Our Soldiers Are the Holiest of the Holy

For Source Sheets: www.theyeshiva.net/jewish/9198
What Should Be Our Relationship to IDF Soldiers?
Is Hakaras Hatov a halachic requirement, or just a nice thing to do?
Do we just feel gratitude, or do we need to say “thank you” or more?
Historically, did the Gedolim show Hakaras Hatov towards the soldiers of the IDF?
Why have a few Roshei Yeshiva said they are concerned about showing gratitude?
If Torah learning protects, why does Israel need an army?
Does the Israeli army enable those in Yeshiva to learn? Do those learning in Yeshiva enable the army to have military success?
Rabbi YY Jacobson addresses these questions on the Halacha Headlines podcast Hosted by Rabbi Ari Wasserman, on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Vayechi, 18 Teves. 5784, Dec. 30, 2023
This is an excerpt of the podcast. The full podcast also includes Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb - Rabbi in Ramat Beit Shemesh, Director of Tzalash tzalash.org/
& Rabbi Doniel Haymann - Rosh Kollel, author of Hakaras Hatov L’Halacha with Rabbi Joshua Friedman - founded of Israel Select thechesedfund.com/israelselec... & Clip from Rabbi Baruch Rosenblum - educator, author, and popular magid shiur. To listen to full episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
To sponsor or dedicate an upcoming class click here: www.theyeshiva.net/donate
To watch more classes & to read Rabbi YY's articles visit: www.theyeshiva.net
Follow Rabbi YY Jacobson:
KZbin: / rabbiyyjacobson
Facebook: / theyeshiva
Instagram: / yyjacobson
Twitter: / yyjacobson
Linkedin: / yyjacobson
Telegram: t.me/RabbiYY

[@RabbiYYJacobson]

Thanks so so much. It means so much to me. Your feedback and comments are so empowering and encouraging. Same to you with all the blessings. To the parents of the IDF: we are in owe of you and your children. You are the best and greatest. We are thinking of all of them and praying for all of them - our brave heros. We love you!

[@thunderstorm6616]

😂😂😂😂Holy holy😂😂😂

[@3chars]

Probably the best presentation on the subject you'll find anywhere. Should be required listening in all yeshivos. Thank you, Yasher Koach

[@cheryllrebello4005]

God bless the IDF. Brave and heroic men and woman .

[@letfreedomreignhonk324]

Im not Jewish and I dont understand why the world doesnt see that the IDF is ridding the WORLD of evil.

[@listerutube]

As a mother of an Israeli soldier , currently serving on the Lebanese border. He is so connected to Hashem and is usually in Yeshiva in Yerushalyim. My son and daughters have been to more Lavayot of soldiers in the past 3 months than I have in my lifetime. Classmates and friends. The pain is unbearable and we all walk round with very heavy hearts. However to have the achdus we all long for we also need a mind change to enable us all here in Israel to thank our bochurim in learning as we need them more than ever now to bring us the blessing we need to protect us and our wonderful soldiers.

[@choyayahyah]

May Hashem protect your son and all our Jewish soldiers fighting the evil to protect us Jews all over the world!

[@letfreedomreignhonk324]

Please know there are many people throughout the world praying for your son and all the IDF soldiers. Many feel helpless or don't know what to do.

[@yechezkelgorelik9336]

This should be mandatory for every Jew to listen to

[@jossbernstein9440]

Rabbi YY Jacobson Shlita teaches us that Ahavat Yisrael and Hakarat HaTov are so fundamental to our Yiddishkeit, especially in these times of Existential War against Klal Yisrael

[@jossbernstein9440]

Shkeiach Rav YY Jacobson, thanks for such wonderful Divrei Chizuk!

[@geraldkaplan3627]

Powerful words of perspective and clarity. Thank you Rabbi

[@margaretbenhamu7784]

As a mother of a soldier - thank you Rabbi YY. I keep saying that we are looking at all the Achdut in Israel and admiring it from afar- but it hasn’t come here. We aren’t united in achdut like they are. It makes me so so sad

[@SHyoutube.]

Dear Margaret, thank you from the bottom of my heart for raising a Hero, who is willing to put his live at risk to protect his people. Prayers to his safe and victorious return 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏✡✡✡✡✡

[@joangane4339]

My heart goes out to you daily. I pray for you to have strength and faith to hold yourself together. Yes, your child is on the front lines, but you to are in a battle daily.

[@choyayahyah]

May Hashem watch over your son and all our family fighting the evil to protect us Jews all over the world!

[@bernieslasky5511]

Absolutely brilliantly put .. A must lesson for every “ frum “ person who may be a bit confused

[@dufusbladderbuss9968]

Thank you Rabbi for your encouraging words and teaching. Recent quote from a IDF Major: As Jews, we certainly believe in miracles, and that G-d always makes a way in the wilderness. Yet while we believe in miracles, we don’t rely on them. We realize we have a duty to help our fellow man, and that G-d has equipped us for action. We pray as if it all depends on G-d, but we work as if it all depends on us.

