Haredi Leader Calls to Restore Bible Study as Core of Religious Home Life

Shneor Rochberger, Secretary General of the Haredi youth movement Achva from Achvat Torah, urges Haredi families to reintegrate the Bible into their homes to strengthen love for the Land of Israel and Jewish heritage. He emphasizes that true belonging to the people, land, and tradition begins with familiarity with the Bible, which connects Jews to their ancestors and sacred history.

Rochberger reflects on the historical connection of Jewish communities, including the students of the Vilna Gaon and Hasidic leaders like Rabbi Nachman and the Rebbe Rayatz of Chabad, who revered the land’s sanctity. He contrasts this with the current estrangement many Haredi children feel toward Israel, attributing it to a diminished engagement with the Bible. He recalls his own family's immigration to Jerusalem 60 years ago, where they carried the Bible and read its verses throughout the country to instill a sense of belonging.

He critiques the contemporary Haredi approach that prioritizes Talmudic study while neglecting the Bible, noting that even Bible quizzes adapted for the Haredi community show low participation from those wearing black hats, symbolizing a disconnect. Rochberger insists that serious study of the Bible does not compromise Haredi identity but rather reinforces it, calling for a return to foundational texts and open transmission of love for the land and scripture to children.

He shares a personal anecdote about his childhood ignorance of the weekly Torah readings despite being from a Torah-observant family, highlighting a societal gap in biblical knowledge. Rochberger concludes by urging parents to change this dynamic and restore the Bible’s central role in Haredi homes to nurture a genuine connection to Israel and Jewish tradition.

The article was published in the Achvata newsletter distributed across Israel, with contact information provided for receiving the publication.