Simcha, I have been saying that here on YW for years. Not only that, but the Maharsha clearly brings the gemara in Chidushei Agados (small font), not Chidushei Halachos (large font).
As far as Hashkafa goes, I totally agree. One must be nice and menschlach to one’s host country and not rebel against them, unless it is pikuach nefesh like Nazi Germany or the like.
My main question is why that menschlachkeit does not extend to our own brethren who now rule over EY. Why are we allowed to insult, degrade, deligitimize the current govt and the Medinah? Where did all the hashkafa go? Are they any more illegitimate than say the govt of Henry the 8th in England whose hobby was chopping off his wives’ heads?
Furthermore, the founders of the Medina got permisission in advance from the relevant authorities of their host countries, and from the British (the White Paper) to set up a state. So there was no rebellion involved.
If Rav Elyashiv called the USA a medina shel chessed, can anyone tell me how EY treats its citizens any worse? They have allowed Torah institutions and shuls to flourish in addition to creating an advanced and free society where everybody can be as frum as they want. Where did all the hashkafa go?
All the kindness the govt shows and services they provide are ignored, and no hakaras hatov is shown. Some claim a single maysa of Yaldei Teheran or Yaldei Teiman is the reason for the negativity. What about all the good which is 1 million times more? In addition, there were negative incidents in the USA, too, including the lynching of a Jew, Leo Frank, in the South years back. That didn’t stop Reb Elyashiv or Reb Moshe from constantly praising the USA. Why is Israel any different, especially when it is our own brethren in charge?