I've said it before, but I'll say it again, because it bears repeating.
Yes, I believe (as many others do) that haredim should serve in the Army, and if not all of them – then at least, a decent percentage.
BUT (and it's a big but), that doesn't take away from the sheer magnificence of the few Haredi recruits who have just enlisted. In fact, the fact that pretty much 99% of Haredim don't serve, makes it all the more magnificent that 50 of them enlisted just yesterday, with another 100 on board, too!
First of all, they haven't been brought up with the knowledge that one day they too will serve and with the glorification of IDF combat soldiers and with Hatkivah being played at every important function. SO it's not exactly in their DNA, so to speak.
But more than that. Just think about what they stand to lose. And what's worse, if they don't pay the price themselves, their families might pay it for them (and feel free to private message me and tell me it's nonsense, but we all know the truth).
You might not like hearing it (I know I don't) but one of the reasons that the Haredi society is still so successful in creating generation after generation of followers, is that it has iron-clad rules which must be followed, rules about which kashrus to eat, which clothes to wear, what to do in your free time and who to be friends with.
And although Haredi society as a whole is inclusive to its own, one thing it simply will not tolerate is dissent. If it sniffs a whiff of dissent, if their followers dare step off the beaten track, the consequences are swift and brutal, consequences like being ostracised, being made to leave their home (think an off-the-derech kid), their parents being punished in a multitude of hellish ways, and their siblings, too.
Hell hath no fury like Haredim dealing with one of their own who isn't acting like one of their own anymore.
And given what the Gedolim have said about Haredim enlisting, which doesn't need repeating, it makes sense that these young men, who are forging their own path at possibly great personal cost are braveness personified.
I commend them, today and every day.
And because they might not have other saying it to them, I say: Go in peace and come back in peace.
יְבָרֶכְךָ ד' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
יָאֵר ד' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
יִשָּׂא ד' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
"May God bless you and safeguard you
May God illuminate His countenance toward you and grant you grace
May God turn His countenance toward you and establish peace for you."
And if they are not proud right now, may your parents come to value your sacrifice.
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