Like every year, the Israeli flag flew from the roof of the Ponevezh Yeshivah on Wednesday, Israel’s 72nd Yom Ha’atzmaut.
The minhag was set by the Ponevezhner Rav, Hagaon Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, z’tl, who established the yeshivah in 1944. Rav Kahaneman viewed the declaration of the State of Israel as a nies and Hashem’s plan. He felt that the state of Israel contributed to helping Jews feel proud of being Jewish and served as a deterrence to assimilation.
Rav Kahaneman also refrained from saying Tachanun on Yom Ha’atzmaut. However, after his passing, the yeshiva resumed saying Tachanun although they did continue the minhag of flying the flag.
Sadly, this year, the yeshivah is currently completely empty as Israelis sit at home under a national lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
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Below are pictures of a Yom Ha’atzmaut ceremony at the Bnei Brak municipality almost 70 years ago:
"תיערך חגיגה בהשתתפות ילדי תלמוד התורה ובית יעקב": תמונות יותר ממדהימות. חגיגות יום העצמאות ברחבת עיריית בני ברק לפני קצת פחות מ-70 שנה. pic.twitter.com/MEEP054y8a
— 🎈kobi bornshtein | קובי בורנשטיין (@kobi_bornshtein) April 29, 2020
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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5 Responses
I was disturbed and pained to read:
“Rav Kahaneman also refrained from saying Tachanun on Yom Ha’atzmaut. However, after his passing, the yeshiva resumed saying Tachanun although they did continue the minhag of flying the flag.”
The Ponevezhner Rav, Hagaon Rav Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, z’tl, founded and established the yeshivah in 1944, ran around the world collecting money for the yeshiva, and gave his guf and neshama for it.
It was his yeshiva, yet after his passing the yeshiva ignores a custom he intentionally instituted and take on an outside custom to begin saying tachnun.
It makes no difference that I oersonally say tachnun on Yom Ha’atzomos. It matters not that many shuls and yeshivos say tachnun that day. It doesn’t matter if you hold of the State of Israel or not.
What matters here is that a yeshiva disrespects the principles of its founder. I wonder what message this sends out to the students? Will these students keep the principles of their Rosh Yeshivos after the RY passes?!
Like I said, this disturbs me and pains me.
Hakaras Hatov is coming back in style.
They stick out their feet to show everyone “I am kosher”, I fly the flag, I gave split hooves.
But, internally, they do not chew their cud, they do no say tachnun.
This is the despicable conduct of the swine. Fakery is in style
I wonder of any of the bochurim even saw the flag on the roof. It would be great if they would put up a flag pole outside of the Beis Medrish building and fly it there.
Dr E: Why would they do something they dont believe in? The only reason its even on the roof is because it was once a requirement to receive government funding for the yeshiva.