Rav Shlomo Gottesman, the editor of Yeshurun, went to the home of Rosh Yeshivah HaGaon HaRav Meir Tzvi Bergman in Bnei Brak on Thursday night as a representative of US Roshei Yeshivos.
Rav Gottesman asked the Rosh Yeshivah whether bochurim who are currently in the US but were planning to come to Eretz Yisrael to learn for the winter zeman should go ahead with their plans or remain home in light of the current war. Additionally, he asked whether bochurim who are already in Israel should remain in their yeshivos or return home.
The Rosh Yeshivah asked for time to consider the questions and close to Shabbos, he sent a letter with his teshuvos.
“Since we are unaware of what will unfold, the bochurim who are still in Chutz L’Eretz should wait a number of weeks and shouldn’t come to Eretz Yisrael until matters become clear. But they are obligated to be makpid to establish for themselves regular learning sedarim, tefillah, and mussar, wherever they live.”
Regarding bochurim who are already in Eretz Yisrael, the Rosh Yeshivah wrote: “The bochurim who are already in Eretz Yisrael should remain in their places of learning in the yeshivos hakedoshos. And they should greatly increase their chizzuk in diligence in Torah and in greater hakpadah on their sidrei limmud, tefilla and mussar.”
“And it’s unnecessary to say that they shouldn’t wander around outside at night, chalilah, and the zechus of the Torah HaKedoshah will protect them and us, as Torah protects and saves.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel shlita said all bochrim should go to EY to learn now immediately He further said there is no question even they all should return to learn NOW in their respective yeshivs
FYY the El AL flights are booked now this week Bh with many bochrim returning to Brisk and other yeshivs , and many ungerlite are returning now this week
The proper translation is that they shouldn’t wonder outside at all. No mention of night or day. (the word חלילה probably looked like בלילה to the translator)
I heard that HaRav Elya Ber from Fallsberg said everyone should go back to Israel to learn
Rav Elya Ber specifically told an American bochur who asked, to stay and learn in the USA and NOT go to E”Y until the situation there settles.
I thought a main purpose of the yeshivos was to protect Israel during war through their zchus of learning. Isn’t that why we believe they shouldn’t enlist?
What a horrifying thing to discourage a Jew from going to Israel 🇮🇱. I am truly shocked to the core.
The Chazon Ish told Reb Nosson Tzvi in 1948 that he should return to the states because his mother was worried. He was already a chosson. He said if a mother is worried, that takes precedence when ruling. The concern today is that American yeshivos need to accept these bochurim lest they fall Chas veshalom. Will they?
Some of these comments….
Learning Torah anywhere protects klal Yisroel as a whole, both in chutz le’arentz and Eretz Yisroel; Bachurim don’t need to physically be in the proximity of rocket barrages to learn and protect the yidden in Eretz Yisroel. We are still in galus and until Mashiach comes we aren’t required to encourage yidden to learn in an environment that is mamesh a sakanah n’fashos even if the actual land has more kedushah.