""It was a defining moment for me. I said to myself, if we don't know what Gemara is, how can we even have a debate about recruiting yeshiva students?""
The organized chorus of the media burst into applause upon hearing the High Court's decision regarding the conscription of yeshiva students. Many politicians also rushed to congratulate the decision, as if the days of the Messiah had arrived. Then, as the waves of enthusiasm subsided, commentators began to voice their analysis of reality, and it became clear that there was overwhelming agreement that the decision to stop the yeshiva budget would not result in the conscription of even a single yeshiva student.
Those who know the facts in depth have been warning for years that attacking Torah scholars will achieve the opposite goal. The Haredi public feels, with a large degree of justification, that a combined attack is being waged against it, in an attempt to interfere with the education of its children and its lifestyle. The media is waging a wild incitement against it, filled with hatred, which if directed at another sector would have created a huge public uproar.
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Here, what did all the shouters and all the organizers of the demonstrations and protests, whose sole purpose is to score points and applause in their reference groups, gain? Will there now be more 'equality of burden' or will we get a more hurt and offended Haredi public, who feels that their soul is being trampled on?
Sane voice
Amidst the flood of slogans and declarations, a fascinating interview was published last week with Inbar Gitti, former service outline planner at the Ministry of Defense. You see a woman who speaks about the Haredi public with respect, understands them, their needs, their sensitivities, their concerns. Reveals a deep understanding of what is possible and what is not, and how to do things right.
She begins her interview with her with a story: "On the occasion of my son's Bar Mitzvah year, who is studying in the science class at Shoham, the teacher invited me to speak to the students about the issue of yeshiva students' conscription. I asked them: What do the Haredim do when they don't go to the army? The children replied: They study Torah. I told them: They study Gemara, and I asked: Do you know what Gemara is? Not a single child knew!".
Gitti says: "It was a defining moment for me. I said to myself, if we don't know what Gemara is, how can we even have a debate about recruiting yeshiva students? We don't really talk, we don't really show empathy, we don't seek real partnership. We live side by side.".
And therein lies the whole point. When one party belittles the contribution of the other, it forces the other to retreat into themselves and belittle the value of the former's contribution. In contrast, when one party values the contribution of the other, it opens the door to finding ways to enhance the partnership.
The path to true connection
Yeshiva students do not do their homework. They devote themselves to Torah study without any material benefit. They sacrifice the best years of their lives for Torah study, out of a deep belief that Torah gives strength and power to the Jewish people. According to their knowledge, they make a crucial contribution to Jewish existence.
Without understanding this, there can be no true connection and no increased partnership. There is certainly room for greater participation by the Haredi sector in other areas of life, but this will not be achieved by predation and cutting the budgets of its institutions. Maybe now someone will sober up?
