(PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

It was not a fire drill at the Mir on Tuesday, 3 Tammuz, but a drill summoning all talmidim to report to the yeshiva for a surprise inspection. The rosh yeshiva and rabbonim were walking around as the talmidim had to register with mock state inspector, preparing them for a true inspection which is carried out time-to-time by the Education Ministry.

The yeshiva expects another inspection in the not-so-distant future.

Talmidim were caught off guard with the inspection conducted after Purim, near the end of the zman. However, after explaining it was near the end of the zman and many talmidim are already preparing for Pesach.

A yeshiva attorney had to send a letter in order to have state funding to the yeshiva released. Ultimately, yeshiva officials were promised the inspection would not count and another would take place. yeshiva officials expect this to occur soon, and they decided to preempt with a drill to permit rabbonim to prepare talmidim for the real inspection.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)