• G

  Gavriel -7 years ago

  Stop with the zionism

  I know the Rebbes approach was a more "neutral" approach to Zionism. However, I don't think that his opinion was clear enough on the subject. He was NOT a Zionist. He used to say "the only way for us to be able to discern light as light, is if we discern darkness as darkness." The modern orthodox community, and the less yeshivish and others are going to the army as if it's as important as yeshiva. They often seem to be far more Zionist than any Gadol ever hoped for. I hope you take this constructively. I'm not saying to scream at people to they're going to burn in hell etc; rather, we must enlighten people to keep to the original derech of Chabad (and everyone) which was very anti Zionist.

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • Anonymous -7 years ago

    Thanks for your comment; but I did not understand it. Did you hear me extol Zionism? I know the Rebbe's position very well. He did not feel yeshiva boys who are sitting and learning Torah should go to the army or should be drafted. He did feel that people who are not learning need to ask a serious shaalah if they are not obligated to go to the army. He also felt that every soldier who dies protecting the million sof Jews living in Eretz Yisroel has died al kidush hashem, and that each soldier deserves a tremendous sense of gratitude, and we need to be mekarev each of them in every possible way. This has absolutely nothing to do with Zionism.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • Anonymous -4 years ago

    Many of the Gedolim such as Rav Kook were and are Zionist. Some Tzadikim believe that it is a mitzvah to serve in the army. Whether it takes precedence to Torah study I don't know.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• RMK

  Rivka Malka Kahn -7 years ago

  Israeli soldiers

  Brilliant

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• Anonymous -7 years ago

  Minor correction

  Ramla is a Jewish city. You mean Ramallah!

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• MZ

  Mendel Zilberberg -7 years ago

  Im Ein Da'as Havdala Minayin

  There is a distinct difference between one's feeling toward the Medinah and one's feeling toward a fellow Jew. Rabbi YY specifically did not address the issues some Gedolim had or even have regarding the Medinah -- but addressed the issues of loving a fellow Jew. If people do not see the difference between a government and its citizens, i don't think anything i write will make a difference. Similarly, if one can not see the difference between issues one has with a government that drafts students enrolled in Yeshiva and the soldiers who are in the army i don't think anything i write will make a difference. If one thinks that when a religious soldier goes into a shul to daven the obvious and only conclusion is that the soldier is there to incite the people, rather than possibly an interest to daven to Hashem, i don't think anything i write will make a difference. if one thinks that the Divrei Yoel ZTL did not deeply care for the Jewish soldiers who fought in the IDF, i suggest you find out what he said after Mussaf on Yom Kippur when he was told (in his room) that the YK war had broken out. I found out from an eye witness, I think you will be surprised. For those who think that the ill will from secular Jews to the ultra orthodox is a one way street, I suggest that you read REAL JEWS by Noah Efron. Feel free to skip the first approx 50 pages which relates to the history of Zionism - but the rest of the book is a seemingly unbiased look at the relationship between the secular and Ultra Orthodox segments of Israeli society. If someone feels that an Israeli soldier does not deserve thanks for his/her service and sacrifice, i don't think anything i write will make a difference. If you are not capable of understanding the differences set forth above (and are insulted by the suggestion of being brainwashed - which raises the possibility of being brain dead) and are not willing to appreciate what Rabbi YY said, maybe you can understand what Menachem Begin said: Both after Ben Gurion tried to kill Menachem Begin and after the Netuei Karta stood outside the Waldorf Astoria with huge amplifiers shouting that Menachem Begin was a Nazi -- the police wanted to disperse the crowd but Menachem Begin sent a message to the police not to interfere. Menachem Begin said, “After the Holocaust, there is no command more supreme than that a Jew should never abuse another Jew, should never lift a finger against another Jew, and should endeavor to love his neighbor as himself.”

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• Anonymous -7 years ago

  No violence, but support???

