Amid escalating tensions in the chareidi community following a wave of protests, road blockages, and confrontations involving extremist groups, Ponevezh Rosh Yeshiva Rav Chaim Peretz Berman delivered a forceful message rejecting violence and emphasizing that Torah study remains the only true source of strength for the Jewish people.

The remarks were made during a meeting with leaders of Lev Shomea, a support and guidance organization, who visited the Rosh Yeshiva ahead of the publication of the organization’s special summer edition to seek guidance on the challenges facing the community.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of widespread public outrage over recent demonstrations, including the verbal and physical harassment of Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg by a small group of extremists. In recent weeks, calls to “show them our strength” have become increasingly common among fringe elements seeking to push the broader chareidi public into direct confrontation with state authorities.

During the discussion, Lev Shomea chairman Rabbi Eliav Miller described sentiments being voiced by some members of the public.

“There are those who say we should go to war against them, block roads, and show them our strength,” Rabbi Miller told the Rosh Yeshiva.

Rav Berman immediately challenged the premise.

“Show whom?” he asked.

When Rabbi Miller replied, “The secular public, the government,” the Rosh Yeshiva responded sharply.

“What is important about showing them that? What will we gain by doing it? That we will become like them. They are not going to be afraid of us, and the truth is they are stronger than we are. They can pass laws denying daycare, denying us housing, and they could even ignore cars that kill chareidim…”

The Rosh Yeshiva then offered a lengthy analysis of historical persecution, citing the Ramban’s famous explanation of Pharaoh’s strategy in Egypt. He noted that Pharaoh did not openly attack the Jewish people but instead used legal and indirect methods to oppress them, gradually escalating his decrees while maintaining a veneer of legitimacy.

Drawing from the Ramban’s commentary, Rav Berman described how Pharaoh avoided overtly ordering the mass killing of Jews, instead creating conditions that enabled persecution while preserving plausible deniability.

He continued by applying that historical lesson to contemporary realities.

“Prove it in court, and they’ll deal with it — murder!” he said, quoting the Ramban’s description of Egypt. “When the king’s restraints were removed, the Egyptians searched homes, entered at night in disguise, and took children away. Do we have any power against this? Who are we? Did Jews anywhere in the world ever have the audacity to go against the government? To start fighting them, to say ‘we’ll show them,’ ‘we’ll defeat them’? Any rational person understands that we do not have the power to confront them.”

Those present said the Rosh Yeshiva appeared to view modern governmental and legal institutions as possessing immense power that cannot be effectively challenged through street protests or demonstrations.

Toward the conclusion of the meeting, Rav Berman turned to what he described as the spiritual and emotional damage caused by violence.

“The only power we possess is the beis medrash, to learn Torah. We have no other power. Yaakov is compared to a worm, whose strength is only in its mouth. And in addition, if the choice is between defeating them but becoming like them — a violent, coarse, aggressive society — or remaining refined people with good character traits, then we have no desire to become a violent and powerful society.”

The Rosh Yeshiva also issued a pointed warning about those who embrace violent tactics.

“If the ziknei Yisroel are not worthy to lead in this matter, then this is the sin of the ma’apilim. As we see, the Aron Hashem did not move from the camp. Those who adopt violence become violent. They end up arguing with bus drivers at bus stops. They lose their sanity, and the wise will understand.”

Rav Berman further cited a passage from the Gemara in Rosh Hashanah describing how Rabbi Yehudah ben Shamua and his colleagues responded when the Roman government issued decrees against Torah study, circumcision, and Shabbos observance.

Rather than resorting to violence, they sought advice and ultimately staged a public demonstration. Rashi explains that they cried out in the marketplaces and streets so that government officials would hear them and be moved to compassion.

The Gemara records that they called out: “Are we not your brothers? Are we not the children of one father? Are we not the children of one mother? If so, why are we different from every other nation that you decree such harsh decrees against us?”

“These were the slogans of Chazal’s protest,” Rav Berman emphasized. “And the Gemara concludes that the decrees were abolished and that day was established as a day of celebration. We see a fundamental principle: when Chazal speak of a protest, its purpose is to create empathy, to awaken compassion, to cause the authorities to understand the pain of the Jewish people and have mercy upon them. When compassion and understanding are achieved, decrees can be repealed and difficulties can be overcome.”

{Matzav.com}