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NEWS
Machlokes in Israel and its Influence on Chutz la'Aretz
By D. Tzfatman
Even in times of intense struggle, it is necessary to protect the borders. At the time that HaRav Shach was using a mode of struggle, he was extremely careful not to involve Agudath Israel in America and Europe. HaRav Shlomo Lorenz testified in his book that even during the battle against Poalei Agudath Israel and its disloyalty to gedolei Yisroel, our Torah leaders and askonim from the Diaspora were asked by some to get involved, but HaRav Shach prevented this with all his might, lest this harm the unity of Torah Jewry abroad. It was the same in 5749 (1989) here in Eretz Yisroel when Degel HaTorah withdrew from Agudath Israel and ran separately, his trusted devotees from Aguda in America and Europe sought to help in strengthening his position. But even during this very trying time, HaRav Shach stood vigil at every stage not to let the issues glide outside of Eretz Yisroel.
HaRav Grozovsky zt"l
It is interesting to note the words of the major policy maker and leader of chareidi Jewry, including Agudath Israel of the past generation, head of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah in America, HaRav Reuven Grozovsky, who dwells in his book Ba'ayos Hazman regarding the "split of opinions in Eretz Yisroel about the manner of fighting against the secular sector." He writes: "If the bribery and natural, ingrained hatred and zeal against apostates shall weigh in favor of saying that we can better succeed through battle in fortifying Torah, at a time when the straight-hearted are inclined in favor of flattering the wicked ones... one must follow the approach of the majority opinion of our masters who are worthy of decision making in this generation by virtue of their greatness in Torah, yirah and wisdom, for Hashem stands in the assembly of those G-dly ones."
HaRav Grozovsky writes that only the gedolei Yisroel in Israel can decide regarding the proper methods of warfare. "The hidden things are unto Hashem our G-d while the revealed things are for us to act [upon them]... according to the path transmitted to us by Chazal and our masters, the Rishonim and Acharonim, without any personal interests or prior leanings, neither to be lenient or more severe, as the Rashba wrote that a dayan should inspect himself lest his zeal for Hashem blaze within him and cause him to ignore the good and true path. He should therefore temper and mitigate it through consultation with those who are wise and straightforward in their hearts."
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