As you might have seen, this “Atzeres Tefillah”, or the “Gathering for Prayer”, that took place in Jerusalem this past week has been in the Jewish news quite a bit. For those, who haven’t seen, basically somewhere around 600,000 Jews, compromising (mainly the) Ultra-Orthodox, Ashkanazim, Chassidim & Sfardim, and many within the National Religious camp, men, women, and children, came to Jerusalem to pray that somehow Hashem should overturn the law that will throw people into prison if they refuse to stop learning in yeshivos and kollels to join the army (something I don’t think even non-Jewish governments have… at least the non-evil ones). Unfortunately, I was unable to go, but nearly the entire kollel, along with others from the local Hesder Yeshiva (Religious Zionist) and working men, went. I was told, and one could see from the photos, that it was a sight to behold. What was most important is that it wasn’t a protest, as reported in the press. Everybody came, davened Mincha, said certain Psalms, and that was that. No protest against the government. No protest against individuals. No violence broke out. Just davening.
Just as in Purim, when we had nobody to turn to but Hashem, the community has acknowledged that even the religious MKs in the Knesset are powerless, and there is only one direction to channel our hopes towards.
I was discussing this with a friend of mine, and I mentioned that we both know that many people who keep Shabbos and Kashrus still don’t understand what this is all about. They think it’s politics; they think that everybody doesn’t want to work, or that they wish to see the State of Israel destroyed… they cannot grasp the concept that the Torah is very clear that we have been put on this world to be osek in Torah (“osek” can be translated as “delve”or “learning”… but it’s more than just “learning,” it’s putting all your effort and time into that learning), and to fulfill the mitzvos. Why can’t even THEY understand this basic and fundamental belief in Judaism (please see Nefesh HaChaim, Gate 4… it’s even published in English, for more details on this concept).
My friend explained that the difference between such people and ourselves is simple. We believe that and they don’t. We believe that Torah is the center of our lives and the key to success in this world and the next, while they believe in living their lives as much as they can as long as it’s not explicitly forbidden by the Torah.
It reminded me of an email somebody sent me. He told me that somebody whom he knows made mention about his upcoming vacation. He was proud of himself for learning Daf Yomi (where you learn one page of Gemara a day) ahead of time, so he will be “free” to enjoy his vacation to the fullest.
That is an idea which the Torah does not encourage.
We don’t view learning Torah as something you pick up, learn a little, and put down. We believe in being “osek” in Torah, that is putting our full energies into it, to delve into it, and to understand it as much as possible. This obligation is upon every Jewish man, whether he is working or learning full-time. Obviously, it is best to be able to sit and learn and devote as much time as one can to his learning. Each person needs to make a schedule according to his life, but nonetheless, it should be the main part of his life.
This week we begin Sefer Vayikra, the third in the five books of the Torah. Throughout most of the next few parshiyos, the Torah goes into detail about all the different types of korbonos, sacrifices.
One of the points of these korbonos (depending which ones), is that one should feel that he is “sacrificing” himself by giving all his energies to Hashem and developing his relationship with Him. THIS is one of fundamental beliefs that Jews have.
This “Atzeres Tefillah” is not about working vs. not working (most men after several years of kollel DO go out to work in some capacity, contrary to popular belief). This is not about pro- vs. anti-army. This is about the ability to leave this community to be osek in Torah and to allow young men, especially in the beginning years of marriage, to build themselves in Torah while they still have the opportunity to, before they have to start to work more to support a larger family.
I would like to end off with a story I saw printed that was said over by Rav Yitzchak Zilberstein, one of the leading rabbeim of our generation:
“After the group tefillah (prayer), the masses dispersed in an orderly fashion to their homes and cities. I sat in a car as we tried to navigate our way through the crowds streaming toward the entrance of the city. It was hard to move because of the mass of people. Suddenly, I noticed a policeman approaching the car, trying to open a path to us. He saw that I have a white beard, and thinking perhaps that I was a Rav asked to talk to me.
“This is what he said, which moved everyone around us: ‘I have to tell the Rav that I’ve been here since the beginning of the day, but I had nothing to do the whole time because everyone behaved so decorously. I really identify with you, and wondered what I could do to fill the time. And when I saw this crowd of quality people, each holding a pamphlet and praying from it, I asked someone if they had one for me, and I recited the entire prayer from the paper.
“Then I spoke to the Creator in my own language and I told Him, “G-d in Heaven, I see a huge crowd of quality people, and all they want is to be able to continue learning Torah,” and I asked that He should fulfill the wishes of the Chareidim (Ultra-Orthodox), and added that although there are people in this country who don’t want to allow them this, and even persecute them, “You, G-d, know better than anyone how to manage with them; please arrange that they should allow this sector to continue doing the only thing they yearn to do.’”
Have a great Shabbos
Michael Winner