Are we not our brother's keeper?

Shira Lankin Sheps, MSW
6 days ago
3 min read

I don't want to discuss the politics of the Charedi anti-draft protest. I want to talk about how it makes me feel.

When we say that "Kol yisrael arevim zeh laze" - all the Jewish people are responsible for each other...

"K'ish echad b'lev echad"- we are like one more with one heart...

It's hard to process this reality that is contrasted so strongly in this picture.

Jews are not meant to believe that one Jew is better than another.

We believe there are 70 ways to the Torah- all Torah learning is important and vital.

It's OK to have closed communities, unique minhagim, and even different priorities.

But at the end of the day, we are all Jews.

And we live here in Israel, whether you believe that it is right to have sovereignty or not.

Whether you want to build this land or simply raise your family in it.

Whether you choose to wait for Mashiach or work towards actively bringing redemption.

But here is the thing.

When H*mas, Iran, H*zbollah, Hout*s or anyone else comes to att*ck the people of Israel- they are seeking to d*stroy ALL of us.

They don't care whether you are wearing black or green.

A Jew is a Jew.

The only thing that stands in the way between our en*mies and utter the gen*cide of our people, is God, our prayers, and our army.

If our army stopped existing tomorrow, so would we all.

There is a concept called, "freeriding," which means taking advantage of a shared system without any effort or pulling your weight.

Again, I don't want to get into the politics.

But there is a reality that can't be ignored.

Charedi communities that don't send their people to army or do any kind of sherut for the country are freeriding.

Their torah is not more important nor more effective than daati torah.

Their teffilot are not more important nor more effective. All prayer can be powerful.

The Torah makes it very clear that God expects hishtadlut from humans, not to live by miracles. Expecting safety to just be created in a bubble around us.

Yes, of course, we have faith.

But we also co-create reality alongside God.

We use the kochot that God has given us to create and maintain the Iron Dome. That's why we have a "bubble" around us.

God and man, working hand in hand.

It is hard to understand those who ignore the call of a milchemet mitzvah.

And those who benefit from the protection of others in that same w*r.

This behavior is to "Lifrosh min hatzibur" - to excuse oneself from the collective.

Pirkei Avot is very clear on this point.

We are not meant to withdraw from our shared fate, responsibilities, struggles, and joys of our people.

It's letting your brothers carry a burden for you. Instead of standing with them - emotionally, spiritually, materially, or physically.

We are a covenant-bound collective.

To step out of the collective is to break that bond.

Practically, it means that daati and secular sons and daughters give years of their time, energy, and often their lives - for the sake of this land and our people.

It is a heavy burden. I do not understand why they think it is right for our to shoulder this burden without them?

I am not sure what right any Jew who lives in Israel has to say, "You but not me..." The Haggadah is very clear about this idea.

When it is the wicked son's turn to talk the text says,

רָשָׁע — מָה הוּא אוֹמֵר

"מָה הָעֲבֹדָה הַזֹּאת לָכֶם

לָכֶם — וְלֹא לוֹ.

וְלִפִי שֶׁהוֹצִיא אֶת עַצְמוֹ מִן הַכְּלָל

The Wicked Son — What does he say?

"What is this service to you?"

To you — and not to him.

By saying this, he excludes himself from the community,

and thus denies the essence of the story.

We set "his teeth on edge" for the shocking choice of abandoning his people, even in narrative, let alone on the battlefield.

There are hundreds of ways to contribute.

The politics are detailed and complex. I learned a lot about it when Scott went into the army. It made me nauseous.