Avi K, what is this obsession with curtailing or shutting down the chareidi yeshiva system? A thousand study and a hundred and fifty become Talmidei Chachamim. The others? They get training in order to be able to appreciate the 150 Talmidei Chachamim. BTW, a Talmid Chacham
who is not a gadol is also a Talmid Chacham. Not everyone becomes a gadol hador! The ones who really can’t manage even that end up leaving, doing Nachal Chareidi, or some other solution. Is every Technion student a future Einstein? Does the Technion know in advance who will make a Nobel Prize-winning discovery in 20 years? No, of course not. Those who want to study physics at the Technion’s level are allowed to do so. Do you think that Hashem only helps potential physics geniuses, but not yeshiva students? To those who really want it, Hashem grants siyata de’shmaya. Those who don’t or can’t — generally end up leaving the yeshiva.
What are you trying to accomplish anyway? A few thousand more jobniks in the IDF? The army doesn’t have enough jobs as it is and many conscripts are underutilized and seriously wasting time and taxpayer money by being in the army. But, as long at they’ll put on the green uniform even for just a few months till the army realizes that these guys anyway have nothing to do — so Avi K will be satisfied. OK, probably some quality combat soldiers could come from the ranks of the chareidi yeshiva world. But, it will be impossible to turn the majority of them into killers. So, they’ll end up being conscripted to do busy work — at the taxpayers expense.
Avi K, you and I both know the truth: NO ONE can be “forced” to be a soldier against their will. A conscript might have to endure punishment, possibly physical, time in a military stockade. But, ultimately, the army cannot and will not retain such guys that simply will not cooperate. Undermining morale and discipline in the unit is counterproductive. The army knows this and has never called for “forced conscription” because the army knows that it’s a waste of time — and taxpayers’ money.
As you surely know, the only way to change the chareidi mind-set is to persuade the gedolim to change their minds. So, as I’ve posted so many times in the past, arrange a meeting with some of the gedolim and try to convince them your approach is the correct one. Admittedly, it’s a long shot, but you could try. That is the only way to change the chareidi tzibbur’s collective mind. Continually citing the opinions of rabbis that the chareidim don’t follow or respect is not going to achieve anything. Just like I don’t expect (although I will you would) you to accept the da’as Torah of the gedolim that I respect, you’ve got to realize that I am not going to accept the rulings of the other rabbis, those whose opinions you consider binding and authoritative. One thing is for sure: this continuous haranguing in the CR is totally fruitless. Persuade the gedolim that your opinions are right, and you will achieve your goal. Otherwise, “chaval al hazman,” you will just be talking till you’re blue in the face. (Not great for one’s health!)