As one of the many "Chareidi Zionist" friends of the National Religious camp, I feel that I have to cool the flames of sibling rivalry into the warming embers of brotherly love.

We should be concerned that our divisiveness causes Him distress.

Parents are greatly distressed when the children whom they love squabble. Certainly, at this time of year, when we refer to HaShem as "our Father," we should be concerned that our divisiveness causes Him distress.


The National Religious camp is frustrated that the Chareidim - who appear to lean politically to the right - sometimes appear to enable the left-wing to harm the values of the right-wing. Many angry accusations are hurled at the Chareidim, and they are accused of prostituting themselves and selling out for their own selfish reasons.


What is the difference between the generic Chareidi Jew and the generic member of the National Religious camp? Both groups value the Torah and obedience to the mitzvot above all else. So, where do the two groups differ?


It is all a matter of priorities. The Chareidim view themselves as the protectors of the Torah and spirituality in Yisroel. Chareidim view the Land of Israel as a very, very important part of Torah, but do not regard the very important mitzvah of living in the land as absolutely and exclusively supreme. The National Religious Jews prioritize their value system somewhat differently, giving the mitzvah of Yishuv HaAretz, living in the land, a value that overrides almost everything else.


The difference of priorities is the source of the friction between the two groups of Torah-observant Jews. The Israeli system of government forces parties to compromise many of their most important ideals for the sake of their own survival. Since the establishment of the State, both the National Religious parties and the Chareidi parties have been forced into extremely painful compromises, compromises that have caused much pain to themselves and have profoundly distressed their fellow observant Jews. This is terribly painful, comparable to having a limb amputated in order to save one's life.


In both the USA and in Eretz Yisroel, I observe the growing respect of the majority of Chareidim for the National Religious. Even though there is disagreement on some major issues, the Chareidim appreciate the depth of Torah observance evident in much of the

It may be the will of HaShem that within the Torah-observant camp there should be various approaches.

kipah-serugah camp. In a recent stay in Eretz Yisroel, I heard a group of Chareidim admire and praise the dedication of the talmidim of a Hesder Yeshiva.


Just as the Jewish People are made of twelve shvatim (tribes) with different natures, so too, it may be the will of HaShem that within the Torah-observant camp there should be various approaches.


May we do teshuvah (repent) for the arguments between the shvatim - by respecting one another in spite of our differences of opinion - and may we keep our arguments within the realm of intellectual Torah discussions. By doing so, we will bring pleasure to Avinu Malkeinu, our Father our King; and may He have mercy on us and grant us the coming of Mashiach, speedily, in our days.