A Reply to a Threat

One of the heads of the Mizrachi movement in the United States sharply criticized the Rosh Yeshiva for belonging to Agudas Yisroel. “Ramim must keep a distance from politics,” the man claimed, and he even threatened to harm the yeshiva financially. In a long and remarkably penetrating letter, Rav Yechezkel Sarna set out what amounted to an explanation of the aim of Torah Jewry in Eretz Yisroel.

“Regarding the claim that ramim must keep a distance from politics and not involve themselves, directly or even indirectly, in the intricate problems of politics, I must wonder. That is what the secular say. The secular always tell the rabbonim not to interfere in politics, even when the rabbonim come to mend the breaches of religion. Do you really believe that all the issues of Mizrachi and Aguda are nothing but politics? If so, I would advise you, although you are not ramim, to distance yourselves from politics and spend your time learning a few pages of Gemara each day.”

He replied to the threats pleasantly, with the blend of refinement and resolve of a true leader. “I cannot refrain from telling you how sorry I am about your threats which, translated from diplomatic rhetoric into plain speech, mean: ‘If I do not change my ways, you will deprive the yeshiva of its source of sustenance.’ But I stay away from fear, for were I a coward I would not be where I am today. The yeshiva hakedosha is maintained by miracles, every day a new miracle, and those who head yeshivos are not afraid of the future. Were that so, there would be no yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, cholila.

“I am not frightened by your threats, because I do not think you are in the category of chayovim, of those through whom a chov of such immensity is brought about, and I regard all you have said as mere prattle. I am not sorry about the threats, but about those who make them. I am sorry they have reached so low a level. Let me ask you: whom are you threatening? Is it my yeshiva and not yours? Is the value of Torah measured only by narrow party lines? Such thinking may be compared to that of one who said, ‘If you do not do what I want, I will turn off the lamps which glow in the city during the nights and provide light for its residents.’”