Addressing the tzibur taking part in a hachnasas Sefer Torah in the Satmar Beis Medrash in Bnei Brak, the Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel Shlita addressed the effort to draft bnei yeshivos into the IDF.

The rebbe, who arrived last week, was briefed on the Shaked Committee and stepped-up efforts to induct chareidim into the IDF. The rebbe stated “it is time to declare war”, adding that from his perspective, we may not permit chareidim who are not learning to enter the IDF either for the atmosphere there is not one that is suitable for a ben torah.

The rebbe was harsh in his attack against the government, and in a pained voice stated we must be moser nefesh and we will never be cut off from the Torah way of life.

“The wicked of Israel gathered together to attempt to separate us from the Torah, להשכיחם תורתך ולהעבירם מחוקי רצונך…” the rebbe added, calling for total commitment and loyalty in light of the harsh gezeiros.

In his words against the government the rebbe added “We have endured so much in the years of galus; from the inquisition to Auschwitz, and our fathers and our father’s fathers taught us to be moser nefesh for the Torah HaKadosha. Whatever the outcome, the wicked will not succeed in cutting us off from our holy Torah and we will remain true with our 245 limbs and 265 tendons and not go chas v’sholom to a place where Am Yisrael is cut off from Torah…”

It is clear the rebbe is sending a firm message, a message of defiance and to follow Satmar’s example of cutting off from all dealings with the State of Israel.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)