In a schmooze given to his talmidim, HaGaon HaRav Dov Yaffa Shlita, who serves as mashgiach of Yeshivas Knesses Chizkiyahu in Kfar Chassidim as well as a member of the Moetzas Gedolei Yisrael, the rav warns of the impending harsh gezeira, the ongoing effort to draft bnei Torah into the IDF.
“We are facing a very harsh gezeira, an effort to draft bnei yeshivos and avreichim into the IDF. It is not a simply mater that the Sitra Achra has such koach to combat kedusha, and it appears there is a major kitrug against us in Shomayim. Its goal is to integrate us in Israeli society and recruit us into the IDF chas v’sholom.”
“There are those who remain complacent, believing Toras Yisrael will not be forgotten as it is written לא תשכח מפי זרעו, but in reality, this is a fallacy for there are levels to לא תשכח and there may be individuals who continue studying and for them, Toras Yisrael will not be forgotten. We are not promised that today’s situation in which thousands toil to learn and study will not change. We must be extremely fearful that even if we are willing to be moser nefesh for limud Torah, willing to give up funding and even go to prison, there are those who will be tempted and they will not stand firm. The economic realities and temptation will win them over”.
The rav further explains that their entire existence is based on their share in the ongoing limud Torah and who can know what the impact will be if and when this Torah study is halted. “There are hundreds of millions of Arabs surrounding us, blood-thirsty, openly expressing their desire to wipe us out. Only the limud Torah provides us the right to exist. Who can know what will be without this?”
“Therefore, every one of us must strengthen קבלת עול תורה, which results in increased עול מלכות ועול דרך ארץ,” continuing with instructions for each and every individual to work to strengthen and improve himself at this critical time.
The rav completed by reminding talmidim we are in Adar, a time when we can emerge successful, a time when we can succeed in a war against the יצר, and today, in Adar, who have a special Siyata Dishmaya to prevail over the Yetzer Hora.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
“which results in increased” should read “in decreased”
The Torah will strengthen.
The Parshos relating the lives of the Avos, tell us all about Avrohom’s Shepherd Business, Yitzchok’s Agriculture Business, and so much detail about Yakov’s Shepherd Profession. But absolutely Not Even One Word about learning in Shem V’eiver.
Did the Avos learn? Of course, but why no mention? Because Yiddishkeit grows by bringing Rochniyus and Ehrlichkeit into a day of regular work.
If I understand this article correctly, what he’s saying is that לא תשכח מפי זרעו means that no yeshiva student can ever leave yeshiva EVER?
exactly right learn the way we should and hashem will help
We are dealing with modern-day Pharoahs, in the form of secular extremists, who are extraordinarily alarmed by the rapid growth of the Torah community in Eretz Yisroel.
Their new strategy is simple. Turn these Bnei Torah around by assimilating them into the secular culture, via the IDF. This was always the plan of Ben Gurion, who called the IDF “Beis Yotzer Ha-Umah,” the crucible of the secular nation.
So, once, again our dedication to Torah, our emunah is being tested, just as in every generation. We are being tested in Israel and we are being tested right here, in New York city by Mayor Bloomberg’s Gezeira against Bris Milah.
Yira you are a fool.
He has correctly seen the purpose of Israeli conscription.
The army has a manpower surplus and is reluctant to conscript large numbers of hareidim- in part since a multicultural military has less cohesion than one in which most soldiers have a similar social and cultural background. If the zionists were acting in good faith, they wouldn’t threaten prison for those who refuse, would rely on economic rewards to get recruits, and would be talking about expanding opportunties in units whose conduct is in accordance with halacha (in fact the opposite is occuring, even the super-zionist hesder units are under attack).
If they wanted Hareidim to freely participate in the Israeli economy (as do Hareidim in other countries), they would end conscription (as virtually all other western countries have done).
What גזירה? Is it aגזירה to request that 25 percent of 18 year olds are not exempt simply because they choose to go to yeshiva? Now don’t get me wrong! I am not in favor of drafting בני תורה . But this comes across as shrill rhetoric that won’t accomplish much for the cause of תורה. People are entitled to a different opinion. There must be a better way to present the argument for learning תורה.