Category: Weekly Letters

Question: Someone explained to me that Religious-Zionism or Dati-Leumi was created by those who wanted to accommodate / incorporate Zionism into the religion, even though they are 2 different ways of life, so they assimilated their original religion, to accommodate their nationalistic ideology, but they are less religious than the Haredim. Is this accurate? A. The original Judaism as clearly seen by all of the classic Jewish heroes in the Tanach, is Religious-Zionism. All of them lived in the Land of Israel, worked for a living, spoke Hebrew, served in the army and served the Jewish people. Unfortunately, 2,000 years of exile warped Judaism, basically turning it into just a “religion”, but anyone objective knows that Dati-Leumi is not 2 different ways of life, but the original and unadulterated Judaism. True, as in any group, there are some who may be a little lax in practicing a particular mitzvah, but it’s not because of their religious-Zionist ideology, but despite it! When Jews are being attacked, it is the more religious Jews who fight to defend the Holy People in the Holy Land. It is more religious to live in Eretz Yisrael, and more religious to speak Hebrew. This is the Living Torah of Israel

Q. Hi Rav Shvat, I was wondering if girls doing Sheirut Leumi are fulfilling the mitzvah of Milchemet Mitzvah, especially because they are supporting the Israeli infrastructure therefore allowing more people to serve in the army or if it is just combat/army that are fulfilling the mitzvah?

Already more than 50 years ago, R. Zvi Yehuda Kook said that Sherut Le’Umi is the ideal way for young women to help in the war effort, and fulfills the Rambam and Radbaz’s psak (hil. M’lachim 7, 4, 2nd explanation, and the Rambam at the end of his intro. to Sefer HaMitzvot) that women must help out in Milchemet Mitzva, just not in the army (Mashmi’a Yeshua, p.537-538, and cited often by R. Shlomo Aviner). Just as the “Rosie the Riveter: We Can Do It” campaign stressed that American women should go to work in place of the men to help out the allied war effort in WWII. This was even during quiet times, when Israel wasn’t at war like now, but still always needed the Sherut LeUmi girls to help in the many important fields. This is necessary for a nation blessed with the unique constant aliya unfound in other countries, and many children (by far the highest birth rate in the OECD among western economies, with 2.9 children per woman, as opposed to 1.8 for 2nd placed France and Mexico!), but also includes deepening the work force in schools, courts, intelligence, offices, aliya centers and really everywhere where the men in milu’im leave their jobs for 1 month a year= an additional 8% manpower), even during a quiet year, and how much more so this year when many did more than 300 days (including my son and both sons-in-law)!

Even according to the Sefer HaChinuch (603) who exempts women from Milchemet Amalek for women don’t go to war, he may agree that today they should do Sherut Le’umi, for that is something that women do do, and especially during the Milchemet Mitzva of self-defense where everyone goes, “even a groom from the yichud room, and the bride from her chuppa” (Sotah 10a).

BTW, this applies to girls from abroad as well, especially when Israel is at war, for the mitzvah doesn’t depend on the legal law for Israeli citizens, but rather on the halacha for all Jews, which has nothing to do with citizenship or place of residence. Just that if a girl’s parents are willing to let her stay in Israel for university, but oppose her doing Sherut, I usually advise that making aliya is also a form of Sherut to Am Yisrael, and she can do a lot of volunteering in her spare time from her studies, as well. This is as opposed to boys in America who can be in a combat unit, where I don’t see any room for leniency even if their parents’ oppose- but want them to go to university in Israel, for combat is the highest level of Milchemet Mitzvah, and those are precisely the 8,000 soldiers who are now missing in the IDF. With Love of Israel, Rav Ari Shvat

Hi Rav Shvat! Hope you’re doing well. I have a question for you-if we argue (and I agree) that Chareidim not drafting and serving into the army are violating milchemet mitzva, then shouldn’t women be obligated as well nowadays? How could the tzniut/coed argument for women not serving in the army possibly be enough to counter a milchemet mitzva? Hope that makes sense. Let me know what you think! A. The answer is really technical and pragmatic. There is no shortage of non-kravi soldiers, but rather the dire shortage which must be filled, is in the front-line battle units, both in the standing army and milu’im (reserves). That is exactly where the Haredim and Jews from abroad could and must fill the vacuum of the unfortunately many soldiers who have fallen or been wounded, in addition to the new front-line units which the army has announced must be formed. Those units, which are totally male, are perfectly suited for the Haredi men, and that’s exactly what we lack (and accordingly, the yeshiva boys who can be exempted, should clearly be those who are not fit for combat units). There is no lack of non-combat nor semi-combat soldiers, those units which are unfortunately “very co-ed” (and with almost no religious boys), and could easily be filled by the overload of non-combat male soldiers, of which there is no shortage. Similarly, there are many men, mostly non-religious, who despite being physically fit, choose not to go to combat units, and just like the Haredim, now should be forced to do so.