  If you want to start a new topic about the Sikrikim, there's no need. I agree with you 100 percent. Ones again, no ruv has given any rights to do violence, please don't mention it over and over and stick to the conversation. If you feel out of the box by saying love love love to secular Jews and in the same time you call thousands of heimisha yiden from where you grew up, Haters, you're one track minded and in the smallest box... Open minded doesn't mean only love friya yiden... open minded means understanding different mindsets. We are talking about an issue where Rabunim like R Malcial Kutler R Elya Ber R Aron Shechter which are not from the kenuisha side recognize it as a serious Gezeira Now, until 5 years ago nobody had a problem when a Chayal davend in one of the shteeblach because it didn't talk to us, but lately they start to send them directly on a mission to show us that you can be a Erlicha yid in the army. "Of course the way the Sikrikim handle it is wrong and it backfires" You may call them for a shabbos or dance with them in Miron or in Uman and of course put on Tefilin.... but I should give them "support" when they come in Maya Sheurim on a mission? No

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• G

  Gedalyah -7 years ago

  A Personal Story

  June 2002. • The Arabs had just executed a major terrorist attack in which they murdered 16 Israelis on a bus. • Ariel Sharon had decided to send the IDF into Jenin ‘no holds bar’. I was in Tzfas at the ArtCafe restaurant having dinner. Towards the end of my dinner a group of older IDF soldiers (appx in their late 30s or 40s) came into the restaurant for dinner. They were in full battle gear and I knew they were going into Jenin. After I paid my bill I walked up to the waitress and I handed her a 100 NIS bill. I told her to put it on the tab of the soldiers. I told her to tell the soldiers that it came from the Chareidi guy who was just having dinner as a thank you for protecting us. I wish I had the ability to make a Kiddush Hashem like that more often.

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • Anonymous -7 years ago

    And I can assure you Gedalya that the next time someone asked one of these soldiers to put on Tefilin, or to do another mitzvah, he jumped on it, because the sweetness of Torah and tho who carry the banner of Torah lingered in his heart and soul. That is what is so painful here. The people who advocate this behavior scream: We are protecting Torah! We want to make sure that our faith does not get destroyed! By behaving this way, you are tearing away so many Jews from Torah. If you care about Torah and Mitzvos, show respect, appreciate and love, and you will cause thousands of G-d's children to come closer to Torah -- them, their children, and their grandchildren. In the name of G-d, I distance G-d's children from Him. Think about how much good every Torah observant Jew in Israel can accomplish if he/she would change their behavior toward all of their brothers and sisters in the Holy Land.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

    • G

      Gedalyah -7 years ago

      L'Kavod Rav Jacobson, The truth is I feel sorry for those screamers (or whatever you call them). I'm Baal Tshuvah and I left the secular lifestyle over 30 years ago. I have come to the conclusion that these screamers simply don't have the strength of character to love the Yid, yet disdain their lifestyle. I have worked in secular Israeli High Tech for over 20 years and I have never had a problem. In fact, people have gone out of their way to help me. Here are just few stories. A secular colleague at a new job once saw that I was davening Mincha in the office. He came up to me and told me that there was a Minyan down the street. A secular boss, who once openly told me that he eats on YK, said that I was switching cubicles and asked me if I prefer to sit in a cubicle w/out a women. I once went to do some contract work in a secular office in Tel Aviv. The office was 90% women who were dressed to kill. I told the guy in the office that I could not start for another week because I was going to Tzfas to learn Torah for a week. He told me that it was fine since you people (Chareidim) need to pray for us. I remember walking into a photo shop for something and the secular woman behind the cash register coverd herself up because I was there. And now my favorite. I was once pulled over by a secular Israeli police officer for making an illegal U-turn. I and my autistic son got out of our car and handed the office my license and registration. My autistic son started talking w/the policeman. The policeman said that he has a special Neshamah. I told the policeman the following story. My son once woke up in the middle of the night screaming. We couldn't figure out why he was crying until I noticed that a Mezuzah had fallen off one of our bedroom doors. I replaced the Mezuzah w/a spare and my son stopped crying. The secular Israeli police officer then asked my son for a Brachah.

      Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• SW

  shmuel weiss -7 years ago

  opening a can of worms

  That is part of your problem you are in the box you are indocrinated i didnt say we all charedeim are molested and all the rabonim are against drafting Yeshiva Bachurim most rabonim dont agree that thereis Giyus and what is the right to throw or harass a jew Do you know that rav Amrom Blau never hit a cop even though they beat him because he loved jews And if nebech the bachur was forced as you claim be mekarev him. Mr open mind I would like to open a can of worms .The Klausenburg rebbe ZT'L was a chyal what was done to him ? Belz? Chabad? RAV Moshe? PINNY KORF they all raitzich ?What about rav Eliyashuv ZTL? Rav Moshe Shternbachcant walk in Meah Sheorim? Iove the way you write a ll the Rabonim I am from WillimsburgThe list goes on and on Fix your own problems before you spit at another jew If it really bothers you Kevod Shmayim be makerev.Thousands of kids were molested does it bother you ? I didn't hear one word about it That is the real threat thats why you are ignoring itI am charedei myself There is something called the big lie

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• Anonymous -7 years ago

  Who is consumed with hate?

  You didn't understand.. I never gave any rights for violence. I just asked a question, if you love every jew why is that different?? Basically YOU have no problem to treat the soldiers how you want when it comes to your Shitah.. so don't blame Chareidi Jews who follow their rabbis which all of them are against the Giyes. And again there is no Teritz for violence. But YOU should be quiet because you have no problem with violence. And btw they might be tzibrochena bucherim but they're being sent to our neighborhoods just tzee unreitzen our children and they're not so incent Now you can only repeat this biggest Rechiles the all chareidim from the 'system' are being abused.. molested.. Now who is consumed with hate?? Hashem should open your head

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• SW

  shmuel weiss -7 years ago

  condeming violance

  you guys are brainwashed and litterly out for lunch Num 1 the act of vioalance from the settlers was condemed by their own leaders num 2 they were kicking them out of their homes here you have people who were brainwashed to hate by so called leaders on a gezeiro which dosent exsist attacing incent soldiers walking thru streets the ones who protect you. Many of them who learned in your schools who were abused and molested and thrown out And you have the chutzpa to compare .Wake up and smell the coffeMaybe Rav Yoel loved Jews but reading your letters tells me that you guys are consumed with hate

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• Anonymous -7 years ago

  Terrible mistake made

  Interesting why there wasn't any response against the Misnachlim who also fought very ugly against the isrealy police and army when they got evacuated from the Shtuchim although the police are Tinoikim Shnishbu who don't understand the great great mitzvah of Yishev Eretz Yisroel which requires Mesires nefesh...... Have you seen does videos???

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• SW

  Shumel Weiss -7 years ago

  Halacha Matters

  As you said this is a Halacha matter .Halacha can not be paskened only by a Rav moreh horoeyh This matter was dealt by our great sages who dealt with all Halacha matters of our generation.So our oblegation to follow the rulings of our sages.No one can take Halacha in his own hands. Therfore we have to respect and admire Klal Yisroel. Who are living their lives according to the poskei Rabonei from our generation and please dont have a tzdokei attitude by incling to take the law in your own hands.

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• Anonymous -7 years ago

  The real understanding

  Thank you very much rabbi it was a very powerful massage. Appreciation is a very important Midah. בנוגע השקפה כמדומה לי יש טעות בזה. קנאות וואס סאטמר רב האט געלערנט האט מיט שנאה נישט קיין שייכות. אדרבה צילוב זיין ריין הייליג הארץ וואס האט געברענט מיט אהבת השם און אהבת ישראל האט ער נישט געקענט צו קוקען דעם מרידה בשם ובתורתו, און ווי זיי שמדן אויס אומשולדיגע תימנע קינדער און סאיז עם צוגעטרעטן צום געזינט. און ניין ער איז נישט געוועהן קיין דעת יחיד ואכמ"ל נאר וואס דען בעו"ה מענטשן מיט מידת מושחתות ניצן זיין נאמין צו טוהן כל מה שבלבם בלבוש קנאות וזהו הגורם להפאלטשע בליק אויף דער אלגעמיינע גאס וכמדומה לי אז איר ווילט אויך נישט אז יעדע מנהג אדער פעולה וואס ווערט געטוהן און נאמען פון חב״ד זאל מען אנלייגן אויפן רבין נ״ע .ובנוגע ארויס ווייזן הערצה און די וואס האבן א חלק און העברה על ג שבועות איז לכאורה א הלכהדיגע שאלה און נישט קיין שאלה אין מידות