[@raeannwexler3016]

I wanted to cry with YY. It’s hard to comprehend how any Yid can have apathy (or worse) not have anything but love and compassion for our soldiers. I would further say that almost even more so for soldiers who weren’t blessed to come from a home nurtured in Torah and mitzvahs. For these men and women to have complete self sacrifice without the benefit of the understanding that we might have is even more remarkable. I am a physician and would do anything that I could 10:46 for ALL of the Defenders of our People and Land. Thank you all for your Holy Service.

[@jossbernstein9440]

We have to show love for our fellow Yidden in the Combat Zones and in the Beis Medrash

[@metropolitanfurniture1085]

Rabbi there is not enough words for what we owe to the IDF , all our prayers for them and each family, of this beautiful neshamot, all am israel needs to grow in the achdut, and Ahavat israel, we only have us Jews in the world, nobody wants us , that’s why we have only H’ , thank you Rab for remembering us, everyday of our lives

[@Macabi-fp5gg]

Rabbi YY always brings clarity coupled with sensitivity. Thank you

[@shlamushaaretz5357]

Thank you for your moral clarity Rabbi YY

[@marchess286]

I look forward to watching this. I don't know what answers the rabbi will give but I appreciate him offering answers.

[@YaakovWMusic]

Thank You ❤

[@b2tz7g]

Those that you are refering to, should go and visit our young, beautiful injured soldiers who have lost limbs, eyesight and on life support machines and suffering injuries. Its utterely devastating to witness. As a mother with a son fighting in Gaza, thnk you Rabbi Jacobson.

[@SHyoutube.]

Thank you for the moral clarity. Its mind boggling to know there are jews with such disturbing views

[@joangane4339]

At times, teachers bring their own emotions into their teachings. So I really appreciate the fact that you are not afraid to call out those that have very limited views of the world. I believe that each and every person who puts their life on the line to protect another should be held in our arms, thoughts, prayers each and every day.

[@avremiperl1394]

thank you rabbi jacobson, i love you and every sinle yid, keish echod beleiv echod❤

[@choyayahyah]

I learned in the mainstream yeshiva system including BMG. Thankfully, i haven't heard any of this negativity since Oct 7. Of course I've heard the negativity prior to Oct 7 and I've always defended Israel even though I don't necessarily agree with the people in charge. I honestly don't understand how anyone who has any sort of historical context going back to literally at any point in history, how they could not support Jewish sovereignty over Israel? Even great gedolim! And I know their reasoning but it still makes no sense to me. Furthermore, the soldiers in Israel are not only protecting our family in Israel but all the Jews around the world. The world is full of Jew hatred. What do people think will happen in America if Israel didn't exist? Eventually, or it maybe would have already been that they will at best exile us or murder us like they did in the holocaust. And it was the world not accepting the Jews for 60 years that led up to the holocaust

[@isaacrodri2280]

Mexico Stands with Israel! My prayers to IDF and may HaShem blesses and protects them! Am Yisrael Chai! I💙🇮🇱 and God's Chosen people who are unique and special! I'm proud to say it from my heart. I worked for and lived with a Jewish person. I cared for him medically for about a decade. I was always referred by him as a brother and part of family. His passing was very painful and traumatic. Like October 7, 2023 was extremly painful and i will never forget the massacre. I feel privileged and chosen by HaShem that he is the True God it is a blessing from HaShem that I am now today a believer of Judaism and Torah. I'm grateful to HaShem Abba Adonai! Thank you HaShem! Am Yisrael Chai 💪🇮🇱💪😊💙😀🇮🇱🙌✌🙏🏼✡🕎🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌🕯🙌

[@malkeborow]

It’s not either or. Either you learn torah or you’re a soldier. Plenty of our soldiers are yeshiva bochurim or avreichim who put down their Gemarad to go fight.

[@AvaParnass]

Thankyou for always teaching brilliantly 🎉

[@chaimbochner7474]