Theoretically, if the army would need more semi-combat women soldiers, they could and should easily fill the shortage by accommodating the needs of religious girls by founding female-only semi-combat units [see Rambam hil. M’lachim 7, 4 which can be understood in 2 ways- see the Radbaz there, but many aren’t aware that the Rambam himself explains exactly what he means towards the end of his introduction to the Sefer HaMitzvot, that women are (!) obligated in Milchemet Mitzva= wars of self-defense, but again that would only be if they’re needed, and clearly only after drafting all of the men. Although the Sefer HaChinuch (603) exempts women from the Milchemet Mitzva against Amalek, regarding the Milchemet Mitzva of piku’ach nefesh of Israel, he would also agree that women must go, if needed, as in Israel’s War of Independence). But again, at present that’s not what’s lacking, and accordingly, the army has not suggested starting female-only semi-combat units. Shabbat Shalom ושנשמע בשורות טובות! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

It’s difficult to think of a more fitting and G-d-sent “picture of defeat”, than the drone-clip of the wounded LOSER Sinwar ym”sh, sitting forlorn outside his destroyed “clever” tunnels, in an abandoned Israeli-bombed building, missing his right-hand (justice for Hersh Polin-Goldberg), even abandoned by his own body guards, and without any “life-insurance hostages”, in his “last -stand” pathetically, futilely and meekly throwing a stick (not missiles or rockets, not even guns!) left-handed at a tiny IDF drone. The picture is only rivaled by the subsequent photo of Sinwar’s embarrassingly laying like rubble among the debris that he wrought upon his fellow Gazans (whom he also butchered ruthlessly)! He wasn’t even killed by a commando unit or classified intelligence report, but Hashem got rid of him via an “accident” in a pitiful end to the most evil of men in our generation.

This picturesque finale is a wake-up call to the Hamas that their game is up, as well as a warning to the Hizballah and Iran what will happen to them and their leaders unless they stop messing with Hashem’s people. We’ve mentioned in the past, and strongly suggest publicizing as much as possible, that the Talmud (Sanhedrin 106a) relates to our present enemies already 1,600 years ago:

“He [Bil’am] took up his parable [=prophesizing about the end of days] and said: Alas! Who can survive when He will do this?’ (Bamidbar 24, 23). [explaining] “Woe to the nation who will hinder the nation of Israel at the time when the Holy One, Blessed be He, redeems His children. Who dares place his garment to separate between a lion and his female lioness when they wish to mate? [Woe to him, for he who does so will certainly not “survive”].”

For those who questioned the capability of G-d and His IDF just one year ago, the turn-around which finds the Hamas hiding like mice, and deliberating between surrender and getting wiped out, is a suitable answer. If in the Shoa we were hiding like mice for 6 years, and even in the end there was no “victory -picture”, today we must also have in mind this week during the Hallel of Sukkot, to thank Hashem for the fortunate change in Jewish history which the aforementioned clip and “photo-finish” so eloquently portray. “He will hide me in His Sukka on the day of calamity” (Tehilim 27, 5).

True, the tragic misconceptions and policies which enabled the worst pogrom since the Holocaust, must teach us humility and our need for Hashem’s help, so davka thanking Him and utilizing the formidable IDF that He granted us is the logical answer and lesson. There is BH now new hope for freeing the hostages- where the kidnappers must choose between returning them or sharing the outcome of their leader…

If “Allahu Akhbar” is still the primitive Islamic battle-cry proclaiming that G-d is “Moslem” by thrashing the “infidels”, a stunning Islamic defeat is the only way for at least some of them to return to man’s natural morality, and rethink their religious folly. True, it’s hard for religious fanatics to change, unless they are thoroughly convinced that G-d isn’t on the side of the sadists and murderers, but rather with the “good-guys”. Although that may be a little naive, we pray that at least the anti-Israel intelligentsia in the Ivy League universities should relearn what real morality is about, before siding with the next Sinwar.

