Levi Schwartz

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 Is It More Important Than Ever for the Charedim to Lead This Charge?

There are times in history when Klal Yisrael must find its voice — not to shout, but to shine. In a world swirling with confusion, polarization, and spiritual hunger, the time has come for the Charedi community — those most deeply bound to Torah and mesorah — to lead the way forward.

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?

What’s the Difference Between Eretz Yisrael and Medinas Yisrael in Charedi Thought?

To many outside the community, the terms Eretz Yisrael and Medinas Yisrael sound nearly identical. But in the Torah world, they represent two vastly different realities—one eternal and holy, the other temporal and political.

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.

What Is the Difference Between the Kedushah of Eretz Yisrael in the Times of the Beis HaMikdash and Now?

To a Torah Jew, Eretz Yisrael is not just a place on the map. It is a land imbued with kedushah, a spiritual essence that is unique and eternal. But does that kedushah change depending on the time period?

Companion Stories: The Bochur Who Escaped the Czar's Draft

In the late 1800s, during the reign of Czar Alexander III, a young yeshiva bochur named Mordechai Dov learned in a small Lithuanian shtetl. He was a metzuyan—a top talmid, diligent and pure. But his father, a poor tailor, couldn’t afford the hefty bribes required to keep his son off the draft lists.

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?

What Is the Definition of a Milchemes Mitzvah and a Milchemes Reshus?

In the Torah, war is not a secular or nationalistic decision — it is a halachic matter, with clear categories and conditions defined by Chazal and the Rishonim.

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.

Do Charedim have Hakaras HaTov for those that do serve?

Yes, the Charedi world absolutely believes in and expresses Hakaras HaTov — deep gratitude — for those who serve in the IDF to protect Am Yisrael.

Do Charedim Think Their Lives Are Worth More Than Those Who Serve?

There is no idea more false—or more painful—than the accusation that the Charedi world thinks their lives are more valuable than the lives of soldiers who risk everything for Am Yisrael.

More Stories & Testimonies: When the System Fails Our Youth

‘I thought I’d be around other Charedim. But it was all a façade. The commanders hated Torah. The guys mocked mitzvos. I didn’t have the strength to resist.’

But What About Charedim Who Can’t Learn Full-Time—Shouldn’t They Go to the Army?

“If the mitzvah of learning Torah full-time isn’t for everyone, and there are Charedim who aren’t learning seriously or at all, why shouldn’t they go to the army?”

Does Hesder Yeshiva Prove That You Can Both Learn and Serve in the Army?

From the Charedi Torah perspective, there are fundamental concerns—both spiritual and halachic—that cannot be overlooked.

Are Charedim Really Needed in the Army?

Every year, approximately 50,000–55,000 Jewish males become eligible for enlistment in the IDF. Of that number, only about 30,000–32,000 actually enlist. That means between 18,000–20,000 Jewish men do not serve in the army each year.

Is It True That the Secular Establishment Wants to Assimilate Charedim Through the Draft?

Yes—this concern is not just voiced by Gedolim; it has been openly stated by secular political figures and analysts who see conscription as a path toward social integration and cultural homogenization.

What Do the Gedolim Say About the Government’s Efforts to Force the Draft?

For the Charedi world, it is not just a political dispute—it is a gezeiras shmad, a decree aimed at uprooting Torah from Klal Yisrael.

Does Unity Mean We Must Compromise on Truth?

We are obligated to love every Jew, even those who are distant from Torah. But no, unity never means compromising on Torah truth.

Why is unity so important in Torah Judaism?

The very fact that we are warned about machlokes shows how destructive it is. Chazal say that the Shechinah cannot dwell where there is fighting and division

What is the Torah’s view on democracy?

Democracy, as we know it today — a government chosen by the people, based on majority rule — is not a concept found in the Torah.

What is the Chareidi View of the State of Israel’s Government — Is It Considered a Legitimate Authority?

From a Torah standpoint, legitimate rule over the Jewish People requires a foundation in Torah. As the Torah states in Devarim 17:15, a king must be chosen by Hashem, through a navi, and accepted by the people.