Growing rifts Sir, – As one who has profound respect for Torah learning, in addition to being a citizen who is also quite concerned about the growing rifts among our people, I was deeply disappointed when reading the article by Avi Schwartz (“Studying Torah can be a national service,” Comment and Features, August 14). Since the challenges that we face are of the utmost gravity, they warrant responses that are serious and respectful of both sides and not based on either naivete or flippancy.To propose a program that places men in army uniforms for them to undergo a daily one hour training session with the rest of the day devoted to Torah learning is simply making a mockery of the uniform and unfortunately reveals a lack of basic understanding of the nature of the present haredi- secular schism.While a Jewish state must recognize the vital contribution of Torah learning to the well-being of its people, it is also incumbent on the Torah world to recognize and respect the contributions that other groups make to the nation. Perhaps Avi Schwartz can answer why his designated “Guardians of our Security” cannot find the justification to include in their rituals, prayers on behalf of the State of Israel and for IDF soldiers.ZEV CHAMUDOT Petah TikvaSir, – As a religious Jew, who appreciates the importance of Torah study and the need for Jewish ethical values to permeate our daily lives, I have a few issues with the suggestion that haredim join the army and form a partnership with regular soldiers, whereby the former will study Torah to protect our soul and the latter will protect our physical bodies.Foremost, surely any spiritual benefits that could be gained from such a partnership would be more than offset by the negative effects of the massive chillul Hashem, profaning of God’s name, that would be caused by the perception that many of these “soldiers” are simply using the study of Torah to get out of doing regular service.And what about that those in the haredi community who, while saying they are studying in yeshiva are actually working? Perhaps we would have to put them on trial for being AWOL for working on the side instead of learning.YONATAN SILVERJerusalem
August 17: Red lines
I remember when the EC decided to treat areas outside of the Green Line as non-Israel for custom-duty purposes.
Growing rifts Sir, – As one who has profound respect for Torah learning, in addition to being a citizen who is also quite concerned about the growing rifts among our people, I was deeply disappointed when reading the article by Avi Schwartz (“Studying Torah can be a national service,” Comment and Features, August 14). Since the challenges that we face are of the utmost gravity, they warrant responses that are serious and respectful of both sides and not based on either naivete or flippancy.To propose a program that places men in army uniforms for them to undergo a daily one hour training session with the rest of the day devoted to Torah learning is simply making a mockery of the uniform and unfortunately reveals a lack of basic understanding of the nature of the present haredi- secular schism.While a Jewish state must recognize the vital contribution of Torah learning to the well-being of its people, it is also incumbent on the Torah world to recognize and respect the contributions that other groups make to the nation. Perhaps Avi Schwartz can answer why his designated “Guardians of our Security” cannot find the justification to include in their rituals, prayers on behalf of the State of Israel and for IDF soldiers.ZEV CHAMUDOT Petah TikvaSir, – As a religious Jew, who appreciates the importance of Torah study and the need for Jewish ethical values to permeate our daily lives, I have a few issues with the suggestion that haredim join the army and form a partnership with regular soldiers, whereby the former will study Torah to protect our soul and the latter will protect our physical bodies.Foremost, surely any spiritual benefits that could be gained from such a partnership would be more than offset by the negative effects of the massive chillul Hashem, profaning of God’s name, that would be caused by the perception that many of these “soldiers” are simply using the study of Torah to get out of doing regular service.And what about that those in the haredi community who, while saying they are studying in yeshiva are actually working? Perhaps we would have to put them on trial for being AWOL for working on the side instead of learning.YONATAN SILVERJerusalem