We must also daven for political wisdom, that the Israeli government should make the most of this G-d-sent situation. Among other points, Israel must step-up our own shell manufacturing- which will enable us to stand up to Biden and Harris when necessary. Like every loving father, Hashem wants His children to mature to be independent, and when necessary, just trust in His help. Just ask Bil’am and his new neighbor in hell, Sinwar…

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sam’each! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

The Jewish calendar is full of holidays where we celebrate the downfall of our enemies, like Pesach, Purim, Chanukah and more recently Yom HaAtzma’ut. This obligation of celebrating victories and thanking Hashem for His help should apparently also apply regarding the extraordinary recent elimination of Nasralla and the Hizballa leadership. Nevertheless, though very strongly based in the sources, this celebration may seem a little awkward in the western world, especially when seemingly backed up by several verses, and customs (e.g. removing drops from the wine-cup at the Seder, and not reciting full Hallel on Pesach), which are often explained as “diluting” such festivities when G-d’s creations, albeit our enemies, fall. This timely issue and its apparently contradictory sources demand clarification.

Here’s the link to the she’ur:

https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/1111233

‪Ketiva vaChatima Tova to you, your families, and all of Israel!

‪Rav Ari Shvat

Q. How can we rejoice when our enemies fall? Answer: You ask a very important question. We are taught that those who love good and G-d, should not tolerate evil (Tehilim 97, 10). As opposed to the Christians, we forbid to ‘turn the other cheek” (as Jesus himself selfishly wandered the Judean desert when his brothers were fighting the Romans!), but are obligated to pray, and even fight and defeat evil (Rambam, M’lachim ch. 4-5), as we see our heroes do throughout the Tanach (Bible). It is immoral towards society and towards the evil person himself (!) to suffer and tolerate his immorality (Guide for Perplexed iii, 35). The Talmud (Megilla 16a, Psachim 117a) recounts that it is natural (i.e. G-dly), to rejoice when our enemies are defeated, and we must even sing songs of thanks to G-d when they are overcome. Although we find some versions of the midrash where G-d rebukes the angels (!) for singing at the downfall of the Egyptian enemies (Yalkut Shimoni, Divrei HaYamim II, 1085), we are man (who were endangered) and not angels (who weren’t!), and He created us that it is natural, and desirable to do so. Hizkiya was even punished for not singing praise after the defeat of Sanherev (ibid), as opposed to Moshe and Miriam (Shmot 15), Devora (Shoftim 5), and David throughout Tehilim (Psalms). Judaism is not naïve, and we know from 3,300 years of anti-Semitism, that even though we hate fighting, we must be prepared to do so. Morality must be real, not artificial, and it is clearly unnatural not to hate an anti-Semite who wants to kill you and your children. Moreover, celebration for the fall of the enemies of Israel shows a positive love and national identification, and conversely, only one who isn’t truly worried when Israel goes to war, doesn’t rejoice when we are victorious over our enemies

The Talmud (Megilla 16a) differentiates, that the Bible’s teaching that we are not supposed to rejoice in the death of our enemies (Proverbs 24, 17), which apparently contradicts many places where we do so in the Bible, refers to if the bad person is our brother, a fellow Jew. In that case, we do not pray for his downfall, but rather that he should change his evil ways (Brachot 10a), and try and convince him, as well (VaYikra 19, 17). If his actions hurt others, he obviously should be punished and deterred, nevertheless, he is our brother, and as such, receives special patience. On the other hand, Judaism leaves zero tolerance for the Hamans, Hitlers, Nasrallahs or any anti-Semite or Jew-hater. Not only is such tolerance immoral, but we’re not allowed to rely on miracles!

With Love of Israel,

Rabbi Ari Shvat

It took more than a decade of preparation for the implementation of: the beeper attacks, eliminating almost all of the Hizballah leadership, eliminating Nasralla ym”sh himself, and now blowing up the vast stashes of missiles that they were going to aim at us. We owe so much thanks to Israeli intelligence, pilots, army and above all, our One and Only G-d of Israel! So much could have gone wrong in all of these complex operations, but Hashem decided to succeed it all! Let’s all begin our slichot tonight with saying Mizmor l’Todah (Tehillim ch. 100), thanking Him, “For you must remember the Lord your G-d, for it is He that gives you strength to make you victorious (“chayil”), in order to establish His covenant which He swore to your forefathers, as it is this day.” (Dvarim 8, 18). actually suggest to your local rabbis to do so pubicly!

