While Ehud Barak succeeded in ousting the Har Bracha Hesder Yeshiva from the Defense Ministry’s hesder network, its rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Eliezer Melamed continues on his path, steadfast, clinging to his values, placing halacha ahead of IDF dictate. He is followed by his talmidim and other hesder students and soldiers, some serving prison terms for their defiance.

On motzei shabbos, a melave malka was held in their honor outside the IDF’s Prison Six in Atlit, where talmidim of the rav are serving their sentence for refusing to comply with orders to join another hesder yeshiva after Har Bracha was ousted. They are refusing, explaining Rav Melamed is their rosh yeshiva and Minister Barak cannot change this.

MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Prof. Aryeh Eldad was on hand, as they held the banner “We are all Har Bracha”, sending a clear message of support for the soldiers and one of defiance to Ehud Barak.

Ironically, as has been proven over and over again during recent decades, the hesderniks remain highly-motivated dedicated soldiers, but when pushed to the limit, ordered to defy their rosh yeshiva, they drew the line; one that they explain remains the ultimate loyalty, to Hashem and his Torah.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)