The Rav, R’ Yoshe Ber Soloveitchik, responded at a Mizrachi meeting saying that he was not a fan of ceremonies but that halachicly the Israeli flag had more Kedusha (holiness) than the Union Jack. At that point he spoke about Jewish soldiers being killed to raise the flag over the new land.
The truly great and inspiring Charedi leaders of the past have a different view than those of today. That’s why one of the pioneers of the Yeshiva world in Israel did not say Tachanun on Yom Ha’atzamut and flew the Israeli flag on his building in Bnei Brak, Ponevezh Yeshiva. And it is why that Chasidic Rebbe swept the streets of Tel Aviv on that day each year.
My hope is that things will change and that the Yeshiva world will begin to recognize what the existence of the State of Israel means to them, stop disparaging them; and express Hakaras HaTov – their gratitude- accordingly
I believe that there may be some moves in that direction. Yesterday for the first time there were many images of Charedi Rabbonim (like those in Bnei Brak) standing in silence on Yom HaZikaron. They stood in solidarity with their Israeli brothers in public recognition of the sacrifice of those Israelis who paid the ultimate price for protecting their country. There were no recriminations about the moment of silence not being the Jewish way to mourn. They just stood quietly in unity with their Jewish brothers.
This is a good sign. I only hope that in the future there can be some more of that kind of good will spread on days like Yom Ha’atzmaut. When the Charedi world begins to recognize that secular Jews don’t hate them… and they make a move like this – well… there might just be an opening for Moshiach to come.
visit Emes Ve-Emunah / Harry Maryles
