Levi Schwartz

Do Charedim Pray for the Success of the State of Israel? Why Don’t They Say the Prayer for the State in Shul?

Do Charedim not care about the country?Don’t they want peace, prosperity, and protection for their fellow Jews?Don’t they appreciate the freedoms and opportunities available in the land?

What Do Charedim Think About the Return of Hebrew as a Modern Language?

The revival of Hebrew might seem like one of the great miracles of Jewish history. A language that hadn’t been spoken for 2,000 years was reborn as a living, breathing form of speech—in government, in school, in everyday life.

What Do Charedim Think of the Israeli Flag and National Anthem?

For many Jews, the blue-and-white flag stir deep emotions—expressions of Jewish pride, survival, and national identity. But when these symbols are met with coolness or even rejection in Charedi neighborhoods, it raises a question: Why don’t Charedim relate to these symbols the same way?

Was Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook’s zt”l Approach in Line with Our Mesorah?

Few figures in modern Jewish history inspire as much admiration in one world and concern in another as Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook zt”l. To some, he is a visionary prophet of redemption; to others, a sincere talmid chacham whose ideas ultimately diverged from the firm path of Torah mesorah.

Why Is “Mesorah” Such an Integral Part of Judaism?

Imagine a glowing flame passed from hand to hand, father to son, rebbi to talmid, generation to generation—never allowed to go out. That is mesorah. It is the heartbeat of Torah Judaism—the uninterrupted chain of truth that binds Har Sinai to the present day.

What Is the Difference Between Charedim and Religious Zionists in Their Hashkafa?

On the surface, Charedim and Religious Zionists share much: a love for mitzvos, a passion for Eretz Yisrael, a deep commitment to Klal Yisrael. But beneath these similarities lies a major point of divergence—how we understand the story of the Jewish people, our exile, and our redemption.

Is Zionism one of the 70 Faces of Torah?

Shiv’im Panim LaTorah”—But Not Shiv’im Paths Outside the Torah

Is Zionism Working?

Zionism began as a secular national movement in the late 19th century, spearheaded by individuals like Theodor Herzl, who believed that the only way for Jews to survive and normalize their status among the nations was to establish a sovereign state.

What Is the Torah’s Interpretation of the Three Oaths in Kesubos 111a?

If there’s one sugya that stands at the heart of the Torah perspective on Zionism and the Jewish return to Eretz Yisrael, it’s the passage in Kesubos 111a known as the Three Oaths.

Why Do Charedim Oppose Saying Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut?

But across the Charedi world, you will not find Hallel said on Yom HaAtzmaut—not in yeshivos, not in batei medrash, and not in Charedi shuls. And the reason is not a lack of gratitude or denial of the goodness Hashem has granted. It is, first and foremost, a matter of halacha.

What’s the Torah’s View on Liberalism?

"Liberal values" — as used in the modern West — include things like freedom of expression, tolerance, gender equality, personal autonomy, and non-judgmentalism. These ideals sound noble. But Torah Judaism does not judge ideals based on feelings or trends. It judges based on emes.

When a Charedi Sins, Is That a Contradiction to Being Charedi?

Why is it that when a Chareidi Jew stumbles or fails, it makes headlines? Why does social media erupt with cynicism and mockery? And why does it feel like our failures are used not just to shame us, but to delegitimize the entire Torah?

What Is the Torah’s View on Mocking Charedim and The Gedolim?

Publicly mocking Charedim—or worse, mocking their Gedolim and Rabbanim—is not merely bad middos or a chilul Hashem. It is, according to halachah, a severe issur with terrifying consequences for the individual, the community, and even the Jewish People at large.

How Have Chareidi Gedolim Built Bridges Without Compromising Torah?

The Chareidi world has never believed that standing for Torah means standing against people. Quite the opposite: our greatest Gedolim have shown us how to live with strength and compassion, with unwavering emes and overflowing ahavas Yisrael.

MK Meir Porush: ‘The Attorney General Is Pushing Israel Toward Civil War’

“We are approaching a situation of civil war in the State of Israel—between the chareidim and the secular public. This is all fueled by the Attorney General. She is the one driving this.”

