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How to Treat Israeli Soldiers

The Terrible Mistake Made by Many Religious Jews

18 min

August 19, 2011. Israeli soldiers mourn during the funeral of a comrade at the Mt. Herzl cemetery. Gunmen who appear to have originated in Gaza and who crossed into southern Israel through the Egyptian desert

Class Summary:

How to Treat Israeli Soldiers. The Terrible Mistake Made by Many Religious Jews

This class was presented by Rabbi YY Jacobson in Tamuz 5777, July 2017, at Ohr Chaim, Monsey, NY.

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  • G

    Gavriel -7 years ago

    Stop with the zionism

    I know the Rebbes approach was a more "neutral" approach to Zionism. However, I don't think that his opinion was clear enough on the subject. He was NOT a Zionist. He used to say "the only way for us to be able to discern light as light, is if we discern darkness as darkness." The modern orthodox community, and the less yeshivish and others are going to the army as if it's as important as yeshiva. They often seem to be far more Zionist than any Gadol ever hoped for. I hope you take this constructively. I'm not saying to scream at people to they're going to burn in hell etc; rather, we must enlighten people to keep to the original derech of Chabad (and everyone) which was very anti Zionist.

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    • Anonymous -7 years ago

      Thanks for your comment; but I did not understand it. Did you hear me extol Zionism? I know the Rebbe's position very well. He did not feel yeshiva boys who are sitting and learning Torah should go to the army or should be drafted. He did feel that people who are not learning need to ask a serious shaalah if they are not obligated to go to the army. He also felt that every soldier who dies protecting the million sof Jews living in Eretz Yisroel has died al kidush hashem, and that each soldier deserves a tremendous sense of gratitude, and we need to be mekarev each of them in every possible way. This has absolutely nothing to do with Zionism.

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    • Anonymous -4 years ago

      Many of the Gedolim such as Rav Kook were and are Zionist. Some Tzadikim believe that it is a mitzvah to serve in the army. Whether it takes precedence to Torah study I don't know.

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  • RMK

    Rivka Malka Kahn -7 years ago

    Israeli soldiers

    Brilliant

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  • Anonymous -7 years ago

    Minor correction

    Ramla is a Jewish city. You mean Ramallah!

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  • MZ

    Mendel Zilberberg -7 years ago

    Im Ein Da'as Havdala Minayin

    There is a distinct difference between one's feeling toward the Medinah and one's feeling toward a fellow Jew. Rabbi YY specifically did not address the issues some Gedolim had or even have regarding the Medinah -- but addressed the issues of loving a fellow Jew. If people do not see the difference between a government and its citizens, i don't think anything i write will make a difference. Similarly, if one can not see the difference between issues one has with a government that drafts students enrolled in Yeshiva and the soldiers who are in the army i don't think anything i write will make a difference. If one thinks that when a religious soldier goes into a shul to daven the obvious and only conclusion is that the soldier is there to incite the people, rather than possibly an interest to daven to Hashem, i don't think anything i write will make a difference. if one thinks that the Divrei Yoel ZTL did not deeply care for the Jewish soldiers who fought in the IDF, i suggest you find out what he said after Mussaf on Yom Kippur when he was told (in his room) that the YK war had broken out. I found out from an eye witness, I think you will be surprised. For those who think that the ill will from secular Jews to the ultra orthodox is a one way street, I suggest that you read REAL JEWS by Noah Efron. Feel free to skip the first approx 50 pages which relates to the history of Zionism - but the rest of the book is a seemingly unbiased look at the relationship between the secular and Ultra Orthodox segments of Israeli society. If someone feels that an Israeli soldier does not deserve thanks for his/her service and sacrifice, i don't think anything i write will make a difference. If you are not capable of understanding the differences set forth above (and are insulted by the suggestion of being brainwashed - which raises the possibility of being brain dead) and are not willing to appreciate what Rabbi YY said, maybe you can understand what Menachem Begin said: Both after Ben Gurion tried to kill Menachem Begin and after the Netuei Karta stood outside the Waldorf Astoria with huge amplifiers shouting that Menachem Begin was a Nazi -- the police wanted to disperse the crowd but Menachem Begin sent a message to the police not to interfere. Menachem Begin said, “After the Holocaust, there is no command more supreme than that a Jew should never abuse another Jew, should never lift a finger against another Jew, and should endeavor to love his neighbor as himself.”

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  • Anonymous -7 years ago

    No violence, but support???

    If you want to start a new topic about the Sikrikim, there's no need. I agree with you 100 percent. Ones again, no ruv has given any rights to do violence, please don't mention it over and over and stick to the conversation. If you feel out of the box by saying love love love to secular Jews and in the same time you call thousands of heimisha yiden from where you grew up, Haters, you're one track minded and in the smallest box... Open minded doesn't mean only love friya yiden... open minded means understanding different mindsets. We are talking about an issue where Rabunim like R Malcial Kutler R Elya Ber R Aron Shechter which are not from the kenuisha side recognize it as a serious Gezeira Now, until 5 years ago nobody had a problem when a Chayal davend in one of the shteeblach because it didn't talk to us, but lately they start to send them directly on a mission to show us that you can be a Erlicha yid in the army. "Of course the way the Sikrikim handle it is wrong and it backfires" You may call them for a shabbos or dance with them in Miron or in Uman and of course put on Tefilin.... but I should give them "support" when they come in Maya Sheurim on a mission? No

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Hashkafa/Mussar

Rabbi YY Jacobson

  • July 20, 2017
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  • 26 Tamuz 5777
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  • 4088 views

To our dear Mom, wife and a great friend, Pascale Shoshana Sasson, on your 50th birthday and 26 years of marriage. We wish you long, happy, and meaningful years with all of us. Love you always. Benjamin, Maya, Leah, Joseph, Tally and David

 

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