May this, together with our heartfelt tfilot on the upcoming Yamim Nora’im, and our upcoming additional attacks on our (and Hashem’s) enemies, be a great siman to bezH free all of the hostages and start a great year!

Q. If the State of Israel is part of the redemption process, how was Israel founded by anti-religious? A. Regarding your question: even as religious-Zionists, retroactively, it was clearly beneficial for all that G-d had secular-Zionist halutzim begin the movement

1. If Zionism had been started by the religious, most of Am Yisrael would have felt that it’s not relevant for them (e.g. only about 7% of the Jews in America are religious). The redemption is not just for religious Jews, but for all Am Yisrael , who are all “sons of G-d” and part of the Chosen People. Judaism is not just a religion but also our nationality, and accordingly, all agree that even the non-religious are just as Jewish as the religious. Moreover, the redemption is really for all mankind, and if the founders of Israel would have walked around with tefillin, it would have been seen as irrelevant for most of mankind.

2. Religious Jews in galut had a tendency to be passive, emphasizing the spiritual and belittling the secular. Similarly regarding the geula (redemption), religious tended to shift the responsibility for fixing the situation upon G-d, e.g. “it will be better in the messianic era/ the world-to-come/in the revival of the dead…”. On the other hand, secular people who don’t believe in those future worlds, have no choice but to “roll up their sleeves” and get to work and improve the lot of Am Yisrael in this world. They already had experience in farming, the military, politics etc., so inevitably they would be the ones who get the “ball rolling”.

3. Religious people, especially rabbis, tend to be wary of change or “reform”. Similarly, if you have 2 rabbis, you get 3 opinions! If the halutzim would have asked the rabbis of their time to bring the geula or wait passively for G-d to do it, the rabbis would still be debating until this day. Rav Kook (Shmoneh Kvatzim ii, 30, based on Sukka 43b) explains that Hashem solved the problem through the secular, who simply didn’t ask- they just did it!

4. Man has free-will and most of the Jews have been secular for many years, so inevitably, that’s how Zionism was started!

5. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) teaches that just as G-d redeemed us from Egypt, despite our ancestors being pagans, for 3 reasons: a. He made a covenant with our fore-fathers that we are the Chosen and Eternal People. b. Even if we chose not to do teshuva, Hashem has to redeem us because exile is a terrible Chilul Hashem and bad reflection upon Him (“Why doesn’t He redeem His people?”). c. He loves us, and didn’t want to send us to exile in the first place. Accordingly, even if we don’t deserve it, G-d is redeeming His people today, just like He did from Egypt.

With Love of Israel and Prayer for Victory and Freeing the Hostages! Ketiva vaChatima Tova!!!

Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

We should not only regularly ask Hashem for help, but should especially thank Him when He clearly does! “Bakasha” (requesting) is the 2nd part of the Amida, but let’s not forget hodaya (thanking) which is the 3rd part. We educate our children to even thank the shul’s candy-man for a half-sheckel sweet, so how much more so is it minimal decency to thank the Master of the Universe when He intervenes and helps us with the large projects that only He can make succeed! This is true every year on Yom HaAtzma’ut and Yom Yerushalyim, and this week, as well, when the world was shocked to witness a once- in-a-lifetime Tanach-size miracle.

Especially after the intelligence and IDF collapse on Simchat Torah, we needed this victory not only to deter our enemies, but also to rekindle our own self-confidence and honor! The Mossad’s blowing -up of thousands of beepers simultaneously was so ingenious, complex and intricate over such a long period of time, that so many things could have gone wrong! Nasrallah himself came up with the idea a while ago, by telling his terrorists not to use cell-phones but to order these beepers, giving us the clue and cue when and how to carry out the plan.

