Levi Schwartz

IDF’s “One-Time Opportunity” Exposed as Empty Promise to Pressure Bnei Torah

Despite threats and vague assurances, Gedolei Yisrael remind us: the only true protection is Torah, and no campaign can uproot Klal Yisrael from the beis midrash.

Bochur Handcuffed, Denied Water in Prison—Released to Dancing and Song

After days in harsh conditions, the bochur’s release turned a protest into a celebration of Torah’s strength.

What Is Chinuch Atzmai and Why Was It Created?

Chinuch Atzmai (literally, “Independent Education”) is the name of the Charedi school system in Israel, established in 1953 to provide Torah-true education outside of the State-controlled educational framework.

Does the State of Israel Try to Force Secular Education in Charedi Schools?

The answer is unequivocally yes. Over the past two decades, the Israeli government—often through the Ministry of Education and the Supreme Court—has repeatedly attempted to regulate, monitor, and mandate secular studies in Charedi schools.

Why Do Charedim Avoid Secular Education in Chadarim and Yeshivos?

To understand the Charedi approach to secular education, one must first understand the Charedi worldview: Torah is not just our religion—it is our reality, our wisdom, our national mission, and our eternal heritage.

From Garage to Madison Avenue: The Lakewood Shirt Story That Stunned London Executives

In 2022, two high-powered London executives from Charles Tyrwhitt made a special trip to Lakewood, NJ, puzzled by one statistic they couldn’t ignore: nearly 20% of their U.S. shirt sales—about 100,000 shirts a year—were coming from a single “store” in this small town.

Are Charedim Anti-Zionists?

Charedim are opposed to the ideology of Zionism as a replacement for Torah—but no, Charedim are not anti-Jew, anti-Israel, or seeking harm to Zionists in any way. This distinction is critical: we reject the ism, not the people.

HaGaon Rav Dov Landau: “Only Torah Learning Saves Us—Zionism Has Brought Spiritual and Physical Disasters”

In a sweeping, no-holds-barred conversation filled with daas Torah, Maran HaGaon Rav Dov Landau, shlit”a, Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka and one of the generation’s foremost leaders, laid out his clear Torah perspective on some of the most pressing issues facing Klal Yisrael today.

What Is the Charedi View on Voting in Israeli Elections?

At first glance, it may seem contradictory: the Charedi community often voices strong opposition to the ideology behind the secular State, yet it turns out to vote in high numbers. Why? The answer lies in the distinction between participating in a system and endorsing it.

If Learning Torah Is Their Service, How Can Charedim Go on Bein Hazmanim?

At the heart of this question lies a beautiful misunderstanding. People see yeshiva students traveling during bein hazmanim, and they ask: “If Torah is your ‘army,’ how can you take a break?” But the premise itself needs reframing.

Overnight Raids Target Bnei Torah in Unprecedented Arrest Operations

At 1:45 a.m., a yeshiva bochur was taken from his home and transferred directly to a military prison. Less than two hours later, at 3:43 a.m., police attempted to arrest another bochur at his residence.

Is living under a secular Jewish government better or worse than being under a non-Jewish one?

On the surface, it may seem obvious: Of course it’s better to live under Jewish rule than under a foreign one. After all, aren’t Jews our brothers? Wouldn’t a Jewish government understand our customs, speak our language, and allow us to live more freely as Torah Jews?

How do Charedim Uplift Israeli Society Through Gemachim?

The word “Gemach” is short for “Gemilus Chasadim”, the Torah mitzvah of performing acts of kindness. A Gemach is not a charity. It is a community-run free-loan or free-lend fund—created, managed, and sustained by ordinary individuals for the sole purpose of helping others.

How do Charedim Uplift Israeli Society Through Chessed and Nonprofit Work?

One of the least understood—and most overlooked—contributions of the Charedi world to Israeli society is its vast network of nonprofit organizations built around chessed, emergency aid, health, welfare, and communal support.

