I haven’t been able to write for several weeks due to health concerns, and I have not been able to follow the news that closely, but I am well aware of the controversies surrounding the Orthodox communities, including whether the yeshivah crowd should be participating in the World Zionist Congress (WZC) elections, even via a totally frum platform, Eretz HaKodesh.
At stake are millions of dollars that would go to yeshivos in Israel, plus stemming the tide of huge influence the combined Reform and Conservative slates have on the Israeli agenda. Someone near to me wrote for a well-respected chareidi publication last week and simply referred to the controversial issue without taking sides, but was asked to take out any reference to the story.
I really try to wrap my head around the great controversy. I heard one of the roshei yeshivah address the issue and stated that the g’dolei HaTorah never let b’nei Torah participate in anything to do with the Zionist cause. I do not understand how he could possibly state that, when the Agudah throughout the existence of the State was part of the Knesset, with members and commissioners? For many years now, the Agudah has been an active member of the coalition. Furthermore, Rav Yitzhak Meir Levin z”l, son-in-law of the Gerrer Rebbe, signed on to the Israeli Declaration of Independence.
It seems that a few of the roshei yeshivah here and in Israel grouped together and squelched all discussion on the topic, resulting in a major declaration of the Moetzes of the Agudah against participation. Not taken into account was that at the last WZC election, Giants such as Rav Chaim Kanievsky and others from America clearly held it was advisable to vote in the WZC. These names have now been stifled… even canceled.
Much of the same attitude surrounds the outlook of having hakaras ha’tov to the chayalim. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz zt”l, in a specially prepared drashah following the Yom Kippur War, went at length to show how much gratitude we must have for the Israeli soldier who gives of his life so that yeshivah bachurim can maintain their learning. Do you see this attitude prevalent today? Is it all relegated to the dustbin of history? Are giants like Rav Chaim Kanievsky supposed to be dismissed as no longer relevant? Are millions of dollars of klal money supposed to be so casually dismissed? Does the Reform encroachment mean nothing?
And does the constant participation of the Agudah in the Israeli government not give pause?
I just thought I would ask. I hope I’m allowed to.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.
