Page 51 - HaMizrachi Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot 5782 USA

One on One

with Rabbi

Hershel Schachter

Rabbi Hershel Schachter is a world renowned posek, Rosh Yeshiva and Rosh Kollel at Rabbi
Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University. Last month, Avi Borgen asked
Rabbi Schachter to reflect on his connection to Eretz Yisrael and the State of Israel.

(PHOTO: YESHIVA UNIVERSITY)

ou have a very deep and emotional Last month I gave a shiur in Rav they feel they have to send the children
connection with Eretz Yisrael. Druckman’s yeshivah, and when they to Eretz Yisrael for a year or two or three
How did you create that connec- introduced me they said: “The last time to learn Torah before college, and this
Ytion while living in the Diaspora? he spoke here was 31 years ago; we hope is how they become bnei Torah! He had
we won’t have to wait so long for the never heard of this system where our
Over the years, we spent many summers next time!” I gave shiurim in Sderot, young people go to yeshivot in Israel; he
in Eretz Yisrael. When I joined NCSY in Merkaz HaRav, in Mitzpe Yericho. I thought that our young people were
Kollel for a few summers, I saw how feel connected to these places; I have going to Israel to study in colleges
the boys just fell in love with the Land.
grandchildren living there. like Hebrew University. In Yiddish, he
35 years ago, I spent three summers said “What do you mean? They go to
in the Nir Yeshiva, a hesder yeshivah in How has the State of Israel impacted the university and become bnei Torah?” I
Kiryat Arba. At that time, everything Modern Orthodox community in America? said: “Not university! They go to Kerem
was peaceful; we would go to Chevron, B’Yavneh, to Sha’alvim, to Yeshivat
the Me’arat Hamachpela, and there was I remember a Shemitta year, 14 years Hakotel – to many different yeshivot!”
no trouble at all. It was only a few years ago, when I was in Israel with NCSY He had never heard about any of this!
after the Six Day War, and the Arabs Kollel. A group of Young Israel rabbis The common practice of sending young
were still too frightened to cause any had plans to visit farmers who had people to learn in yeshivah in Israel was
trouble. My children would travel freely decided, for the first time, not to rely instituted by Rabbi David Eliach, who
on their own on buses up and down the on the heter mechirah and I joined them recently passed away. He and some
country, from north to south. These for the trip. friends and colleagues were the ones
summers were transformative for my We visited three different farmers, who engineered this change, and that
family. Today, my three older daughters and then went to Moshav Komemiyut. is what made a major change in the
all live in Eretz Yisrael. Many years ago, the rabbi of Komemiyut American community. It’s a huge s’char
was Rabbi Binyamin Mendelson, who (reward)! Modern Orthodoxy used to
Is there a place in Israel that you connect worked with the Chazon Ish to convince be much further from Torah learning
with in particular? farmers not to rely on the heter mechirah. and mitzvah observance. But now the
His son is now the rabbi of the moshav,
I love the whole country, and especially and he spoke with us. When he realized young people come back from yeshivah
Chevron. There is a fellow there, Rabbi that I was from Yeshiva University, he in Israel, and they have a powerful
Yitzchak Rodrig, who runs a machon for said he was recently in Washington influence on their families and the
rabbanim called the Chevron Rabbinical Heights and drove through the campus, entire community. We have to celebrate
Research Institute. He has an office where he saw boys with their tzitzit out, Yom HaAtzmaut! The establishment
building with offices for rabbanim, and looking like bnei Torah! He had been in of the State of Israel was like a new
each rabbi has his own office with his Yeshiva University many years ago, Matan Torah for American Jewry! Israel
own Shas, Rambam and Rishonim, and and the boys then were not as serious has had a tremendous impact on the
he encourages the rabbanim to sit there as they are now. He asked me: “To what community. n
and write sefarim. Whenever he bumps do you attribute the change?” I knew it
into me he says he wants me to come to would rub him the wrong way, so I said
Chevron, to live there permanently! I feel “Tziyonut, Zionism!” Surprised, he asked
very connected there, and with many me what I meant. I explained that the
other places.
boys’ parents are strong Zionists and

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