How this conflict plays out remains to be seen. But my sense of it is that normalcy must prevail if we are to continue to grow in numbers relative to other streams of Judaism which are shrinking. The only way we can have a viable existence into the future is if we lead normal lives. Not extreme ones.
Where does that leave Israel? I don’t know. Things are changing a bit. More Charedim seem to be joining the army and educational opportunities are popping up all over for Charedim that want to improve their lives materially. So there is hope even there.
Is it enough? We’ll have to wait and see. What is clear however is the black and white attitude that permeates the Charedi world in Israel persists and is catching on in America. These are competing forces. But there does not seem to be an active resistance to these programs or any active opposition to Charedi army recruits except in the most extreme pockets of the Charedi world.
I would prefer a solution in Israel that is more like the American paradigm suggested by R’ Yaakov’s ‘normalcy’. That does not seem to be in the cards however. Instead, as noted above, the Israeli paradigm seems to be catching on in America among some of its rabbinic leaders.
Normalcy can only flourish when extremes are either eliminated or at least discredited by the mainstream. That is the only way we can survive into the future. Because it isn’t only about our reproductive rates or insistence on a Jewish education for our children. It is also about being normal. Without that, I don’t think we can survive.