Rabbi: Thanks for the focused discussion and rebalancing our values to shake us up a little. If I may add: To invalidate what other Gedolim believe on this subject and in general, the different opinions on Eretz Yisroel, is Torah and we shouldn't question it when based on truth and care. however, no matter what excuse you have, at a time like this when our enemies are targeting ALL yidden; not only certain divisions in Israel, it's unheard of and unprecedented what's going on with criticism on Israel. My father told me how at times like these, specifically '67 (before your and my times), the Bobover Rebbe was crying like a child and the Tachanun was unprecedented! I remember how this same tzaddik at the time of '91, when Iraq threatened Israel, at seudas shelushes (in Bobov one of the most serene times; the rebbe wouldn't utter a syllable that was not part of the zemiros), asked his son in law: I'm concerned what's going on in Israel now! Think about it: He could wait a bit, after the zman, but his heart and kedusha, couldn't fathom any pain in klal Yisroel! ISN'T THIS A LESSON FROM OUR GEDOLIM FROM THE PREVIOUS GENERATION??? I just don't remember EVER at any time, Gedolim should c"v use negative words against any yid... My rebbe was brought up with strong anti Zionist views, but almost never (95% of the time), talked about this subject and also cried along that our brothers are nebech so lost. This was even in times of NO war! Oh veh... Such angels and tzadikim I knew, were so sensitive and I'm not seeing it today; nebech. I miss my rebbe for this itself. It's also important Rabbi Jacobson (maybe More than anything), to repeat non stop that if we look at our Gedolim as just idols that happen to live with us but are totally aloof from us, not approachable, not human, we risk to NOT learn from their avodah. We need to realize that they were at a higher level than us, but were human like us but toiled day and night to perfect themselves! When we just say: well, don't try to understand or he's a malach, we miss the point and it's actually dangerous. I see this everyday as our children aren't interested in understanding the ways to the fullest because they don't realize the sacrifices the Gedolim made. Am I on target? In reality: This is a genuine and 100% a powerful yetzer horah and SITRA achrah that's trying to sow hate so we don't learn and daven for our soldiers and brothers in suffering. It's obvious because bh ashreinu when I see and hear the hurt and heart every yid feels for another. No matter if he lives in Brooklyn, monsey, Israel, or Timbuktu. Yet, the yetzer is so much trying to divert our feelings towards yidden suffering and fighting to protect us. We need to realize it's a ploy and we need to undercut S"A and bring kedusha back by loving every yid. Rabbi, I couldn't say it better than you but I'm just putting my hurt on this issue to cry along with the klal. I'd like to hear opinions though. Growing means allowing for criticism! Yasher Koach.

[@renaberman3355]

So much this!!! 1 million percent!

[@mubltraji534]

wow! exactly what i needed to hear! SO powerful!

[@sholompraver4348]

When we realize אחות/Brotherliness across our Israeli spectrum, we may actualize our role as לאור גוים/A Light Unto the Nations who may also learn to look beyond superficial differences, an see the צלם אלוקיי/the Divine Image in every human being.

[@smartypantsinc.gameon6978]

I wish I was standing right beside you, Israel God be with you as he is with I❤️🇮🇱❤️

[@chanihadad6614]

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

[@isaacbalbin232]

Excellent. And אהבת ארץ ישראל too.

[@shoshanabloom8669]

Am sad to tell you that here in Israel many of the lone soldier some from Frum families who have rejected them 😢😢😢😢🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱

[@josephgerard5473]

On this subject, I heartily recommend a track I discovered by accident (it appeared in my 'recommended' feed) by a British band called UNIT. The track is A Tribute To The Israeli Defence Force and it is excellent - tuneful and forceful without being bombastic combined with a lovely lyric. I know next to nothing abou the group but on investigation I see they've recorded a whole batch of Jewish related tracks such as Pesach, Yom Kippur, Bar Mitzvah, Israel Is Real, The 613 Mitzvot and probably others I son;t know about yet. Some of them feature Rabbi Moshe Bryski which is definitely a recommendation in itself.

[@BenGru]

Thank you Rabbi yy for your sincere love of each and every jew. I totally agree with everything you said. For a Jew who sincerely has ahavas yisroel, this is not even a question. Those who have such questions, must ask themselves what Hillel meant

[@OSHIR36]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@sba9375]

They’re not holier than any person that learns and dedicate his day to Torah. Don’t care what Mr. YY has to say I trust HaRav Avigdor Miller!

[@raversmash]

The fact that you need a YY Jacobson to articulate this point is....

[@radiushadariah9010]

holy cow

[@nechmark4778]

Also see Maharsha Pesachim 118 that if they would have made peace with the Romans and also if Tzidkiyohu Hamelech would have made peace with Nevuchadntzar, the Beis Hamikdosh wouldn't have been destroyed.

[@succatash]

I've always looked at it this way and I'm not very religious. If you truly believe that Hashem anointed the Jews as his chosen people and that makes them holy. Then its your duty yo protect what Hashem has deemed holy. So, if one child of Israel is in danger, you have an obligation to protect that child or person. Not sure if this is the right way or not. But it's what I've used to guide me. Amazing presentation. Just remember the Gedolim hador rabbi Shemaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky served in the IDF during the war of independence.

[@nechmark4778]

Please explain why Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai went to meet Vespasian and told him that it's the biryoninm who are waging war. From what YY is saying, the biroynim were right to wage war?

