Page 38 - HaMizrachi Tisha bAv 5783 USA

The Netziv vs. Rav Chaim:

Zionism and Love of the Land

Rabbi Meir Bar Ilan ל״צז

Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin zt”l (1816–1893), commonly known as do that which is in our hands, whether a little or a lot.” He held this
the Netziv, led the renowned Volozhin Yeshiva for nearly four decades. view throughout his life, and encouraged all those involved in the holy
Overcoming many destructive fires, internal conflicts and government work of redeeming the Land.
opposition, the yeshiva thrived under the Netziv, becoming the great- Students traveled from all over the world to study at the Volozhin
est center of Torah learning in the world. Ultimately, the oppressive Yeshiva. After the yeshiva closed down, they migrated to the one place
demands of the Czarist government, including a ban on Torah study where the Volozhin Yeshiva still, in some way, lived on: to Rabbi Chaim
during certain hours, led the Netziv to close down the yeshiva rather Soloveitchik zt”l (1853–1918) in Brisk.
than compromise its principles.
A scion of the Soloveitchik rabbinic dynasty, Rav Chaim developed
The Netziv’s contributions to Torah scholarship extended beyond the famed “Brisker Method,” a highly analytical method of Talmud
the traditional yeshiva curriculum. He actively responded to attacks study focusing on precise definitions and categorizations of halacha
on Jewish tradition through his writings in Jewish publications. His which would shape the way much of the Torah world studies the
collection of responsa, Meishiv Davar, is an essential work of practical Talmud. During the yeshiva’s final years in Volozhin, Rav Chaim’s shiur
halacha, while his Ha’amek Davar has become a modern classic on attracted the greatest students of the era. In Rav Bar Ilan’s words, “he
Chumash. was the Rav of the generation, and a guide for future generations.”
Though he died a few years before the emergence of Herzl and modern Unlike the Netziv, Rav Chaim was a staunch opponent of Zionism,
Zionism, the Netziv was an early advocate for the Chovevei Zion viewing it as a movement that sought to destroy traditional Judaism
movement and staunchly supported the resettlement of Eretz Yisrael. and replace it with nationalism. His opposition to Zionism, however,
He was one of the three esteemed rabbis who served as formal advisors did not lessen his love for Eretz Yisrael or his support for the traditional
to the movement. Secret Religious Zionist cells operated within the Old Yishuv centered in Jerusalem.
Volozhin Yeshiva under his watchful eye. His younger son, Rabbi Meir
Bar Ilan, would become one of the great Religious Zionist leaders of In honor of the Netziv’s 130th yahrzeit (28 Av) and Rav Chaim’s 105th
the 20th century. yahrzeit (21 Av), we are honored to translate several passages from
Rav Meir Bar Ilan’s memoir, From Volozhin to Jerusalem, in which he
To those who opposed the New Yishuv in Eretz Yisrael because secular describes his father’s and Rav Chaim’s opposing views of the nascent
Jews were involved in its rebuilding, the Netziv wrote: “We must Zionist movement. Despite their differences, the two great leaders of
awaken to the call of G-d’s will, which has been heard from one end the generation shared a deep love for the Land, evident in Rav Bar
of the world to the other… [all of us,] every type of Jew, are called to Ilan’s firsthand account.

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