At this time approaching Shavuos it is time to think about the future of Religious society. I think the real concern is not the draft but the loss of control of the new generation. The post regarding arson caused by frum youth is indicative of the problem. The youth are attatched to Torah not by values and ideology but rather culture and pleasure. Our young students expect to be entertained and to have fun. The army provides a realistic alternative platform. The demonstations have trained a generation to disrespect authority which is not limited to secular ones. Similarly the tremendous social pressures for wealth collides with the difficult reality of earning a living wage. The failure of rabbis to solve the marriage crisis and other things also caueses disrespect
There have been a number of historic periods when Jews assimated Such as WWI The Communist takover. America until the 1960's. the reurn to Israel after Babylonian Exile The Golden Age of Spain. In Israel assimilation is a real problem and explains the resistance to secular and vocational training. Even in fanatic Mea Shearim there is often zero or negative growth due to assimilation. I was told that Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach was the only one of his Cheder that stayed frum. Among the Religious Zionists and Modern Orthodox it is fairly common to lose religion. While in America there was Reform and Conservative and in Europe the Haskala and Reform. The loss of Jewish women before Beis Yakov or the loss of German and Hungarian Jews before Rav Hirsch.
I think a significant reason for the long time ignoring of abuse was the feeling that the resolution would undermine religious authority the same for marital problems and feministic issues
Eastern European Jews were told to stay in Europe and starve or face the Nazis rather than possibly assimilate in America or Israel
Bottom line the draft is resisted primarily because of the real concern that the 'youth will give up observance
Is it the army specifically or any kind of outside influence which seems to be the thrust of the argument here?.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be saying that a assimilation will happen regardless even in as closed a society as mea shearim.
Or is the army the ultimate place which trance's Jewish values and gives temptations?.
And if it didn't make such a difference, is it inherently a bad thing to do?
The above, and the article about the fires is actually suggesting that the reproduction of the European shtetl is inevitably leading to similar effects as those that happened in Europe.
ReplyDeletePoverty, lack of opportunity, and lots of people who are not suited for full time learning. There are plenty of opportunities in the army not all in the frontline. But what do the youth actually want?
And are we witnessing a large scale deflection from frumkeit in the hareidi bastions?