwise the judicial branch of the “Deep State” will find some pretext to sabotage the compromise.
To make myself perfectly clear, I would like to exempt everyone from the draft under today’s conditions. I am stressing Judea, Samaria, and Gaza because we might not get any change if we ask for too much.