How can anyone claim there are “enough fighters” when reservists with wives and children have been called back five times? You go on to blame what you consider poor war strategy—that the conflict dragged on too long. But the ordinary reservist isn’t making those decisions. So why is he the one being punished?

Two wrongs don’t make a right. Even if your critique of the war’s management is valid, that wouldn’t in any way justify forcing the burden onto the rest of Israeli society alone.

This would allow the Yeshivah students to really feel how they play a roll and motivate them to fulfill “Most importantly: If we truly believed it, our Torah learning would look different. We would be fiercely devoted to utilizing our time and energy to studying Torah and engaging Yidden to put on tefillin to protect our nation.”

First of all, the war itself is so unnecessarily dragged out, it could have been easily won in less than a month if the army made proper military decisions without trying to please the world.

Secondly, the essential roles you mentioned are not essential when it comes to Torah. Sitting and learning with “an old Gemara printed 150 years ago”, like the Rebbe spoke about, is the essential role. The other roles you spoke about are necessary but there are many who can fill those roles and those come secondary. It’s obvious that Hashem watches Eretz Yisrael (the six day war and literally every day is a miracle there) and doing what He wants keeps yidden safe. The actual fighting is secondary.

Lastly, the writer has a very valid point which is the main idea. We need to take our role as “fighters” through doing our spiritual part much more seriously. Your comment sidesteps that point. I would even add what the writer touched on at the end. We need to be flooding the streets with mivtzoim and strengthen yiddishkeit a million times more within our own circles. If a Jew wants to contribute, the war on the spiritual front is essential. We need to realize it before shouting it out to the rest of the world

2) In response to the article, I don’t know why you have to frame it that way, eg. Assuming that somebody does not have the proper conviction. This is not a new debate, the Rebbe spoke about it numerously, and lot’s has been written on the topic already. In terms of what our community believes, Dan lkaf zchus. The message about appreciating Torah study could be communicated in a more positive light.

To deliberately separate the nation into defenders and bystanders, particularly when yeshivos and families are threatened, constitutes a serious Chillul Hashem and contradicts the Torah’s obligation to preserve life. Community leaders should therefore encourage practical compromises that enable broad participation while respecting the needs of those who learn in kollel or yeshiva.

We ask every family to identify how they can help — in body, skill, or means — and to coordinate with trusted communal bodies so that all contributions are effective, dignified, and consistent with Torah values.

In life we need to be able to handle parodoxes. There’s no question that those who belong learning and not in the army, need to be doing just that and they are making a bigger difference than anyone else. It’s also true, and actually also because of the first truth itself, that it needs to be taken so much more seriously and honestly.

Meaning, those in אהלו של תורה should not leave and those in אהלו של תורה need to be taking it so much more seriously.

There are literally אין ספור examples for this. From the simplest one of being Frum and comparing to a not Frum Yid or being Lubavtich to comparing to someone who isn’t. Stay Frum! Stay Lubavitch! At the same time, that itself requires you to be doing so much more than what you’re already doing.

Same with being healthy and not חס ושלום in a coma. Stay healthy! At the same time, that itself requires you to be doing so much more than what you’re already doing.