[Avodah] Daas Torah and Zionism

[Yitzchok Levine]

It is clear that before WW II many gedolim were opposed to Zionism 
and the establishment of a Jewish state.  See

http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/against_zionism.pdf

Some maintained this position after the establishment of the State of 
Israel.  See http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/zion_or_zionism.pdf

According to the front page article in this week's Jewish Press, in 
1948 "The Brisker Rav, Rav Velvel Soloveitchik, strenuously opposed a 
declaration on the grounds that it would precipitate a war, and lead 
to the 'destruction, God forbid, of the entire yishuv.'"  (See 
www.jewishpress.com ) B"H, this did not happen. Indeed, today we see 
a vibrant yishuv in EY exceeding, I am pretty sure, the expectations of many.

These statements against Zionism were made by some of the most 
respected gedolim of the time. Thus, I presume, they are to be 
considered "Daas Torah." Yet today many view these statements as 
having been "wrong."

What does this mean for the concept of Daas Torah and for the idea 
that gedolim can see things more clearly than the average person?


Yitzchok Levine 
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