Israeli Haredi Leaders Stress Balancing Responsibility to Israel and Opposition to Secularism

A recent article in the 'Achvata' newsletter from Achvat Torah addresses the complex relationship between the Haredi community and the State of Israel. It highlights the tension between two fundamental Torah values: mutual responsibility for the Jewish people and opposition to secularism. While prominent rabbis have expressed varying views on the state and Israeli society, the article emphasizes a shared consensus on the importance of caring for the Jewish people alongside the need to distance from secular influences.

The piece recalls that from the state's inception, many leading rabbis rejected complete disengagement from Israeli society, contrasting with groups like Satmar Hasidim and the Edah HaChareidis. Even before Israel's independence, Agudat Yisrael reached a status quo agreement with David Ben-Gurion, reflecting a partnership in state-building while striving to shape its Jewish identity. Most senior rabbis, including the Chazon Ish and the Council of Torah Sages, encouraged participation in elections and government to influence the state's character.

The article notes that Haredi political involvement was never merely sectarian but rooted in deep identification with traditional Jewish values in Israel. Despite this, full identification with the state and its symbols, as seen in Religious Zionism, was never accepted due to the state's secular foundations. The state is viewed not as an ideological movement but as the public reality of the Jewish people in their land, necessitating engagement without compromising Torah principles.

The article also discusses the early challenges posed by secularization trends in Israeli society, which the devout community saw as a serious threat. Nonetheless, they maintained responsibility for the state's Jewish identity, balancing care with caution. The foundational approach from the rabbis is that "all Israel are responsible for one another," and the nation exists only through its Torah. The article concludes by indicating that future discussions will explore how demographic changes, increased Jewish identity among Israelis, and technological and employment shifts call for updated yet tradition-faithful approaches to the state's relationship.

The newsletter is distributed nationwide, with options for PDF or email subscription and synagogue distribution.