The Israeli leadership is blaming war problems on the Chareidi draft issue. Rabbi Jacobson explains beautifully (and you seem to agree) how the two are not connected at all. The war is a failure due to independent issues. Don’t blame the Yeshivah’s.

In truth, if the chareidim would be doing their job right – i.e. by being ambassadors of Torah to the rest of Israeli society and nurturing the spirit this article promotes (instead of being insular, with a mindset that rejects any Jews that don’t fit their mold), the Torah learning in yeshivas would indeed be viewed by all as a part of the war effort, not a hindrance to it. Because to truly win, we need the spirit that comes from (learning) torah, as explained above.

I deeply respect your work, which is why I have to say- this article is in poor taste. You’ve combined two unrelated issues: Israel’s moral weakness and leadership failures in fighting this war, and the fact that many Haredim do not serve.

On the first, I agree completely—we have lost resolve, replacing it with hollow, imported values and fear of world opinion. Leadership has failed to inspire victory and has left soldiers overstretched and unsupported.

But the second is different. If this is a milchemet mitzvah, why should thousands of soldiers give up their families, jobs, safety, and freedom for years—while Haredi counterparts study in air-conditioned rooms and go home each night? Would you send this article to a soldier who has been serving for 500+ days in extremely harsh weather conditions, after losing friends, after leaving a wife and young children to manage without him for almost 2 years, after experiencing unbearable trauma!? Could you tell him the real problem is leadership’s lack of conviction, while his peers’ total exemption “isn’t an issue”?

If not, these issues shouldn’t be conflated. Doing so is inaccurate, poorly timed, and disconnected from the harsh reality our soldiers are living right now.