[Avodah] Charedim and the army

[Doron Beckerman]

Marty Bluke quotes R' Aharon Lichtenstein's piece regarding Shevet Levi
status for  those who exempt themselves from the army based on Torato
Umanuto. He adds that it takes 'a tremendous amount of hubris' to assume
that one has this status. As I have mentioned in various fora, I think that,
with respect, RAL  overstates his case in this regard:

1) If it is true that of a given population only 2% or 5% of it can
reasonably expect to be granted that lofty status, it seems ludicrous that
an entire Shevet Levi (let us say, 8500 from the ages of 30-50 as per
Parshas Naso) is granted exemption because 170-425 members will actually
qualify. RAL recognizes that this is a weak point and states that their
exemption is 'genealogical'. This fails to solve the problem, though. Why is
there a geneaological blanket exemption for an entire Shevet when the reason
for the exemption applies so scarcely?

2) A yet stronger counter-argument to the genealogocial argument is that
according to the commentary of the Netziv to Parshas VaYechi, the entire
Shevet Yissachar availed themselves of this status to exempt themselves from
fighting  in the time of the Shoftim. Based on what? Did every single one of
them look himself in the mirror and say that they are Kodesh Kodoshim?

3) One who decided to truly dedicate the best years of his life to Torah
study and Mussar refinement, trying to grow in his Yiras Shamayim with no
concern for the Cheshbonos of Bnei Adam during that time, is described by
Hashem, through the words of the Rambam, as Kodesh Kodoshim. The numbers of
Yeshiva boys who are learning seriously should not blind us to their
inestimable value and stature in the eyes of the Ribbono Shel Olam.

4) It doesn't take any hubris whatsoever to follow the opinion of the vast
majority, if not all, of Gedolei Torah in the Charedi, as well as many of
the Gedolim of the  RZ world (i.e. the Roshei Yeshiva of Mercaz Harav, Beit
El, and other Yeshivot Gevohot) who support not going  to the army for many
years after HS and whose students serve in afar reduced capacity than their
capabilities vis-a-vis combat. RAL is certainly a minority opinion among
Gedolei HaRoshei Yeshivos.

(Note: This has nothing to do with those who are not fulfilling paragraph 3.
I'm talking about the many thousands who do.)
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