Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on July 19, 2024

In recent decades, Haredi society in Israel has stood firm against the winds of change, resolutely defending its traditional way of life. However, in recent years, we are witnessing a surprising and fascinating phenomenon: it is the Hasidim, always perceived as the most conservative, who are leading a quiet but profound revolution at the heart of Haredi society.

The transformations taking place in the Hasidic world mark a historic turning point. While the Sephardic public, led by Shas, continues to show principled opposition to the draft order and state-Haredi education, Hasidic rebbes are displaying a surprisingly pragmatic approach. They have instructed their followers to report for initial draft orders and were pioneers in joining the state-Haredi education stream (Mamach). These steps, which seemed impossible just a few years ago, signal a dramatic shift in the Haredi approach to the challenges of modernity.

The key to understanding this phenomenon lies in the unique structure of the Hasidic world. Unlike the centralized structure of Shas leadership or the Lithuanian public, each Hasidic rebbe enjoys autonomy in decision-making for his community. This flexibility allows Hasidic courts to react quickly and pragmatically to contemporary challenges, without succumbing to the constraints of broader consensus.

The implications of this trend could be far-reaching. First, it challenges the accepted notion that the Lithuanian or Sephardic public would lead change in Haredi society. Second, it poses a challenge to other Haredi streams, which may find themselves compelled to respond to these changes. Finally, it opens the door to renewed dialogue between Haredi society and general Israeli society.

However, it is important to emphasize that this is a complex and multifaceted process. While some Hasidic courts are adopting a pragmatic approach, others still adhere to the conservative line. Moreover, even among the more progressive communities, changes are occurring cautiously and moderately, while strictly maintaining the core values of Haredi life.

The quiet revolution led by the Hasidim raises fundamental questions for Israeli society as a whole. Are we witnessing the beginning of a new era in relations between religious and secular? Will these changes lead to more significant integration of Haredim in the Israeli economy and society? And what will be their impact on Jewish and Israeli identity in the coming decades?

The answers to these questions are not yet clear, but one thing is certain: the quiet revolution led by the Hasidim is one of the most fascinating and important phenomena in Israeli society today. It signals the possibility of bridging deep gaps and reshaping the face of society in Israel. Policymakers, public leaders, and all Israeli citizens bear the responsibility to understand the significance of this trend and act wisely to seize the opportunities it offers.

While the road is still long, we may look back on this period in the future as a historic turning point the moment when the wall between Haredi society and general society began to crack, opening a door to a more shared and inclusive future.

Menachem Bombach is an entrepreneur, an educator, Rosh Yeshiva of the boys' residential high school HaMidrasha HaHassidit in Beitar Illit, and the founder and CEO of the Netzach Yisrael Educational Network. Rabbi Menachem Bombach, a Vizhnitz hasid, was born and raised in the ultra-Orthodox community in Meah Shearim in Jerusalem. Following his yeshiva education at the Mir Yeshiva, he earned his undergraduate degree in Education and graduate degree in Public Policy from Hebrew University, where he also founded a preparatory program (Mechina) for Haredi students. Menachem was a fellow at Maoz and in the leadership program of Gesher and is a fellow and senior project leader at the Mandel Institute. After the establishment of the Midrasha HaHassidit in 2017 and in light of its success, Menachem Bombach established Netzach Yisrael, a network of Haredi schools whose mission is to provide its students with an outstanding Haredi education, while in parallel, they work towards their bagrut (matriculation) certificate, a prerequisite for quality employment and higher education in Israel. The networks academic program empowers graduates to create a strong, financially viable future for them, their future families, and the Israeli economy, while remaining strongly connected to their core values of Torah observance. As of November 2021, the growing Netzach network is 15 schools strong. What started out with 14 students, currently serves 1900 students and fully expect to be serving 2500-3500 within two years, not including the over 26.000 registered at our Eshkolot Virtual School, an online platform which prepares Haredi students for their pre-academic studies. In March 2022, the Netzach Educational Network was awarded the Annual Jerusalem Unity Prize in the category of education. The annual prize is awarded to initiatives in Israel and throughout the Jewish world that are instrumental in advancing mutual respect for others, and acknowledges accomplishments of those who work to advance the critical importance of Jewish unity, and inspire tolerance and mutual respect across the Jewish world promoting acceptance of those who think, act or live differently.

See the article here:

Hasidic Pragmatism - The Times of Israel

Category: Hasidic
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