The key issues: Iran and army service

A brief visit to Israel for personal reasons gave me a chance to experience and understand the atmosphere there. I have long held the view that while it is all very well to follow the news online even to an obsessive extent, only the personal interaction with Israeli day to day life gives the real picture.
In the multiplicity of newspapers available from street vendors and bookstores three themes stood out. There was extensive and intensive discussion about Iran, there was the ongoing issue of the Charedi draft, and the potential and actual implications of AI for the Israeli economy and even society.

Given my lack of knowledge regarding that third topic I won’t deal with it here but just concentrate on the first two; I did note however that in more recent days since my return, as the operation in Iran gathered strength, Ynet reported that in a video using an AI-generated version of his voice, the Prime Minister reiterated his appeal to Iranians, saying their moment “will come soon” and urging them not to miss a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to break free from tyranny.

Regarding Iran to which I will return later in light of the amazing developments that occurred subsequent to my return on the Thursday prior to the outbreak of hostilities, the view appeared to be that despite potential dangers as had been experienced in last year’s “12- day conflict” with Iran, the matter had to come to a head as soon as possible. Ignoring implicit dangers now for fear of negative outcomes  would only lead to a much worse outcome later. Build up of American resources in the region – aircraft carriers, fighter aircraft (based inter alia in Israel and Jordan) as well as missile and ammunition stocks was closely followed.

A key question – on which every cabdriver, the ultimate source of information for visitors,  had a view –  was the extent to which Trump was to be trusted to assist in any conflict – given his promise to Iranian  demonstrators that “help was on the way”, yet they were subsequently abandoned to be murdered. Other discussion centred not on “if” a conflict would break out but rather “when” – with much speculation as to Purim being an appropriate date that perhaps even Trump might favour for its historic connection to Iran – Persia.

And so to the events currently unfolding. Many see significance in commencement of the war on Shabbat Zachor – the day we remember and commemorate war with Amalek, the cowardly arch-enemy of Israel in ancient times, that we are instructed to destroy. In fact, however, in our calendar there is even greater significance to that day last weekend in regard to our relationship with Persia, i.e. Iran. Its date, Adar 11, is actually the commencement of Purim. In talmudic Tractate Megillah we learn the megillah we read on Purim was originally actually read on the 11th, 12th or 13th day of Adar as well as the 14th that we know as Purim (except in walled cities such as Yerushalayim, when Purim is held on the 15th of Adar).

How so? As most would be aware  the Torah is read at shacharit services on Mondays and Thursdays. When Jews lived on isolated farms without access to a minyan on Shabbat it was instituted that at least a portion of the weekly parasha be publicly read on the market days when farmers came to the town/village to sell their produce. Similarly, as some would not have access to hearing megillah on Purim itself, the megillah was publicly read on the market day (the Monday or Thursday) prior to Purim itself. Thus if Purim, Adar 14, fell on Sunday (the furthest day from a market day) the megillah would be read the previous Thursday – Adar 11) making that date effectively the commencement of Purim.

As for the Charedi draft issue it seems to me that the debate has reached an almost insoluble stalemate. Walking through the Charedi quarters of Yerushalayim – unless one comes face to face with an often ugly anti-draft demonstration – one is almost unaware of the existence of Tzahal or a situation that needs manpower. No soldiers in streets, Charedi lifestyle undisturbed. And it is that which the anti-draft community seeks to preserve. Let the others do what they do, we don’t want their lifestyle. Our lifestyle is our religious concern and our authorities are the leading rabbis – not the rule of the state, a secular construct.

Whilst reducing funding may have some limited persuasive impact it will not overcome the philosophical problem, which is of course underpinned by not wanting to become embroiled in the dangerous situations that are faced by families who need to be concerned regarding the literal safety of their children in combat.

I recall 60 years ago when I studied in Yerushalayim in yeshivah, the Satmarer Rebbe – the ultimate Charedi anti-Zionist – opposed his followers taking any financial benefit from the state, which inter alia would create obligations aside from creating a form of recognition and appreciation of funding from a source utterly anathema to what he believed was a fundamental principle of Judaism.

And indeed the fact that many of whom are barely employed is of course at the root of much of the opposition to those who choose that lifestyle while not sharing the burden of army needs when it is short of manpower.
Unfortunately the government’s need to maintain coalition support by the very Charedi parties who encourage that lifestyle actually overcomes the need to meet the country’s desperate manpower needs. Frankly despite a trickle of participants in the Netzach Yisrael Charedi brigade, I do not see any way this can be resolved on a broader scale – many Charedi groups will never abandon their view of the essential  lifestyle even at the expense of their children lacking basic needs. That the dati leumi national religious community can combine Orthodoxy and Torah study with national service is irrelevant to this sector because they are underpinned by recognition of supporting the state as the highest of values.

Sadly to me it is a frightening scenario. If there was one thing that brought home to me the difficulty of this issue it was a poster in Meah Shearim. Prior to the entry of Bnei Yisrael to the land, the tribes of Gad and Reuven approached Moshe. On the east side of the Jordan, before crossing into Canaan, was good pasture land. They wanted to settle there. To which Moshe replies with a famous verse;  “Will your brothers go to war (to capture the land) and you will sit here?” That should encapsulate modern obligations. But what I saw was that very verse not used to get all into the army but cynically twisted to demand that all demonstrate against the draft. The twisted meaning: Will your brothers go to war (against the government) by demonstrating and you individuals will just sit there. The ultimate chutzpah!

Whether the current war will have even a fleeting impact on attitudes remains to be seen. Unfortunately I see no answer to the draft imbroglio.

Shabbat shalom,
Shalom al Yisrael,
Am Yisrael chai,

Yossi

Yossi Aron OAM is The AJN’s religious affairs editor.