Are the same thoughts aroused when talmide yeshivot hesder fall during a battle protecting the State of Israel. Or is this different because they are not learning at that particular moment? Is their action less kadosh? The fact that they are, by their act, protecting those talmidei yeshivat Toldot Aharon or Yeshivat Mier.

I would appreciate a response from anybody.

“Mark - You are correct, though I think that’s because there’s much less surfing going on in the Hareidi world.”

Instead of assuming something that isn’t the case, why not go by what we know. There isn’t a single blog that I’m aware of whose raison d’etre is to demonstrate Hareidi superiority over MO or whose overarching theme is to highlight every flaw in the MO system. I can think of numerous [even "respectable" one] that do the reverse.

I’ve spent my entire life in the Hareidi community and there is hardly discussion of the MO world, let alone to dismiss it or prove anything. It comes up occasionally and there are definitely strong opinions about our differences but this obsession with Hareidi inferiority that is found on Jblogs from the MO world, has no counterpart in the Hareidi world.

If you really want achdus, lowering the shrill tone of those blogs would be a very good place to start.

And Dr. Gewirtz, I know Rav Soloveitchik meant reason #2 as a joke, but I’m sure he knew that Yerushalmim are not so sentimental that they wouldn’t cash the check. There is an acropyphal story about the Yerushalmi who was collecting money. Someone gave him an $18 donation with the comment that 18 is the “gematria” (numerical value) of “chai”, life. To which the Yerushalmi responded, “If you would give me an amount equal to ‘meesa meshunah’ (an unnatural death), I wouldn’t be bothered in the least.”. [For those keeping score at home, the "gematria" of "meesa meshunah" is 806.]

Re: #5 by Mark: You are correct, though I think that’s because there’s much less surfing going on in the Hareidi world. In fact, those surfing from the Hareidi population would tend to be those least extreme in their community. But it is true that the feelings are not just one way. There are, of course, differences, but ultimately it has to be mutual. As I heard from Rabbi Lamm, one has to say “mipnei hataeinu”, not “mipnei hataeihem”.

“If we would all focus on what we agree on, rather than what we disagree on, the Chareidi space would be a kinder gentler, place.”

I would dare say the same is true for the MO world. Last I checked the number of blogs decrying the Hareidim from the MO world far outnumbers the reverse. If this so longed-for Achdus will ever be achieved, it will have to be a dual effort.

RESPONSE TO MERCAZ HARAV KILLINGS: PRACTICAL AND REAL ACHDUS
I appreciated your message in response to the Mercaz HaRav that we frum yidden must all get together and unite with a true achdus. I’d like to suggest practical ways to achieve this.
We all give much lip service to achdus. But what does it mean practically? How do we make it real? Why is it that we find these achdus statements made when we face tragedy but not when things are rolling along fine? Do we really want achdus? If we do, we need to appreciate Mercaz HaRav, Yeshiva University , and the Mizrachi section of Klal Yisrael even when not facing tragedy.
Whether we as Charedim agree with their shitos in everything should not make us feel distant from them. We agree on 98% of hashkafas HaTorah. I am not minimizing the importance of the 2% we disagree on but we should focus much more on the 98% of things we agree on. How else are we going to achieve real achdus?
We should have more joint events with Charedi shuls and Mizrachi shuls coming together. Our leaders should embrace their leaders, despite the differences.
If we want to live with achdus, the pesicha of the Netziv to Bereishis is required reading. He says the reason why the churban bayis sheini happened is because people called each other apikorsim even if they disagreed on a halachic or hashkafic issue that was nowhere near apikorsus. The Netziv says that the Avos are called Yesharim because despite having to deal with a Lavan, an Esav, a Pharoah, an AviMelech, etc. they treated them with respect. All the more so, he says, when it comes to fellow frum yidden (who agree with us on 98% of issues-additional point from this writer).
We have to stop all the bitul, all the calling of each other apikorsim, all the negative vibes against frum groups one to the other. We must focus one what we agree on, and we agree on most things!
Fellow readers, please try to organize activities, lectures, workshops, chesed drives, etc. where all shuls, no matter Mizrachi or Charedi, can come together. Ask your Rabbanim to come together with the other group’s Rabbanim. These are the only ways we can live with a true achdus.
Sincerely,
A Charedi Jew

There is much Torah and Mitzvos in the Chareidi/Yeshivish/Chasidish world to be very proud of, but there is also just so much disrespect and Sinas Chinom to another Yid, just because he/she doesn’t follow the same…,

If we would all focus on what we agree on, rather than what we disagree on, the Chareidi space would be a kinder gentler, place.

The Rav said c) on an ordinary day. One learns more from the every day than the extraordinary. The opening paragraph in Tzidkas hatzaddik, teaches a similar point in differentiating the extraordinary Pesach mitzraim from the ordinary pesach Dorot.

It is truly sad that the issues that you list in the second paragraph as well as many others (science/evolution, infallability of chazal on non-halkhic matters, etc) over which voices are yet more strident, issues debated for as long as they have been relevant, are not acknowledged as such. They need not and cannot be resolved - they need to be transcended.