Rabbi Aharon Tropp Recounts Origin of IDF Refusal Order Ruling
Rabbi Aharon Tropp, former head of the Bnei Tzvi yeshiva, has detailed the genesis of the "refusal of an order" ruling issued by the late Rabbi Avraham Shapira, then head of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. Speaking on the "Arutz 7" podcast, Rabbi Tropp stated that 19 years after Rabbi Shapira's passing, he clarified that the initiative to publicize the ruling did not originate with him, but rather with Rabbi Shapira himself.
Rabbi Tropp explained that he approached Rabbi Shapira seeking his explicit halachic opinion on refusing orders, as he personally believed refusal was warranted but desired a definitive ruling from a leading rabbinic authority. "I asked, what is the Rabbi's opinion? So he told me, 'Certainly, one must refuse an order.' I said, 'So should we publicize it?' Then he told me, 'Publicize it.' I asked him, 'Does the Rabbi want me to publicize it?' He told me, 'Yes, I am telling you to publicize it.'" Rabbi Tropp emphasized that Rabbi Shapira repeated his demand to publicize the ruling three times during their conversation.
Following this directive, Rabbi Tropp proceeded to publicize the ruling, acting on Rabbi Shapira's explicit instruction. He articulated the underlying principle of the ruling: "If there is Torah and there is an order that contradicts the Torah, then we are first and foremost with the Torah. All our service to the state and adherence to its laws are by virtue of God's commandment. But if there is something that contradicts it, then there are no questions at all. Clearly, Halakha precedes the commander."
Rabbi Tropp viewed the ruling's significance as extending beyond the immediate context of the Gaza disengagement, seeing it as a crucial educational message relevant to this day. He noted a strong sense of commitment to state institutions among some segments of the public prior to the disengagement, citing the reverence shown to the prayer for the state's welfare in synagogues. He observed that after the disengagement, public attitudes shifted, leading to increased criticism of the IDF and its directives, though he cautioned against attributing this change solely to the ruling, acknowledging multiple contributing factors.
He also recounted the Bnei Tzvi yeshiva's decision to relocate to Gush Katif during the disengagement period, with nearly the entire student body spending five weeks there. Rabbi Tropp mentioned that upon his arrival, Shin Bet agents approached him, expressing surveillance. He also described navigating parental consent for students' participation in protests, stating he never allowed a student to participate against their parents' wishes. Rabbi Tropp also criticized what he perceived as an overly nationalistic stance from some Ministry of Education officials, who he felt prioritized state laws above all else, contrasting it with his own principle of "You shall not fear any man."