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • Anonymous -4 years ago

    גוט געזאגט

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• D

  David -7 years ago

  Recognizing the real gezeiros

  Hi Chaim and friends: Number 1: no bachur from Yeshiva is being drafted; it is boys in the street who are being drafted! The fact is that Rav Shach Paskend that if a bachur who is not learning does not go to the army, he is a rodef! Number 2. Statistics show that 89% of the Nachal groups have an aliyah in the army. Could we say that about our mosdos? How many children were molested in our mosdos? How many are off the derech? How many are completely messed up? And you worry about the army? How many Shebabnikim kids at risk in the thousands? Do you realize that today the army may be a better place for many of our kids if we want them to remain connected to Torah and Mitzvos?! so many of you are just party-line people who do not think, and just follow the party line. You have stooped so low that a picture on the screen of soldiers weeping for the death of a best friend does not even move you. You have lost your sensitivity toward other Jews, toward other people, just because you have been brainwashed by your party line politics. How many suicides and overdoses does it take to realize what the real gezeiros are?! It is not the fabricated "gezeiras hagiyus!" Stop looking with a magnifier glass to find geziros which don't exist.

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • CB

    Chaim Bochner -7 years ago

    Thanks for informing us. I always look for ways to improve my thoughts, words, and actions. I do have my doubts and am leaning towards you, David but we have SUCH a problem when we were told in all generations to understand the Gedolim are the heads and hearts of klal yesroel. When ALL Gedolim TODAY (except Rav Steinman) are urging us against, at least we need to look at it and understant it! Question on conspiracy or ulterior motives : The Rabbis or Israeli government? Do I need to expand? What about all the kevorim digging, Shabbos desecration, etc? Can you say that about th3 gedolei yesroel? Why do you think everyone is as radical as those hating you? Every yid, yes, every one, is a chelek elokei mimaal mamash. I'm not at all arguing on the message of the rabbi just some attitude towards Israel, where we always have to give in from our standards. I'm so much trying to stay objective, not subjective and I have no hate c"v.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• CB

  Chaim Bochner -7 years ago

  Powerful but Don't we have a problem?

  Powerful and truthful. Yasher Koach Harav Jacobson for the insight. I know it's a bit off tangent but seems to me that kvod Harav and Chabad in general is not that concerned with giyus to force our erliche bochrim to serve! Can I see the Holy Rebbe Rashab and Reb Chaim Brisker being even more enthusiastic about this as much as they were to haskalah? I can see it, unless I didn't know those gedolim! Please give my mind peace and direction. Thanks Harav.

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • Anonymous -7 years ago

    I think that you, like many people, are making a mistake. Even if you maintain the view that a yeshiva bachur who is sitting and learning is protecting the land and the people through Torah, and need not to go to serve in the army. Granted. The fact remains that these soldiers are standing on the borders and protecting millions of Jews. Many of them have paid for this with their lives. When they are killed, where do their souls go? They died al kidush hashem, and as the Gemarah says about "Harugei Lud," nobody can come even close to their place in Gan Aden. The same is true with every soldier who dies protecting other Jews from our enemy. So now I ask you a question: When you see a soldier, do you say thank you, or do you cast rocks? Do you thank him or do you mock him? Do you show honor or do you strike another Jew? What would Reb Chaim Brisker and the Rebbe Rashab say? What would the Chafetz Chaim and the Divrei Yoel say? What would the Chasam Sofer and the Noam Elimelech say? Granted that many of the soldiers are secular; that the state is secular; that you do not want your child to go to the army. So be it. But you have here young men who are in the army, and are putting their life on the line 24 hours a day, so that Jews in Meah Shearim, Benei Berak, and Geula can sit and learn Torah with peace of mind. Do they not deserve a simple thank you?! To put it differently. Let us say, there was no state and no army. Just seven million Jews living in Eretz Yisroel or anywhere in the world. Arabs would come to attack Jews. What would the Satmar Rebbe, the Brisker Rav, the Chazon Ish, say to do? Allow Jews to die? Allow Arabs to murder? Or every person who can, including every Yeshiva boy, needs to take a gun and go fight? Right? Do you have a doubt that that is the halacha?! Lo Tamod Al Dam Raacha!" So now, we are so so lucky, that all of the present soldiers are doing this for us. They are protecting the Jews and allowing hundreds of thousands of yeshiva boys to sit and learn Torah day and night – because they stand on all the borders and in all the cities and ensure that the sworn enemies of the Jewish people do not come and destroy us. Should we not say to them: Thank You?!I really do not see the alternative argument here. Even if you agree with the view of the Satmar Rav on the State, I still do not see a counter argument here. If you have a child who is ill, and a Jewish doctor who is secular saves his life, do you say thank you?! Or you say, I do not thank secular Jews, especially as I do not want my child to grow up and be like this doctor, so I will not thank him?! There is another point. Most Jews today can be brought closer to Yidishkeit through positive energy, love and a proper education of what Torah is. Do you know how many secular Jews we forever alienate from Torah and Mitzvos because of this type of behavior?

