Reply To: The Killing of Nahal Haredi Soldiers and the Anti Draft Protests

I cannot go back and read 199 posts. I did find some of the posts depressing. My point was that when Charedi soldiers died — there were protests — in essence — against the army. When my son served in Nahal Charedi — he did not say — i will protect these but not those. To not have the most minimal hakarat hatov to the soldiers — at least to me — is stunning. I guess its not a shared value. I thought its otherwise. I . A few other points:

1. Olympic and pro Athletes and celebs do get a modified service. I see no reason why they should not do the same for the top yeshiva students.

2.There is a tendency for the Yeshiva World (i know that is a sweeping generalization) to fight the battles of yesterday. Israel is not the same that it was in 1948. Yossi Klein talks about this — when he says that after 1967, the State became a religious state. Obviously, Israel is not a communist state. The kibbutzim are gone. There has been a bit of Darwinism — as the tenor of the people is more religious. For example, small things. Where as all the soccer games used to be played on Sat afternoon, most now are not. Jerusalem does not play on Shabbat — home or away. The Israel Soccer teams home games are never on Shabbat.

3. The army is not anti religious. You can give me anecdotes but the general tenor of the army is not anti at all. Certainly in Nahal Haredi — all accomodations are made. Most of the kids who are not religious in NH appear to have come in that way. Many — with the help of Netzach Yehuda (the amuta) — come out stronger religiously or re-enter their communities.

4. Totally a side point — but a reaction to one of the posts. I would assume anyone who calls homosexuals by pejorative names, does not have a close family member who is a homosexual. Moreover, i would assume that anyone who uses derogatory terms is not a Rov of a shul where there are homosexuals in the shul. The Rov of my shul told me that in our shul of 400 people — there are at least 5 homosexuals.

Disclaimer: Not condoning perjoratives but homosexuality is a halachik issue, not a pc one, whether in your family or congregation or elsewhere.