Secret Bnei Brak Meetings Seek U.S. Intervention to Stop Arrests of Bnei Torah

Behind closed doors in Bnei Brak this week, high-level secret meetings took place between a special American envoy—representing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio—and the senior Gedolei Eretz Yisrael.

Mercaz Magen U’Moshiah: Standing Guard for Every Ben Torah

The persecution of lomdei Torah in Eretz Yisrael has reached a shocking new low. This week, six bnei yeshiva—whose only “crime” was dedicating their lives to Torah learning—were arrested and thrown into prison.

What Does “Toraso Umanaso” Really Mean, and How Is It Applied Today?

The phrase “Toraso umnaso” (תורתו אומנותו)—literally, “his Torah is his occupation”—is one of the most foundational and often misunderstood ideas in the Torah world. At its heart, it refers to a Jew who makes Torah study his full-time focus, his life's calling and spiritual livelihood.

Why Don’t Charedim View the State of Israel as the “Reishit Tzmichat Geulateinu”?

For many Jews, especially within the Religious Zionist community, the establishment of a Jewish government in Eretz Yisrael after two thousand years of exile was clearly the opening act of Geulah.

What’s the Charedi View on Ripping Down Public Israeli Flags or Stealing Them Off Cars?

A Jewish youth tearing down an Israeli flag from a lamppost or pulling one off someone’s car. For many Israelis, this feels like a personal attack—not just on a symbol, but on identity. And when it happens in Charedi neighborhoods, people naturally ask: Is this what Charedim believe in?

Do Charedim Value Living in Eretz Yisrael Even If They Are Not Zionists?

It’s one of the most misunderstood aspects of Charedi life: you see thousands of visibly frum families living in Yerushalayim, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, and Tzfas—learning, davening, raising generations steeped in Torah—and yet many of them do not identify as “Zionists.” So what gives?

What Does It Mean That Eretz Yisrael “Spits Out” Those Unworthy of It?

The Torah warns us in vivid language that Eretz Yisrael is not like any other land. It is not merely holy—it is sensitive. And when its spiritual expectations are violated, the land itself responds.

Is there a halachic precedent for avoiding military service in Jewish history?

Yes, there is clear halachic precedent throughout Jewish history for avoiding military service when such service presents a threat to one's spiritual life or Torah observance.

Can the State of Israel Really Force Charedim to Serve in the Army?

The State can jail tens of thousands. It can cut funding. It can try to isolate and punish. But it cannot—and will not—win a war against Torah.

What is the Charedi View on Protecting Their Cities — Including Carrying Guns or Doing Guard Duty Outside the Army?

When it comes to pikuach nefesh, the Charedi world — like all Torah Jews — takes it with the utmost seriousness. Chazal teach: “חמירא סכנתא מאיסורא” — danger is even more severe than prohibition. If there is a real threat to Jewish life, not only is it permitted to protect oneself — it is a mitzvah.

What Would Happen if No One Fought in the Wars?

We must distinguish between the ideal Torah perspective and the present-day reality that Hashem has brought about.

So Even If It’s Not a Milchemes Mitzvah, Is There a Halachic Obligation to Fight in the Wars?

Even if a war doesn’t meet the Torah’s criteria of a “milchemes mitzvah” — do we still have a halachic obligation to fight?

Are the Wars the State of Israel Fights Today Halachically Considered a Milchemes Mitzvah?

The question is not, “Should Jews defend themselves?” — of course we should. The Torah mandates that we preserve life (pikuach nefesh). The real question is: Does the modern State of Israel’s military activity meet the halachic criteria of a milchemes mitzvah — a Torah-commanded war?

Why Do Charedim Reject Sherut Leumi (Civil Service) Alternatives Too?

At first glance, national service alternatives — such as sherut leumi (civil service) — might seem like a solution for Charedim who do not serve in the army.

How Do Charedim Feel About Charedi Soldiers Who Do Join the IDF?

The Charedi world draws a clear distinction between the institution of the IDF, which it sees as incompatible with Torah life, and the individual Jews — even Charedim — who serve in it.