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

    • DS

      Dr Solnik -7 years ago

      Thank you for presenting a rational approach. I am religious today however I was a seren in the IDF in elite units and disliked the Hareidi because he felt his blood was worth more than mine or my troops.this is how the secular world sees you. Frankly there is no excuse I can think of not serving per se .The verbal and physical assaults are a result of hatefullness taught in religious schools. My eldest son who is religious served with distinction as well. There is no excuse. The Hareidi needs to lead Klal Israel and not hide in fear using learning as an excuse. David Hamelech led by example so we today should foolow that

      Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

    • CB

      Chaim Bochner -7 years ago

      Chas v'Sholom. I love every yiddish kind and am open minded to the message in the Shiur. In fact I even asked the same thank you question to Satmar people. There is NO argument Rav Jacobson. I was just wondering why it sounded from your shiur that you had reservations about the gezeiras geyus, and that's where the gedolim list came in... Although I love my brothers in Israel and granted they are tenokos shenushbu, we cannot allow their evil scheme to get bochrim out from holy places to freikeit. I'm not Satmat, BTW, and it's true that his version was a shitat yechid, but many evils have been done to the charredim and it's frustrating. Plain and Poshut.

      Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

• B

  Binyomin -7 years ago

  Israeli Soldiers

  Thank you for speaking about it. Finally a breath of fresh air ;there is a lot to speak about; I live here, I feel the heat. Thanks

  Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

  • MH

    mimi hefetz -7 years ago

    i was told by your office to send you this class with the message that although i am getting the pic i am NOT GETTING ANY SOUND!! i tried other websites with sound/music etc... and am not having any trouble getting sound there so i hope you can help me figure out what is happening . thanks.

    Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.

Hashkafa/Mussar

Rabbi YY Jacobson

• July 20, 2017
• |
• 26 Tamuz 5777
• |
• 4158 views

Related Classes

• 

  1 hr 20 min

  Women's Pesach/Bo Class

  The Night Before Redemption, We Needed to Confront One Final Demon

  The Double Dip of Jewish History, and the Infamous Blood Libels

• 

  2 min

  Short Gems

  The Connection Between Jews

• 

  4 min

  YY Moment

  The Chicken or the Egg?

• 

  5 min

  Meron Tragedy -- Lag Ba'omer 5781 Hatzalah-Thon

  We Are All One

  When the Zviller Rebbe Offered to Write on Shabbos

• 

  5 min

  Chanukah 5781 -- a Video a Day

  Day #8: Even Animals Understood What You Do During a Pandemic

  We Can Disagree, But We Must Hold Hands

• 

  4 min

  Chanukah 5781 -- a Video a Day

  Day #2: The Sequoias Can Explain Jewish History

  The Secret of the California Redwoods & Jewish Resilience

• 

  1 hr 1 min

  Interview with Rabbi YY

  South Africa's Chief Rabbi in Conversation With Rabbi YY Jacobson

  5781 - Getting Soul Ready: G-d Judging You, Jewish Unity, Family Harmony, Embracing Vulnerability

• 

  1 min

  YY Moment: Hatzalah-Thon/Jewish Unity

  When I’m Wholesome I Don’t Judge People

• 

  2 min

  YY Moment: Hatzalah-Thon/Jewish Unity

  I’m Searching for My Brothers

• 

  1 min

  YY Moment: Hatzalah-Thon/Jewish Unity

  What Gives Parents Their Deepest Pleasure?

• 

  1 min

  YY Moment: Hatzalah-Thon/Jewish Unity

  Why Did Your Soul Come Down to the World?

• 

  1 min

  YY Moment: Hatzalah-Thon/Jewish Unity

  You Can Lean On Me