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“We will Always be Brothers”

An Interview with Rabbi Eliezer Kashtiel

Rabbi Netanel Elyashiv

Rabbi Eliezer Kashtiel, Rosh Yeshiva of the post-army yeshiva program at Bnei-David in Eli, has
long been one of the most prominent voices in Israel’s Religious Zionist community. With the
publication of a new English translation of his popular Siman Labanim, a collection of lectures
on the weekly parasha, English speakers can now access Rav Kashtiel’s uplifting writings.
Rabbi Netanel Elyashiv spoke with Rav Kashtiel about his approach to studying the parasha.

Rabbi Netanel Elyashiv: Parashat hashavua is a very broad and are important, yet everyone can acknowledge that we have much
diverse field. How would you describe your personal approach to improve in these fields.
to teaching the parasha?
RNE: You have witnessed firsthand the growth of the mechina
Rabbi Eliezer Kashtiel: Parasha study is an opportunity to learn pre-army yeshiva movement. What, in your view, is the most
in depth about our emunah, mussar, and our national identity. important innovation of this movement regarding Torah study?
My approach to teaching is also shaped by my personal inner REK: In the classic yeshiva world there was a clear distinction
feelings. I try to convey to students the very same things that between the study of emunah or hashkafa, which can be very
touch me when I study, the things that give me strength. academic, and the study of mussar, which is clearly intended to
RNE: Some try to connect the study of the parasha to current affect one’s life. Due to the intensity of the mechinot, in which
affairs, to find in the weekly portion of the Torah references to students know that their time is very limited (one or two years
the weekly portion of the news. followed by full army service) and due to the type of students
that attend these programs, the approach to emunah is different.
REK: My approach is that studying the parasha is our chance to The students’ goal is to incorporate everything they study into
distance ourselves a bit from day-to-day life, to raise our view their lives, to find the practical meaning of every lesson. It is
higher and reconnect with the eternal values of the Torah. I try a very special connection between the high ideals of emunah
to teach things that are not controversial, things that all of Klal and the practical demands of mussar. The study has an almost
Yisrael can relate to. When people gather together on Shabbat, immediate effect.
we should be looking for common ground and core values. That’s
why I chose the title Siman Labanim. There are many children, RNE: We are beginning to study Bereishit again, which repeat-
with diverse ways, but we all come from the same fathers and edly focuses on brotherhood. The relations between brothers in
mothers. The parasha and its teachings should unify us and allow Bereishit are mostly unsuccessful, like the relationship between
us to deepen our common roots. brothers in Israel this past year.
RNE: I suppose you also believe that shul should be designated REK: There is a unique quality to brotherhood that even a hus-
as a “safe place,” and that the Rav should not engage in contro- band and wife do not possess. It is not a matter of choice, but
versial topics. But some would argue that this makes the Torah rather a fact. You cannot threaten a sibling by saying “we are
irrelevant to people’s lives. no longer brothers!”, for it is simply false. There is no option of
canceling your connection. In the same way, Hashem chose our
REK: I indeed feel very much that way. I am not only a teacher, people, promising us that whatever happens, we will always be
I’m also the Rav of a congregation, and I believe the shul should His nation.
be a place where everybody can feel that they belong. The les-
sons of the Torah will be relevant to people’s lives when the Rav This was the secret of Yosef, the most important person in Bere-
places the emphasis on Torah and mussar, the most important ishit. He was the first to fully understand the essence of brother-
hood. Yosef taught true brotherhood: you can sell me into slavery,
principles and values of our faith, things that are so truthful
and uplifting that nobody would contend them. There are many you can harm me greatly, yet we will always be brothers. That
things that everybody agrees upon, but they also demand much is how Yosef became the savior of Klal Yisrael. ◼
work. Everyone in shul agrees that shmirat halashon and tefillah

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