By Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel
CHULA VISTA, California — People often talk about David Ben Gurion’s encouragement of Haredi Jews to settle in Israel as his “greatest blunder.” Yet, not even he could foresee the damage the Haredi would cause in the future. Ben Gurion acknowledged the terrible mistake he made in a letter he wrote to his minister, Levi Eshkol, who would later become Israel’s Prime Minister and led Israel in the Six Day War against the Arabs.
“Dear Eshkol:
“I am not of the opinion that you need my advice in government matters and it is not my intention to lend such advice – however the rioting by religious fanatics exceeds all limits and I feel that I bear the responsibility to some degree. I exempted yeshiva students from doing military service. Indeed I did so when their numbers were small, but they have been steadily increasing and their lawlessness constitutes a danger to the state’s honor. We need not appear in the world as an Alabama or South Africa. I propose that every yeshiva student of age 18 and over who is apprehended at an illegal gathering, throwing rocks, attacking citizens or other acts of violence and hooliganism, should be recruited immediately into the IDF to serve like any other young Israeli, for the term of thirty months, not in the Ministry of Religions, but as a plain soldier. Generally, the entire question of yeshiva students should be examined and whether they should be exempt from military obligation; certainly law-breakers should not enjoy this dubious privilege . . .”
What would David Ben Gurion say to us today? What kind of solution would he propose for Israel today?
In an amusing conversation that I had at a New Year’s party, I mentioned the possibility that Poland might offer a solution. Over the last 30 years or so, there seems to be a significant Jewish revival taking place in Poland. Its Jewish population has grown from just a small handful of Jews to over 20,000. This past November, Poland hosted a three-day rabbinic convention that attracted about 150 rabbis. Poland’s Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich called the three-day audience “a real testament to the revival of Jewish life in Poland.”
Since the overthrow of communism in 1989, Poland has turned into a thriving democracy; Jews now find the new political ambiance particularly appealing; they are slowly coming back to their ancestral Hassidic roots.
The Haredi animus toward Israel is well-known. Israel might want to consider paying the Haredim to leave the country. This scenario would force the Haredim to either “put up, or shut up.” If they wish to live in Israel, then they must abide by the laws of the land, i.e., get a job, end welfare to the Haredi families except for the most indigent, pay their taxes, and serve in the army.
Someone asked me, “Do you really want to advocate exiling Jews (even troublesome ones) from Israel? Wouldn’t such an approach, if taken seriously, undermine the entire Zionist ideal?” Actually, most of the Haredi are undermining the Zionist dream by virtually denying its existence.
If they refuse to abide by Israel’s laws, they can always move to Poland—or any other country that is willing to accept them.
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Rabbi Samuel is spiritual leader of Temple Beth Sholom in Chula Vista, California. He may be contacted at michael.samuel@sdjewishworld.com