The struggles of the rabbonim of the dati-leumi camp with the IDF are rising to another level. The rabbinical organization Torat Ha'Aretz Hatovah whose nasiim are Rabbi Dov Lior and Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, published a very sharp expression of views (gilui daat) against a growing trend in the army to destroy the possibility of tsnius for those serving. The document, signed by prominent rabbonim of the dati movement, says that the steps taken by the IDF place religious soldiers in "an impossible contradiction between their faith and their army service." They say that these trends can directly affect the willingness of religious youths to participate in combat roles.
"With a heavy heart we warn," the rabbonim write, "that this process will in practice prevent soldiers who keep Torah and tradition from contributing to the security of Israel just due to their way of life." They add that these issues are not just religious in nature, but also national and social. They warn against a threat to the unity of the army. The writers call upon the army to not take steps that "are liable to deepen the controversies in Israeli society and within the IDF itself."
Last week the Tzohar organization — a liberal organization — a notice expressing its support for demands of the heads of the Hesder institutions to find a solution to ensure that the plans of the army do not harm religious soldiers. The notice, like the organization itself, was polite and called for dialogue. Yet it elicited a brutal response from all the so-called liberals and democrats, those who lead the calls to shun all those who do not serve in the army and to deny them basic citizens' rights.
Writing about the issue, Ariel Pliskin clarified that the members of Tzohar are not "black zealots" but educated people. Most are professionals who are deeply involved with kiruv. "They speak the language of the 21st century, with the galuti tendency to always present the other cheek."
Nonetheless, all their politeness, and the fact that they strive to present a modern alternative to the "zealots" of the Chief Rabbinate, did not help them on the day of reckoning. Yair Golan, leader of the far-left Democrats party, accused them of nothing less than "giving in to zealotry. Other left wingers accused them of "hating women" — this to an organization that prides itself on its pluralism and inclusion.
"The truth is," writes Pliskin, "that the goal of all these liberals is part of a systematic and long term effort to push out the religious soldiers and cut them off from the combat units in which they serve... Separation is the goal and Golan and his friends to not distinguish between a rabbi from Har Hamor who is machmir and a modern rabbi."
These people of the dati-leumi camp, who stand at the head of those critical of the lomdei Torah, do not understand that those who hate Judaism see no difference between them and the dark zealots of the holy yeshivas.
Anyone who tries to talk about faith and Torah within the IDF will be attacked even more than those who learn Torah. If they do not believe this, they can ask Ofer Winter who was pushed out of the army, or the new head of the Shabak David Zini, whose big black kipah is a red flag to all those champions of democracy who have already given notice that when they will return to power they will fire him as soon as possible.
