Following the High Court of Justice decision declaring the Tal Law illegal, an emergency gathering was held on Sunday night, in the home of HaGaon HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman Shlita at 5 Chazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak.
Chareidi MKs were present as well as Meir Porush, and Shas leader Minister Eli Yishai. In addition, HaGaon HaRav Yosef Efrati and HaGaon HaRav Shimon Badani were also there as well as HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Katz, rosh yeshiva of Chazon Nachum in Bnei Brak.
While it was uncertain if he would attend, Deputy Minister of Health Rav Yaakov Litzman was there, and he called for achdus, explaining the key to this is total cooperation between Yahadut HaTorah and Shas. It was decided to adopt this approach, and the two parties plan to present a unified front against any and all attempts to draft avreichim against their will.
Reports from person who attended the event stated the gadol hador had harsh words for Israel’s secular High Court of Justice. “Without Torah study we have no zchus to exist. Torah is the pillar of the Jewish People’s life” Rav Shteinman is quoted as saying.
Everyone who attended spoke briefly, and according to media reports, Rav Shteinman spoke of the “most important event since Har Sinai”, seemingly highlighting the urgency of the issue at hand, an effort by the nation’s court to eliminate draft deferments and compel over 60,000 avreichim to enter the IDF.
Prior to adjourning, it was stated that there would not be a compromise and those sitting in beis medrash learning Torah would continue to do so.
MK Rav Moshe Gafne emerged from the gathering saying there is no fear of a cessation of Torah learning, stating confidently Torah study would continue.
Kikar Shabbat reports that in an effort to evade the media, Deputy Prime Minister Eli Yishai entered the rav’s home via a window. It is also pointed out that MK Rav Yisrael Eichler received a bracha from the Belzer Rebbe Shlita ahead of the meeting.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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13 Responses
This is what we get for compromising and accepting “Nachal Chareidi,” computer training programs, etc. – gezeiras shmad.
Time for all lomdei torah to get up and leave israel –
#2-no, it’s time to continue to learn Torah in EY.. leaving EY will just put it in ruins..It’s time to protest!
Right #2, lets all leave. Brilliant solution; though of it all by yourself?
Kolemes: Great idea! What THEN will protect us?
kolemes: I think that the great majority of Israelis would be quite happy to see the back of fifty thousand people (and more)who-according to them- do not contribute to the welfare of the land. As they say, “beware of what you wish”
Reply to No. 1
I understand how participation in the Nachal Chareidi Brigades might be an issue for a small percentage of Chareidim but under what possible logic is getting some computer training through which these yungermen might earn a parnassah a problem for anyone??
Reply to No. 2
Where would they go? Do you think they would have an easier time in Eastern Europe? Argentina? South Africa??
Or how about some middle ground. 10% sit and learn and remaining serve since when does everyone avoid the army. I don’t think that was the case with Dovid Hamelech
Kolemes; that is exactly what Rav Shach z’ztl if they draft one person the yeshivas will leave Eretz Yisrael. The economy would fall.
Eretz Israel needs its B’nei Torah learning IN Eretz Israel. The charedi community never bothered explaining the Israeli population that Talmud Torah is essential to the existance of the yishuv and it is a guarantee for the kium of the yishuv. We come across to the regular Israeli as a nogoodnik and a burden. We must explain, and believe me, there will be people who will want to hear and believe, that the learning of Mir Yeshiva’s 6000 talmidim is worth to the defense of Eretz Israel more than a tank division.
How about a national Chesed program for those who are not enlisted in the IDF? Donate 3 years to a National Chesed program.
These are some items to include:
1.Twice monthly blood donations for IDF soldiers
2.Twice monthly ‘Bikur Cholim’ squads to entertain, learn and converse with hospital patients
3.Learn and tutor children in need
4.Certain of hours of volunteer work for Yad Sarah, Hazon Yeshayua, Lev Achim, etc.
#8, that is exactly right; but right now what percentage are learning? When the whole country is charedi, there will certainly be those who will not be shayach to full-time learning and will serve in the army instead, but that’s not the case now.
#7, I was referring to an army program that provides computer training. The army is very proud of it because it kills two birds with one stone: it takes the yungerleit away from Torah and gives them an incentive not to return to it after they are discharged. As for parnassah, that is for their FIL or future FIL to provide.