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RAV AHARON LICHTENSTEIN: ZIONISM and KNESSET YISRAEL RABBI BARUCH WEINTRAUB Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash Emeritus, YU Torah Mitzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov of Toronto

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RAV AHARON LICHTENSTEIN: ZIONISM and KNESSET YISRAEL RABBI BARUCH WEINTRAUB Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash Emeritus, YU Torah Mitzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov of Toronto RAV AHARON LICHTENSTEIN: ZIONISM AND KNESSET YISRAEL RABBI BARUCH WEINTRAUB Sgan Rosh Beit Midrash Emeritus, YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov of Toronto Speaking for myself, I am far from totally he discussed “the nature and root of identifying with the official Zionist the precedence afforded to the poor ideology. I have the privilege of being of Eretz Yisrael, and the relationship regarded in America as a bit odd for between the mitzva of tzedaka itself being a Zionist, and in Eretz Yisrael to Eretz Yisrael.” (“Tzedaka in Eretz as being a little odd (at least within Yisrael and in Chutz La-Aretz” our world) for being suspect as not available at https://www.etzion.org. sufficiently Zionist. il/en/tzedaka-eretz-yisrael-and-chutz- By His Light, Rav Aharon la-aretz); the obligation to appoint Lichtenstein kings and ordained Rabbis in Eretz The view of Mori VeRabi, Rav Aharon Yisrael alone (“Semicha in Eretz Lichtenstein zt”l on Zionism was Yisrael and in Chutz La-Aretz”); the complex, nuanced and rich. As in connection between Eretz Yisrael every other aspect of life, he aspired and the sanctification of months and Rav Aharon Lichtenstein zt”l to see things “steadily and whole,” in years (Kedushat Aviv, p. 221); and the 1933–2015 the words of Matthew Arnold. His restriction of the eglah arufah (broken- Zionism was based on solid halakhic necked calf) to the land’s boundaries foundations, inspired by a firm (ibid, p. 270). something to be idealized and desired; belief in human responsibility and Rav Lichtenstein explained that all nay, he sees it as “alien to the ideal sensitive to the sacral, metaphysical these mitzvot not only relate to the Jewish nation … a political reality and historical uniqueness of the Holy individual Jew but are part of our imposed upon us by our enemies.” Land. In the following lines, I would national commitment to build a just The rationale of the drafting of yeshiva like to briefly introduce one of the society. Only in Eretz Yisrael does students, then, rests upon “the fact key elements that stood as the basis of Knesset Yisrael appear as one unified that military service is often the fullest Rav Lichtenstein’s Zionist thought — body and not as a mere collection of manifestation of a far broader value: Knesset Yisrael, its role and the duty it individuals. Therefore, these mitzvot gemilut hasadim, the empathetic entails. are greatly enhanced, and some are concern for others and action on their only possible, in Eretz Yisrael. behalf.” Here again, Rav Lichtenstein’s In a few of his “technical” halakhic Zionist approach is “impelled by essays, Rav Lichtenstein developed a This strong sense of common both commitment to Torah and common theme; namely, that certain national existence was not limited compassion for our people.” mitzvot, when performed in Eretz to theoretical analysis. Rather, Rav Yisrael, carry a special dimension that Lichtenstein put it at the forefront The choice of a person who, while is lacking outside of the Land; other of his seminal paper — “Zot Torat residing in the United States grappled, mitzvot are rendered completely Hahesder” (The ideology of Hesder). together with his wife, with the option inaccessible when not performed in There he developed what was then of aliyah … who never looked back the land. a novel idea — that Israeli yeshiva in regret or reconsideration, possibly students must integrate army service signifies the bonding power of derishat Rav Lichtenstein proposed that Zion … it is part of what links us, underlying these halakhot was in the IDF into their yeshiva years not because the secular law requires vertically and horizontally, with Knesset an assertion about “the collective Yisrael. standing of the Jewish population in them to do so, but because of their most deep moral and halakhic Varieties of Jewish Experience, Rav Eretz Yisrael, about which the Gemara Lichtenstein writes, ‘These are the ones referred to commitment. Rav Lichtenstein goes out of his way to explain that he does as “kahal”’ (Horiyot 3). In this light, not see the military force per se as 8 Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary • The Benjamin and Rose Berger CJF Torah To-Go Series • Yom Haatzmaut 5779.
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