HaGaon HaRav Moshe Yehuda Schneider, who is the chavrusa of Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita, announced on Wednesday evening 26 Marcheshvan that “The Rosh Yeshiva said ‘We knew in chutz l’aretz there were the goyim, the Polish and Russians that hated the Jews and now, we see that in Eretz Yisrael it is even worse – there are the Arabs that hate the Jews so much’. Here Maran released a heart aching terrible sigh and did not address the questions we asked him but simply sighed and said ‘Hashem Yerachem’”.
Rav Schneider continues – “A few weeks ago a terrible tragedy took place and we asked Maran how to console the family and he did not respond but just sighed and sighed. One of the talmidei chachamim got up the courage to ask ‘Is there something that we can say to them’ and the Rosh Yeshiva responded ‘When one does not know what to say one do not speak’ (אז מעווייס נישט וואס צו זאגן, זאגט מען נישט).
Maran was also asked to explain what is meant when we say “It was B’rachamim”, which is the term the Rosh Yeshiva used after hearing of the tragedy. The Rav responded “Without rachamim it would have chas v’sholom been far worse”. When asked about those who escaped with their lives the Rav said ‘every bullet has an address’ (עדער קויל האט אאדרעס). Rav Shteinman added ‘One should not think that Yerushalayim is more dangerous than elsewhere for one requires Rachmei Shomayim in every location and he gave a bracha to all (‘אללע יידישע קינדער’) should be safe going and coming לחיים ולשלום’.
“The Rosh Yeshiva was harsh in his criticism of those who visit Har Habayis. When some present suggest that the tragic events are due to those who visit Har Habayis Rav Shteinman responded ‘it is because of the avreira of visiting (פאר די עבירה וואס מען גייט אריין)’ and he continued explaining that even though those killed [in Har Nof] did not visit Har Habayis and they were truly Yiras Hashem, tzaddikim must pay the bill for the transgressions of the generation”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
“אללע יידישע קינדער לחיים ולשלום”
AMEN!!
” Staying silent” is good eitza for the YWN commentators who want to criticize the gedolims psak. They actually think they know better than Rav Chaim, Rav Kaniesvky, Rav Yosef, and Rav Eliyashav.
Of course we should not ascend the Temple Mount..Not only the distinguished hareidi gedolim have said such, but HaRav Kook and his son, HaRav Tzvi Yehudah, the gedolim for the Religiuos Zionists gave the same psak.
However, The Arabs only look for any excuse to mount terror attacks, they already planned it. just like in the time during the 2nd Intifada, when PM Sharon went into the Temple Mount area, they used it for an excuse. In reality, the plans for starting the Intifada were already in the works.
One should not ignore the psakim of all the gedolim but don’t let the Arabs have an “excuse” for their infamy.
Pardon my chuztpah, but the Rosh Yeshiva’s searing reaction to the tragedy is not a public statement. His feelings are holy and Torah’dik, but he was not issuing a press release. He is highly circumspect in his public words.
I doubt he approves of his every reaction being publicized. Its no mitzvah to publicize everything…
It is not surprising to hear a statement by a Gadol confirming the thought that when Jews go into holy places
where they are not meant to be, so do Arabs…
RE 3. (tirtza)
He was not giving an excuse for Arabs. He said “for the aveira.”
Now, this aveira happens to make the Arabs angry,
but that’s not what he was talking about.
(By the way, “infamy” means “being famous for a bad reason.”)