Religious and National Service Programs Bridge Divides at Rosh Hashanah Gathering
A new Haredi Hesder Yeshiva, "Meshech Chochma," whose students are slated to enlist in the Hasmonean Brigade, was hosted at the Yeshivat Sha'alvim campus for Rosh Hashanah. The gathering, which included joint prayer services and discussions, highlighted the potential for Torah study, military service, and national responsibility to unite different segments of Israeli society.
"Meshech Chochma," established just a month prior in Kiryat Ono under the leadership of Rabbi Yavetz and Rabbi Moshe Reis, head of the Religious Zionist Yeshiva administration, brought dozens of young students to Sha'alvim. The prayer services were described as beautiful, serious, and full of intention, mirroring the style of the host yeshiva. A parallel meeting took place in the women's section between the wives of the rabbis and educators, fostering a sense of connection.
The author noted a personal connection through one of the rabbis, the son of Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Halperin, a former colleague and the rabbi of her husband when the Hesder Yeshiva in the Golan Heights was founded. This personal link further emphasized the interconnectedness within the religious Zionist world.
What stood out most was the integration of Torah study with a commitment to national service. The students of "Meshech Chochma" view Torah and military service not as competing interests but as integral parts of a single identity. The author saw this as a microcosm of an ideal Israeli society, where young Haredi students from Kiryat Ono and students from the established national-religious Yeshivat Sha'alvim could meet naturally around shared values of Torah, prayer, and dedication to the nation.
In a period often characterized by societal divisions, the event at Sha'alvim offered a hopeful counter-narrative. The author felt that amidst the sounds of the shofar, a quieter voice of heartfelt connection could be heard, symbolizing a bridging of divides within Israeli society.
