“I’m not afraid that a left-wing government will cut the budgets for yeshivos and kollelim,” said HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilbestein, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Rav of Ramat Elchanan, as quoted by the Yated Ne’eman on Sunday.
HaRav Zilberstein explained that Hakadosh Baruch Hu made a bris with Bnei Yisrael on the kiyum of the Torah and therefore if the funds don’t come from the government, they’ll come from another source.
“My main concern is the fate of the Jewish nation, the fate of our lost brothers, who after all are our brothers, our flesh, who will no longer have the great privilege of supporting lomdei Torah,” HaRav Zilberstein said. “Since the establishment of the state, all its residents who pay taxes have the zechus of supporting the budgets for yeshivos and kollelim.”
“This tremendous zechus of personally supporting Toras Yisrael has protected all residents and the entire Jewish nation. But now that they’re declaring that they’ll stop this support, all the residents of the state, the taxpayers, will lose the zechus of upholding the Torah, and of this, I’m very afraid.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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12 Responses
Because he’s a good Jew. See? I didn’t need to read the article.
And if the rather sizable frum anti zionist crowd would vote this would never have happened.
Translate into plain English: I’m afraid we will lose $$.
That’s a silly argument to convince people the left wing is insane. Best stick to pointing out the Left’s infatuation with a “2 state solution” and coddling terrorists.
Does it work the opposite way? I hope not!
Do I get a חוב for paying taxes which supports abortions or acts of toeivah
With all due respect for the Rov;
in Kidushin 40b Reish Lakish says that if someone is ‘Tohe al Harishonos’ (he regrets having performed mitzvos) he has no merits for them; so if someone is forced to pay money to support Torah , but he does so against his will, and when he gets a chance to refuse he does so, why should he have any merits all together?
everybody sleeping, no comments
This Rav spoke very nicely and to the point.
It really makes a lot of sense.
His comment is petrifying for the following reason:- Implies that anyone say living in a liberal state like NYS where taxpayers’ money is utilized to fund schools to teach children about alternate life style [amongst other topics which cannot be mentioned on this forum].
I hope Rabbi Zilberstain reconsiders what he said, otherwise according to his line of reasoning, we NYS taxpayers are in very bad shape.
147:
yup.
I wonder how he relates to the positions of the Satmar Rav and the Brisker Rav that by accepting money from the heretical Zionist regime, Torah mosdos give that regime merits that delay the coming of Moshiach. He’s a Gaon and I’m sure he has a well thought out answer, but I haven’t heard it and would like to know what it is.
I understand the need for government support and even miracles in difficult times after WW2 .. but now –
yeshivot who over the years raised so many outstanding students who excel in torah vDerech Eretz should have no problem raising funds from the grateful alumni and their families.
A related story – when a new prime minister Menachem Begin offered to pay fully for yeshivot, R Schach stopped happy members of knesset from accepting. He suggested accepting partial government support and keep their private fundraising alive in case there will be another government that will take the funds away.