Rabbi Eliezer Melamed Shlita, Mora D’asra of Har Bracha and Rosh Yeshivat Hesder Har Bracha is not pleased with the widespread support enjoyed by Hilltop Youths and their rabbonim.
Using his column in the weekly BaSheva, the most widely distributed religious newspaper in Israel, he condemns the lifestyle of the youths and the support they are enjoying in light of the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) investigation into the Duma arson.
“It is well known that among the Hilltop Youths are those young men that in the eyes of the general public exhibit disdain for Torah and the nation. They supposedly love the Land of Israel but hate all those who work to settle and defend it in the name of the State of Israel. Abstractly and in principle, they supposedly love Am Yisrael but in fact, they hate Jews”.
He feels that “They cause strive and division as they do not accept the Torah of Rav Kook ZT”L and Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook ZT”L” Rav Melamed adds.
Rabbi Melamed explains there are thousands of youths on the hills, and it is difficult to site exact numbers but he believes there are one to two hundred who act “wild and evil” to the extent it may lead to the murder of an Arab or even a Jewish neighbor. He explains this almost occurred as a result of a machlokes about establishing another shul while the main shul barely holds its minyan together.
The rav is referring to an incident that involved Breslov chassidim from the Nach Nach faction on Givat Ronen a few years ago. They attacked and beat a number of residents and as a result, were ousted from the community. Those familiar with the incident feel it is “ridiculous” to draw an analogy to the Hilltop Youths from the case.
Rabbi Melamed adds ” There’s another few hundred that stupidity come to contempt and hatred towards the Kodshei Yisrael, but in their hearts there is also a respect and love for Torah and IDF soldiers. They can curse soldiers brazenly shout ‘ traitor ‘ to the elders about rabbonim, ministers and dignitaries, throwing stones at police in demonstrations and Arabs traveling on the road.
The rabbi explains education is fundamental and this will make the difference between good and bad values. He admits at times they are MeKadesh Shem Shomayim but there is a price to aspiring to a hashkafa lacking limitations, a heavy price. He explains there is no hashkafa that provides a 100% guarantee, but this lifestyle significantly raises the odds that the outcome will be unwanted.
He feels parents will have to become involved in they are to be rehabilitated and their energies might be directed towards agriculture and farming as well as the IDF service.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
Interesting how the rabbis of the movement that denied, decried, and disdained “Da’as Torah” now are wringing their hands in despair. The monster has turned against its creator. The hilltop youth were raised in a “religious” environment that taught that in the realm of “klal” issues (politics, etc.) there is no need to consult rabbonim. So, they’re doing what they were taught. The rabbi himself stated that, “education is fundamental and this will make the difference between good and bad values.” Should have thought about that a few decades ago.