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Religious Zionism Needs

Chassidic Education!

Rabbi Dov
Singer
A Response to Dr. Netanel Fisher

Has the Religious Zionist community gone too far in adopting the teachings of Chassidut?
Have we abandoned Rav Kook in favor of Rav Nachman? In this important response to
Dr. Netanel Fisher, Rabbi Dov Singer, Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Makor Chaim and the Beit Midrash
L’Hitchadshut, argues that Chassidic principles must be a part of Religious Zionist education.

sraeli yeshivah high schools have
traditionally been based on the Lithuanian yeshivah Chassidic yeshivah
classic Lithuanian yeshivah, while
ְ
Iadding some core secular subjects ֹומֹוק ְּ מ ִמ ’ה דֹוב ְּ כ ךּור ָּ ב ֹודֹוב ְּ כ ץ ֶר ָא ָה ל ָכ אל ְמ
ֹ
to the daily schedule. Our community’s “Blessed is Hashem’s Glory from “The entire Cosmos is filled with
desire to play a more important role in His Place”. His Glory”.
Israeli society in areas such as science,
economics, military and politics has Strict hierarchy, exclusive. Community, inclusive.
led to more hours and attention being The tzaddik is part of the group.
invested in secular subjects. Due to
this shift in priorities, religious stud- Accomplishment oriented, Accommodating, stress on the
ies often take a back seat to academic aristocracy. process.
achievement. Intellectual achieve-
ments have become paramount and No room for additional “Know Him in all your ways”.
are now the yardstick used to assess challenges.
students’ career potential, whether
they are aspiring rabbis or doctors. Hashem is with you in any
Failure is not a viable option. situation; move ahead with what
At the same time, Chassidic prin- you have.
ciples have begun to influence our
educational institutions and have the Single type of intelligence – logic! Many types of intelligence –
potential to help us heal our educa- emotional, religious.
tional system. I would like to present
a number of schematic differences
between Lithuanian and Chassidic I believe it is necessary to change the us, mi’bsari echezeh eloka, “I can see G-d
yeshivot as well as the way the unique Religious Zionist educational approach in my very flesh!”
characteristics of Chassidic yeshivot from the Lithuanian model to the This new approach, however, will
Chassidic model.
have been implemented at Yeshivat require additional changes:
Makor Chaim, founded by Rabbi Adin First and foremost, we must change
Steinsaltz zt”l. the way we speak about G-d. G-d We must shift our focus from the use
is present not only in the celestial of intellectual and academic tools to
This chart depicts the differences spheres, but also here, in this world. speaking about G-d’s actual or hidden
between traditional Chassidic and We must emphasize our intimate presence; from speaking about G-d
Lithuanian yeshivot. It may be over encounter with the soul within us, to speaking to G-d. The practice of
simplified and lend itself to stigmati- which is a chelek eloka mi’mamal – an speaking to G-d must be developed at
zation, but can nevertheless highlight accessible part and parcel of the a hitva’adut or meetings of a chaburah, a
some important differences. Divine. As the Ba’al Shem Tov taught self-help group such as a class or group

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