[@powerofseven10]

It would be ideal it every soldier could learn and every one who can learn could soldier. This is how it was in the days of King David. Nahal Haredi and Hesder units provide the environment for more observant Jews to serve. If the demand is there the supply and size of these units will increase.

[@alizak770]

Before the establishment of the State, the Chabad Rebbes were against forming the State - like many Rabbis - with good reason. The birth of the State was murky in a lot of ways. Murky being a gentle way of saying it. Our Rebbe took a seemingly different point of view from the previous Chabad Rabbes once the State was established. The establishment of the State was new, and Our Rebbe's approach may have seemed new, but it was an adjustment to the new circumstances without contradicting the previous values. Since there were so many Jews living in Eretz Yisroel, Our Rebbe was supportive of protecting Jewish lives... as per the Shulcan Orech. So he supported the actions of the State as far as protecting Jews, but he did not support Zionism. Even today, his Chassidim do not fly the flag, do not sing the national anthem, and do not acknowledge Independence Day. The Rebbe always referred Eretz Yisroel or Eretz HaKodesh. He did not use the new name given by the Tzionim. In this way Our Rebbe gave us guidelines as to how to remain opposed to Zionism, and yet regard soldiers with respect and love. It is a unique perspective... based on Ahavas Yisroel, the Halachos of pre-emptively saving Jewish lives, and basing Jewish right to the land according to the first Rashi in the Chumash. With this perspective, Chabad Mitzvah Tanks, have gained the trust of the army, and they can pull up to army bases about to go into battle. Our Rebbe's Tankistim bringing Tefilin and Coca Cola. Something for the body and something for the soul. Before going into battle, the IDF soldiers - no matter what their usual level of Torah observance - line up to put on Tefilin - without coaxing.

[@WrennWrenn]

21:11 powerful vort from the Gra

[@Hershy_18]

@30:30

[@sandycheryl]

If it so clear in halacha and Jewish history that self-defense is not just allowed, but mandatory, then why are the chareidi yeshivot still not encouraging their bochurim to enlist? Why is the blood of tzioni yeshivot ok to spill, but not chareidi blood?

[@gabyfriedlander8637]

Exactly. I really cannot understand how chareidi rabbinim can ignore or explain away very simple halacha. Tinokot shenisbu for sure

[@randomtux1234]

i thought there was only one place on earth called the holy of holies

[@lechiarsanukaev1459]

AM ISRAEL 🇮🇱 CHAI 💙🇮🇱💙

[@gabyfriedlander8637]

I would like to understand how the Chareidi community justifies not going to the army when its basic halacha. Is Chareidi judaism still true to Torah mitzvot and values? Tinnokot shnishbu for sure

[@andrewsubir6516]

👍❤️👍❤️🇮🇱🙌

[@MichaelSmith-qc7nk]

Hannibal Directive & *(SAMSON OPTION).

[@stevenkabatznik147]

What should be one's attitude to people who identify with the Palestinians. Justifying them and blaming us

[@andrewsubir6516]

👏👏👏👏👏❤️👍🇮🇱🙌✡️

[@yosefkowalsky3004]

Thanks!

[@PrettyGoodLookin]

You are ignoring The 10 Commandments !!

[@yosefkorn]

Have you ever tried talking to a satmar chosid about israel, is like talking to a brick.

[@marchess286]

"brick" is too kind

[@impeachbiden5003]

Holy? 😂😂 You obviously haven't watched IDF Tik Tok videos

[@earthman808]

All those books, and ZERO wisdom to show for possessing them.. Your 'holy' soldiers are the devils playthings, and will be the death of your nation for 'They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they will have no insight.'

[@JstAnotherUTuber]

IDF follows the orders of MIRDERERS!!! 🇵🇸 God Bless Palestine 🇵🇸

[@delwarhussen3041]

free Palestine now

[@Belugacrip]

Come on Rabbi, I had so much respect for you. Condoning IDF soldiers who have killed thousands of Palestinian children is a whole new level of low. You have lost me with this one.

[@dw6782qr]

Excuse me...... but that's not what he is doing......

[@reneelillquist839]

The soldiers are not killing them on purpose..don't be stupid.

[@choyayahyah]

Are you for real?

[@molivson]

Don't pretend that you actually listen to these lectures, Ahmed

[@Belugacrip]

@@reneelillquist839 would you like to change your mind about that after the evidence presented to the ICJ shows that they acted deliberately and are heading the way of Genocide.

[@yosefkowalsky3004]

לא הביישן לומד. So every question must be asked. On the other hand. How dumb can you be? Why drink water God provides all? Read the Chumash Read Nach. Did anywhere it say Stay and learn. No .The tanach is full if Hashems Military army. People use your brains . The militzvah of milchemet Mitzvah falls on EVERYONE. חתן יוצא מחופתו