Story One:

Upon that occasion, Maran told me a story that perfectly illustrates his true attitude towards Agudath Yisroel. I told the story at a meeting of the International Executive Committee convention which took place before the Fourth Knessiah Gedolah, the first one which took place in Eretz Yisroel (in Jerusalem). I also repeated this story before thousands of people at one of the national conventions of Agudath Israel in America.

When the Third Knessiah Gedola convened in 5697 (1937) in Marienbad, Maran was spending a vacation there. He seemed greatly perturbed. One day, the Admor of Sokolov approached him and asked why he look so worried. Replied Maran, "I truly am concerned and I will tell you why.

"During these days, the Aguda convention is taking place. They are dealing with the question of partitioning Eretz Yisroel between the Arabs and the Jews [as was planned by the British mandate government]. I am afraid that they will not make the proper decision according to daas Torah, and this gives me no peace. [I, myself, do not recall what Maran's exact position was on this question.]"

The Admor of Sokolov began laughing and said, "Do you really think that the position settled upon by Agudath Israel at the convention will make any decisive difference? Even the considerations of the much bigger Zionist movement, which has influence in various important circles, are not taken into account. The British will decide according to what is most pragmatic and expedient for them. What status does Agudath Israel have in their eyes? Will a handful of beis medrash Jews carry any weight with them?"

Replied Maran, "You are mistaken. The final decision will hinge on what is decided upon at the Knessia Gedola, and we have specific proof for this in Sanhedrin 26a. It says there that when Sancheriv laid siege to Jerusalem, Shevna and his political faction within the city maintained that they should make peace with the enemy, that is, to surrender without a fight. King Chizkiyohu did not want to surrender. Shevna composed a letter and sent it outside by arrow to Sancheriv in which he stated that he and his faction wanted to surrender, whereas the king was against it.

"When Chizkiyohu learned of this, he was fearful that Hashem would uphold Shevna's position since the latter had a majority who sided with him. Along came Yeshayohu Hanovi and said: Do not assume that Shevna's majority of people can offset your opinion, for what the wicked maintain has no validity against what the righteous think. Their opinion is not taken into consideration in Hashem's decision since they are wicked.

"By the same token, Hashem does not reckon with what the gentiles think and decide, as it is written: `Take counsel together and it will come to naught.' Hashem disregards the nations, as well as the Zionists and what they think. Hashem ignores the freethinkers and the heretics for they are all wicked and do not count. Rather, what is discussed and decided in the Knessia Gedola — that is part of what constitutes a count, the minyan. And if the majority of the chareidim, of the upright, arrives at any given decision, you should know that that is precisely what Hashem will reckon with and consider. And that is why I am so concerned; I pray that they be privileged to have the heavenly assistance to make the true and good decision according to daas Torah."

Maran concluded by saying to me, "I regard the movement so highly precisely because it was established in order to uphold daas Torah. And if I am critical, it is not because I am not an Agudist, but because I know what Agudath Israel is supposed to represent."

Story Two:The True Aim of Zionism — to Uproot Yiddishkeit

Maran spoke to me many times at length about the danger of the Zionist movement and the State of Israel. In this context, he explained several times that the purpose of the Zionist movement and of the State was to uproot religion from the Jewish people and to transform it into a nation like all other nations.

I told him (as I have already written, I was permitted to ask questions whenever I didn't understand something and indeed, I spoke with Maran openly because I truly wished to understand his words in the clearest way possible and he acquiesced and was even pleased to elaborate) that if that is what he maintained, I believed him and accepted what he said, and that his view on the matter would serve me as a cornerstone for our outlook.

Still, I found it difficult to understand his words. In my humble opinion those who had conceived the Zionist ideology simply wanted power. There is a natural desire for power shared by all nations and political leaders. The reason why they fought against religion, I posited, was because they feared our numbers; they didn't want us to have a deciding voice that would get in the way of their dominance. (And we do see in our times that the chareidi public is a factor to contend with by dint of its numbers.) That is the only reason why they are opposed to religion. But to say that their very credo, their ultimate purpose, is to uproot religion — that I found difficult to digest.

One time after I stated this opinion, Maran rose to his full stature and said, "R' Shlomo, I see that you are unable to accept my view. Believe me, if it were permitted I would put on a tallis, don my tefillin, and swear that the truth is exactly as I state it!"

If that is the case, I said, then I most certainly believe Maran even if I personally cannot understand why you maintain it to be so.

Story Three: The Zionists — a Band of Robbers

Maran's battle against the Zionists and the Zionist establishment was not any less uncompromising and extreme than that of Neturei Karta. But he employed different tactics. Maran considered the Zionists to be a band of thugs and not idealists, and as such, there was no point in engaging in ideological dialogues with them.

Maran's words to Neturei Karta regarding their demonstrations are often quoted. "Would you have dared demonstrate against the government in such a manner back in Russia? Why, you would have feared for your very lives! Why then, here, in Eretz Yisroel, do you demonstrate against the Zionists? It just goes to show that you believe that the Zionists wouldn't treat you as the Russian government would have. If so, then in your heart of hearts you are no more than Zionists, yourselves . . ."

Only once did Maran participate in a demonstration against the government. This was at a protest against Sherut Leumi, national service for girls. The Torah leadership of the time had ruled that this issue fell in the category of "Yehoreig ve'al ya'avor — Rather die than transgress." His participation was only after he ordered special guards be appointed to see that order prevail during the demonstration.

23-Aug-05