In responding to numerous questions that have been posed to Rabbonim over the past few days, which then made their way to Hagaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, the Gadol Hador stated that parents should send all children to schools and Yeshivos.
HaRav Kanievsky even went so far to say that children should be sent without any special permission to stay home. “There is no such thing as special permission to neglect Torah not even for a single day.”
BChadrei Charedim reported that he even sent a special letter to Roshei Yeshivos and the heads of Chadorim telling them that the responsibility is on their shoulders to ensure that no student stays home in order to protect their own spirituality.
The Gadol Hador also instructed that his words be publicized and reprinted in order to reach as many people as possible before schools open tomorrow.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
As my earlier comment on this was not allowed through, let me ask the question I raised there slightly differently – perhaps this phrasing will meet YWN’s standards.
Can someone please explain how this pronouncement from Rav Chaim, Shlita, fits with his earlier statements that someone who does not follow the instructions of the health authorities is a Rotze’ach? If all the Yeshivos and Chadarim are following the health authorities’ guidelines, then all’s well and good, but I don’t see any caveat in the report saying “Return to Yeshivos and Chadarim, provided all necessary health arrangements have been made”.
an Israeli Yid
The article doesn’t provide a link to the letter but I assume the Rav said that all students should return to Yeshivos only if it is safe to do so and the schools have taken the required steps ordered by the Health Ministry to address Covid infection concerns. Otherwise, it would make no sense if the schools have not adopted the required upgrades for social distancing, air filtration etc. or if the student was living at home with an elderly relative or someone with a compromised immune system.
i assume only under the strict government regulations. God forbid, to think otherwise, that must be made CLEAR