Million-Man March in the Works as IDF Holds Talks With Charedi Leaders

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, preparations are quietly underway for what could become a historic “million-man march” to the homes of Gedolei Yisrael in response to the recent wave of arrests targeting bnei yeshiva.

Do Charedim Contribute to Israeli Society in Other Ways Besides Paying Taxes?

The Charedi community is one of the most giving, active, and self-sustaining populations in Israel. While public conversation often reduces “contribution” to army service or income tax, the reality is far richer.

What Is the Charedi View on How Taxes Are Spent by the State?

Charedim feel that not only are taxes collected from them unfairly, but they are often used to support values and systems directly opposed to the Torah. This creates both spiritual and ethical concerns that cannot be ignored.

Do Charedim Pay Taxes In Israel?

Charedim, like all Israeli citizens, pay multiple forms of taxes throughout their lives. These include indirect taxes, as well as direct taxes for those who work—of whom there are tens of thousands, especially among Charedi women and an increasing number of men.

How Would Opening the Workforce Earlier Economically Benefit Both Charedim and the State?

Let’s be clear: when thousands of capable, intelligent, motivated Jews are legally barred from working until age 26, both their communities and the country lose out on years of productivity, growth, and opportunity.

Why Don’t Charedim Participate Equally in the Workforce?

At first glance, critics claim that Charedim are choosing not to participate in the workforce, But such claims ignore one of the most crucial realities behind the numbers: In Israel, the State itself prevents many Charedim from entering the workforce before the age of 26.

What Is the Torah View on Supporting Those Learning Torah?

From the earliest pesukim of the Torah to the words of our Rishonim and Acharonim, the message is clear: those who enable Torah learning share in its reward.

Who Benefits More: The Charedim from the State, or the State from the Charedim?

This is a question often asked — sometimes in sincerity, sometimes with accusation. Critics of the Charedi community point to government subsidies, tax breaks, kollelim stipends, and social benefits and ask: *"Who is supporting whom?"

What Are the Practical Challenges of Full-Time Torah Learning, and How Do Families Manage?

The world sees a young kollel couple and wonders: How do they do it? Rent is high, groceries are expensive, tuition is crushing. And yet thousands of families across the globe dedicate their lives to full-time Torah learning with radiant joy!

How Does Torah Learning Protect Klal Yisrael?

The idea that Torah protects Klal Yisrael is not poetic license. It is one of the deepest truths embedded throughout our entire Torah—from pesukim in Tanach, to sugyos in Shas, to the writings of the Rishonim and Acharonim, and echoed passionately by every gadol in recent history.

How Is Torah Learning Seen as Benefiting Every Jew—Even Those Far from Observance?

In the worldview of Chazal, Torah learning is not a private act. It doesn’t just benefit the one who learns—it uplifts, protects, and draws blessing to the entire Klal Yisrael, even those who may not yet live according to Torah.

What Is the Charedi View of October 7th?

On Shemini Atzeres, 22 Tishrei 5784—October 7, 2023—the Jewish people awoke to a tragedy that shook the world. In the early morning, Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel, breaching the Gaza border and carrying out one of the most barbaric attacks in modern Jewish history.

What is the Charedi View on Yom HaZikaron?

The Charedi community mourns every Jewish soul lost in war or terror, regardless of the uniform they wore or the path they walked in life. While Charedim may not always express that grief through state-instituted rituals, the pain is real — and the love for every Jew runs deep.

What Is the Charedi View on Yom HaShoah?

For many Israelis—especially in the secular world—it is the central day of remembering the six million Jews murdered by the Nazis, often accompanied by themes of Jewish strength, defiance, and national pride.

What Is the Charedi View on the Phrase “Never Again”?

“Never Again.”Two words. Deeply emotional. Immortalized in Holocaust museums, shouted at rallies, etched into monuments.

What Is the Charedi View on the Holocaust?

The Holocaust—השואה—is one of the most unfathomable and devastating tragedies in all of Jewish history. Six million of our brothers and sisters were murdered, among them towering Torah giants, entire Chassidic dynasties, yeshivos, kehillos, children and elders.