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Dear Matzav Inbox,
There is something deeply troubling about the way the conversation surrounding yeshiva bochurim and the Israeli army is being conducted. Time and again, I watch as the defense of Torah learning—our lifeline, the very essence of Klal Yisroel—gets wrapped in noise, anger, and rhetoric that may generate headlines but does little to win hearts or strengthen our cause.
Why can’t we fight for our yeshiva bochurim without resorting to fiery, bombastic proclamations that alienate the broader public? Why is the most sacred fight—preserving Torah learning as the cornerstone of Jewish survival—so often expressed in language that diminishes the holiness of the very cause it is supposed to defend? Our gedolim never needed shouting or theatrics to make the case. Their words, delivered with dignity and clarity, carried the weight of eternity. Shouldn’t we be following their model?
Why can’t we advocate for our bochurim without simultaneously denigrating those who, for whatever reason, are serving in the army? They are not our enemies. They are part of Klal Yisroel, our own flesh and blood. Some are not yet privileged to understand the centrality of Torah; others come from different backgrounds or circumstances. But mocking or belittling them is not only unfair. It is counterproductive. It hardens hearts against our message, closes ears that might otherwise listen, and erodes the basic achdus we so desperately need.
Why can’t we fight for our yeshiva bochurim while still expressing hakoras hatov to those who do enlist? Even as we state unequivocally that Torah is the ultimate shield of Am Yisroel and that we will not negotiate over our bnei yeshiva, can we not also acknowledge that the young men who put their lives on the line are making real sacrifices? They are risking their futures, their health, and sometimes their very lives. Is it really so difficult to say “thank you” for their service, even as we insist that the Torah learner’s role is irreplaceable and exalted? Expressing gratitude does not weaken our argument. It strengthens it, by showing that our worldview is broad, compassionate, and rooted in truth.
Why can’t we stand up for Torah without turning to protests that descend into chaos and create a chillul Hashem? The sight of angry mobs, blocked roads, and violent outbursts does not glorify Torah. It desecrates it. Those images circulate far beyond our own community and reinforce every negative stereotype that already exists. Instead of sanctifying the Torah, we degrade it. Instead of gaining sympathy, we invite scorn. And instead of strengthening our youth in their mission, we confuse them, leaving them with the impression that Torah needs to be defended through outrage rather than through its own inherent power.
Why can’t we follow the example of our gedolim, who for generations have shown how to fight this battle with wisdom, restraint, and conviction? Our gedolim all fought tirelessly to protect Torah learning. They spoke and acted with unyielding firmness, yet they did so with a dignity that commanded respect even among those who disagreed. They didn’t need theatrics to prove the truth. They relied on the eternal strength of Torah, and the power of reasoned, principled argument.
This is not a call for weakness or compromise. It is not an appeal to water down our message or to soften our principles. On the contrary, it is a plea for true strength—the strength to argue our case in a way that reflects the very Torah we are fighting to preserve. To speak firmly but respectfully. To insist on the truth of Torah without dismissing the sacrifices of others. To advocate with passion, but also with intelligence and derech eretz.
We need to ask ourselves: What is the goal? Is it to make headlines, to shout louder than anyone else, to prove that we can outdo the other side in volume? Or is it to safeguard the eternal truth that Torah learning is the lifeblood of the Jewish people? If it is the latter—and surely it must be—then our methods must reflect our mission. We cannot fight for Torah by using tactics that betray the very values Torah demands of us.
If the Torah itself is our claim, then our advocacy must be consistent with Torah values. A message delivered with respect, intelligence, and humility carries infinitely more power than one shouted in anger. The world may not agree with us, but at the very least, they should walk away saying: “This is a people that stands for something sacred. This is a people whose representatives speak with dignity and faith.”
I am not naïve. I know the pressures are great, the stakes are high, and emotions are raw. But precisely because this is such a pivotal issue, we must choose carefully how we conduct ourselves. If we truly believe that Torah is our weapon, then let us wield it—not with noise and chaos, but with the timeless strength of calm conviction and unwavering emunah.
Is it too much to ask that we fight for our bochurim the way the Torah itself demands—firmly, passionately, but always with dignity, always with derech eretz, always with the spirit of Klal Yisroel as one family? That is the way our gedolim fought. That is the way our message will be heard. And that is the only way to ensure that our defense of Torah is itself a kiddush Hashem.
Respectfully,
A Yid in Pain
Lakewood, NJ
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