The cunning idea of how to pinpoint and target the enemy terrorist commanders themselves, with relatively few civilians wounded, is like the ground swallowing up just Korach and those who deserve it. Only Hashem could send us a situation where the enemy has suffered such a military and morale thrashing, being left with very few commanders, no communication, no hospital beds, no blood for transfusions, and with no (!) casualties on our side (I like this type of cyber warfare)! Just as the opening strike of the 6 Day War already decided the continuation, their shock must be exploited to the max. Hizballah should be begging us, on their hands and knees not enter in a ground attack to push them back, but on their own, should voluntarily retreat to the UN lines. Unfortunately, the mid-eastern male mind-set has difficulty admitting defeat. But even if we do apparently have to enter with a ground attack and force them back, there will be many less casualties on our side if we do it now, when the opponent is wobbling, and can barely resist.

Yes, it’s elementary decency to thank G-d, but He doesn’t need it! But we do, for the more we speak about it, the more our political and military leaders (many who go to shul!) will realize the Heaven-sent once-in-a-lifetime gift, and that we need to “seize the moment” and dare do that offensive reprisal to make the most of our G-d-sent success. Shabbat Shalom and Ketiva vaChatima Tova! Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)

Q. In our community in NW London (Edgware) there are several synagogues which refuse to recite prayers and blessings for the State of Israel and IDF soldiers and our kidnapped people. Some synagogues also refuse to recite Tehilim for our brave soldiers during the week between mincha and maariv. According to my understanding these synagogue rabbis transgress the following mitzvot: 1/ – refusing to pray for his friend and 2. love of fellow Jews. Please confirm if you agree or not with my assessment and if you have other comments on this matter, thanks. Answer: Those people are terribly mistaken, and probably did not consult with their rabbis, for it shows a terrible lack of Ahavat Yisrael. You can point out to them that R. Osher Weiss (definitely not a Zionist) has called to all Jews all over the world to daven and say Tehilim for the welfare of all fellow Jews in Israel, the kidnapped and the IDF (MinchasAsher, newsletter). Especially this year where our international achdut has BH been strengthened so much, those who don’t participate are the ones who miss out in this unique feeling and opportunity, and great mitzvah

I would just add that the Rambam (Hil. Teshuva 3, 11) rebukes very strongly those who don’t participate and feel the pain when Am Yisrael is in trouble, that even if they are very pious and fulfill all of the other mitzvot- they have no share in the World to Come. Rav Y.B. Soloveichik (Community, Covenant and Commitment [Hebrew], 2011, 68 and 244, based upon that Rambam) mentions that this includes those who don’t help out as much as possible when Israel is at war, at least (!) in their davening and Tehilim! Similarly, another one of the greatest rabbis of the previous generation Rav Yosef Eliahu Henkin (Tshuvot Ibra, II, pp. 215-216) wrote that he had originally opposed the Zionist movement and the founding of the State of Israel. But when the Arabs came to attack Israel and push us into the sea, every single Jew must daven and side with Israel to do whatever is in his power to help. “For millions of Jewish lives depend upon their success [of Israel and the IDF]. As our sages before us taught, ‘Can I leave my children to fall in the hands of the goyim?!” (ibid I, p. 116, based on Lekach Tov, Vayichi 48, 22). He went so far as to call the Neturei Karta who side with the Arabs against Israel: “mosrim and rodfim” (Tshuvot Ibra, II, above) who should be treated as traitors, for they endanger Jews, and their halachic standing is very severe.

One last important general point regarding this not uncommon mistake in some Haredi communities: R. Elya Meir Bloch, famed founding rosh yeshiva of Telz in Cleveland warned his fellow Haredi leadership already in 1954/תשי”ד, that if they continue to deny reality and oppose (!) the mitzvot (!) of studying Tanach, speaking Hebrew and making Aliya to Eretz Yisrael just because the Zionists also support these mitzvot, many young people will realize the hypocrisy and falsehood of such proclamations and will subsequently leave the Haredi community with disgust (letter written by R. Bloch, dated May 16, 1954, cited by Rabbi JJ Shachter, “Facing the Truths of History”, Torah U’Madda Journal, vol. 8 (1998-1999):, p. 224).

Similarly, I have no doubt that the vast majority of Haredim in London know very well that good Jews daven and say Tehilim when our brothers and sisters anywhere, especially in the Holy Land, are in danger, and are already acting accordingly. If a minority of their community leadership thinks to proclaim otherwise, just in order to “distance themselves from the non-religious”, they are “shooting themselves in the foot”, for Baruch Hashem, almost all healthy religious Jews, have immense Ahavat Yisrael, and really know (even instinctively) what’s right and what’s wrong! B’Ahavat Yisrael, Rav Ari Shvat (Chwat)