JERUSALEM (VINnews) — An unusual position regarding funding yeshiva students and the contentious issue of army exemptions was presented by Rabbi Avraham Mordechai Gottlieb, a Chasidic rabbi who serves as the leader of the Ashlag community in Telzstone.
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Rabbi Gottlieb described the demonstrations by secularists, demanding that charedim help them and “get under the stretcher” for military service.
He wrote that “In a time of war, even a groom must leave his chuppah and go to help. Although other rabbis insist that we must not stop Torah study, this is not the issue. Nobody wants to stop Torah study, but it is “a time to do for Hashem and to ‘transgress’ the Torah.”
Rabbi Gottlieb suggests that yeshivos be established on the borders in the north south and where required and study half day while spending the other half on patrols and guard duty , in order to “take away from the terrible burden on the general community in Israel.” He warns that “The Israeli public will not forget if the yeshiva students won’t join the war effort.”
He also admits that the yeshiva students are not all sitting and studying day and night. “Not everyone has the strength for this, only a small amount. Near my house there are all kinds of bakeries with food, restaurants and eateries. I see the whole day long that there are quite a few yeshiva students eating with great relish baked foods and other items.” Rabbi Gottlieb concludes: “Do they have no shame?”
In another post Rabbi Gottlieb decries the funding of yeshiva students, stating that it is a “custom whose time has passed”. From the age of 18, he claims that “everyone must contribute their part for the people of Israel and study in their “free time”. He adds that this was the view of the Baal Hasulam, that people should work, should enlist and take part of the burden on themselves. He was even against kollelim, believing that Toraso U’Manuso is meant for a person’s free time, and should not be for remuneration.
Rabbi Gottlieb concedes that the state should fund “some 2000 people every year” as it is in the interest of the Jewish nation to have Dayanim, Poskim, rabbis and Talmidei Chachamim. He believes this number is enough to produce the requisite number of Torah leaders.
For some reason DovLipman was shunned when he made same suggestion
I’ll wait till the manhigei hador agree with him.
I’ll wait.
he should go out and set an example
Shocking that some person calling himself the [fill in the blank with your favorite town in Europe] Rebbe thinks he’s qualified to argue with the greats of the last generations.
He could talk because he is not in the Yeshiva-business, so closing the Yeshivos will not cause him any financial loss. If they close down Yeshivos, the Roshei Yeshivos will also lose tuition from American boys.
How refreshing. Now the push back will start.
Besides attacking the GEDOLIM
You also attack the ROSH HA’YESHIVS
They all start that way…..
If this happens can you imagine the backroom deals, threats, payoffs, intimidation, violence, protectzia, made up lies, claims of “Daas Torah” etc. so “My guys” are the ones getting paid to learn?
If you think the fights when 2 people are claiming they’re the “Real Rebbe” is crazy this will truly be mind blowing.
Milchemes Mitzva is ONLY when we’re in EY like we are supposed to be with an emesdika malchus.
Wow – amazing to hear such a reasonable suggestion emanating from the Chareidi community. The exact number (why 2000 and not 1500 or 2500) and criteria should be discussed, but this is a great starting point.
“the state should fund “some 2000 people every year” as it is in the interest of the Jewish nation to have Dayanim, Poskim, rabbis and Talmidei Chachamim. He believes this number is enough to produce the requisite number of Torah leaders.”
I guess the Rabbi is not familiar enough with:
!אלף נכנסים לתלמוד- ואחד יוצא להוראה
This man just got one more chosid. This is true “dad Torah” at its finest. And is actually consistent with our mesorah. So happy to have found my Rav!
I feel for ASHLAG
In A Milchemes Mitzvah all JEWS are obligated. Being that if there are enough soldiers the yeshiva’s can continue w/0 disturbance, I have a wonderful idea… Send all the able-bodied non learning men from the USA who are just dying to do mitzvos.
I wonder if he is the only one who feels this way or if there are many others who agree but don’t want to say so
This is Lashon Hara
This is true daas Torah!!!!! What a great speech and pure emes!
So if a guy isn’t learning 12 hours a day than he shouldn’t learn at all.
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
What is more important the state of Israel or learning Torah? the answer should be simple.
Yes if there is actual risk of life than you can stop learning.
The reason why we went down to Egypt and were slaves was because Avraham closed his Yeshivah to fight the four kings and recapture Lot.