Chatam Sofer ii, Y.D. 333) and our revered brother (Bava Batra 10b). Nevertheless, today I want to relate to a new, unique and historic phenomenon arising from our present war with Hamas which is worth noting: the disproportionately high number of dati-le’umi, religious-Zionist officers and soldiers among the fallen. Just as in the wars of Israel during her first 30 years, where the percentage of Kibbutzniks in the military cemeteries went far beyond their 3% of the population, today the ideological altruistic arrow-head of the State of Israel has historically shifted to our community. See the rippling effect their awe-inspiring “farewell letters” and the eulogies and interviews of their wives, parents and rabbanim are having on the nation. It’s not that Hashem has davka taken more of the products of the Kosher Kitchens, but that they have altruistically offered themselves to lead the charge to defend Am Yisrael, Eretz Yisrael and the honor of Hashem Elohei Yisrael and His sons (and especially His daughters!)
This is not only a well-deserved compliment to the idealistic families, educational system and youth movements who raised these soldiers to lead the charge (and inevitably exposes the benefits of such chinuch to those who are raising children), but it also brings with it new and far-reaching responsibilities!
In the nascent Zionist movement, not only the military leadership but more important, the national and political leadership inevitably was voluntarily given over to those few but most idealistic Halutz pioneers. It’s hard to argue with the committed actions of David Ben-Gurion, Yigal Allon et al, who spent their weekends in simple huts on their kibbutzim, and used their rare spare time sheering sheep and working the Land of Israel, when it’s common knowledge that also their politics are based upon ideals and the national welfare, rather than motives of personal power and ego. Today the same respect is rightfully shown by the Israeli masses (just obviously not the press…) towards the similar selfless actions of our dati-le’umi boys.
The fiasco of the pre-Simchat-Torah mis-“conception” begs for a (gradual) revamping of our national and higher military/intelligence leadership after the war, removing (after the proper thanks) those who knew of the imminent danger of the Hamas tunnels and rocket-power, but egoistically preferred to defer our necessary military ground attack into Gaza, so that their “term” in power should be relatively quiet. A true national leadership doesn’t childishly and cowardly put their head in the sand pretending “yihiyeh b’seder”, but rather maturely and bravely does what the nation needs, regardless of its short-term electoral popularity.
Both right and left-wing have left their comfortable families and jobs, to altruistically fight together already for almost 4 months (!) against our common enemies, but we need to similarly offer them an alternative unifying national leadership after the war as well, where the religious and the Zionists will continue to be bridged by the religious-Zionists. Not for any budget or political power, but through the many common ideological denominators which clearly do unite all Am Yisrael, and which should continue to do so b’Shalom as well! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat) ולה’ הישועה!🇮🇱