What Is the Chareidi Approach to Those Who Don’t Yet Keep the Torah?
The Chareidi world views every Jew—no matter how distant from Torah observance—with infinite love and unshakable hope. We do not call them “lost,” “lesser,” or “outsiders.” We call them “Acheinu Bnei Yisrael”—our brothers and sisters. We see them not with judgment, but with yearning.
Because even if a Jew doesn’t yet live according to Torah, he still belongs to the Torah.
The Soul Never Forgets
Chazal teach:
“ישראל אע"פ שחטא—ישראל הוא.” “A Jew, even if he sins, is still a Jew.” (Sanhedrin 44a)¹
Even if his hands are far, his neshama is close. Even if he mocks mitzvos, deep inside, there is a pintele Yid—a spark of holiness that never dies.
The Zohar says:
“No matter how far a Jew goes, he is always connected to the Shechinah.” (Zohar III:70b)²
Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l: See the Neshamah, Not the Clothing
Rav Aharon Leib once said about secular Jews:
“You see jeans. I see a neshama.”³
He explained that even when a Jew is far from Torah, he still has a portion in Olam Haba—because of the potential within him. He urged his talmidim to avoid labels, and instead see eternal worth in every Jew.
Rav Shmuel Wosner zt”l: The Pain of Distance
Rav Wosner was once asked how to feel about secular Jews who oppose Torah values. He answered:
“You cry for them. You daven for them. You never hate them. Hatred is not our way. Pity and prayer are.”⁴
Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l: Be Mekarev with Emes
Rav Moshe wrote that even in an era where many Jews are far from mitzvos, our task is not to attack—but to inspire:
“We do not win hearts with anger. We win them with truth, love, and patience.” (Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah 1:158)
He added that kiruv (outreach) should never mean diluting halachah—but it must always be accompanied by derech eretz and warmth.
Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul zt”l: No Jew Is Ever Truly Far
The Rosh Yeshivah of Porat Yosef would often weep in tefillah over the state of the Jewish people. He once said to a talmid:
“A Jew can forget the Torah. But the Torah never forgets him.”⁵
He explained that kiruv rechokim is not about dragging people back—but about helping them find what is already inside them.
The Rebbe of Skver zt”l: You Can’t Hate What You Want to Save
The Skverer Rebbe built a community with high standards, yet was known for his gentle conduct toward non-observant Jews.
Once, a chassid criticized the Rebbe for being too kind to a secular politician. The Rebbe answered:
“You can’t be mekarev someone with coldness. Torah is a fire. If you have it, they’ll feel its warmth.”
A Chareidi Jew’s Mission: To Be a Light
The Torah says:
“ואתם תהיו לי ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש.” “You shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Shemos 19:6)⁶
This means we are meant to shine—not just for ourselves, but for the entire world, and especially for our fellow Jews.
The Rambam says:
“Each Jew must view himself as if the world depends on him.” (Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4)⁷
The Chareidi world believes that keeping Torah is not an act of elitism—it’s an act of service. We don’t think we’re better—we think we’re more responsible. We’re holding the torch, but it belongs to all of us.
But We Don’t Compromise Torah
Ahavas Yisrael doesn’t mean bending halachah. Our love does not translate into halachic leniencies. As Rav Elazar Menachem Man Shach zt”l said:
“Love every Jew. But remember—truth is not cruelty. And lies are not kindness.”⁸
True unity means loving every Jew, while remaining loyal to Hashem’s Torah.
Why It Hurts When They Reject Torah
We do not hate those who do not yet believe—we hurt for them. Because we know what they’re missing. We know the joy of Torah, the sweetness of mitzvos, the closeness to Hashem—and we want to share that light.
Conclusion: We’re Not Better—We’re Brothers
The Chareidi approach is this:
- Every Jew is holy—even if he doesn’t know it yet
- Every Jew belongs—even if he feels far.
- And every Jew matters—because the Torah was given to all of Klal Yisrael.
We don’t look down. We look forward—to the day when all of us return home together.
Footnotes & Sources
- Sanhedrin 44a – “Yisrael af al pi she’chata, Yisrael hu”
- Zohar III:70b – Connection to Shechinah never broken
- Heard from Rav Aharon Leib by talmidim, published in Pe’er Hador
- Rav Wosner, Shevet HaLevi responsa, Vol. 10
- Chacham Ben Zion Abba Shaul, quoted in Ohr L’Tzion, Vol. 3
- Shemos 19:6 – “Kingdom of priests and holy nation”
- Rambam, Hilchos Teshuvah 3:4 – Every person can tip the world
- Rav Shach, Michtavim U'Maamarim, Vol. 1