Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Yisrael HaGaon HaRav Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi Shlita addressed the recent save of tragedies R”L that has befallen the Torah community of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael. The talmidim in the Bayit Vegan yeshiva were shocked to learn of the injuries sustained by their friends in the accident on Monday on their way to the Dead Sea. One of the talmidim, the driver, חזקיהו אריה לייב בן טובה, was very seriously injured when their vehicle flipped over and he was transported in an Israel Air Force helicopter to the trauma center of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Yerushalayim. Doctors continue fighting to save his life and he is in need of Rachmei Shomayim as CPR was performed on him on Monday night, the eve of 27 Shevat 5774.
When Rav Ezrachi, who is a member of the Degel Hatorah Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah, heard of the accident, he stopped the seder and decided to give a chizuk schmooze in which he explained this latest accident is part of the chain of tragedies that has struck the community of late.
The rav stated that leaving the yeshiva today is “sakonos nefoshos” adding “as one of our talmidim is lying in the hospital bed HKBH is judging our limudim and our Torah and we must strengthen our limud Torah”.
“It is forbidden to leave the yeshiva, not even to return home, for what is taking place outside is mamosh sakonos nefoshos.”
The rosh yeshiva spoke of the miracle as well, the fact that the chavrusa of the very seriously injured driver was planning to go with them in the same vehicle but the talmid’s father instructed him to remain in yeshiva – explaining one does not break from seder limud to take a vacation in the middle of a zman. He adhered to his father’s words and remained in yeshiva.
Magen David Adom Avi Richter reported that they received the call for an overturned vehicle on Highway 90 near Zohar Junction in the direction of the Dead Sea. When they arrived they saw five injured people, four of which were ambulatory. The 20-year-old driver was trapped in his seat.
The tzibur is asked to be mispallel for:
חזקיהו אריה לייב בן טובה בתוך שאר חולי ישראל
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8 Responses
It is extremely difficult to judge when a Talmid/Bochur needs an airing out or a break in order to continue with his seder hayom.
Maybe Hashem is trying to tell us that we should be fair and shoulder the burden with army service.
It makes no sense when people try to play God, and “know” exactly why things happen.
It isn’t about playing. Hashem about trying to stem the tide we are all guilty of making too many excuses to waste time never before was the so much time off from ye Shiva. We have come to expect that its normal to take off so much time
THE RAV SAID NOTHING WRONG. STOP DISREGARDING EVERYTHING IN JUDAISM. HE’S JUST TRYING TO BE MECHAZEIK AS WELL AS GIVE SOME DIRECTION AND HOPE TO A DOWNTRODDEN AND LOST KLAL YISROEL. ALL WE HAVE LEFT IS THE TORAH HAKEDOSHA!
To the 2nd commenter. We have plenty of precedent. That bitul torah causes problems and simply leaving yeshiva in the middle of the zman and theb something rl happens to that person does beg for aome type if
Comment
You can be MECHAZEIK through Torah Hakedosha without denigrating some airing out time.
Yira, is He also telling us to worship the idol Baal?
There is nothing “fair” about conscripting observant Jews into the Zionist acculturation (read: shmad) organ that is the IDF, which anyways doesn’t want Chareidim.
Unlike what you wrote in your last line, your post illustrates why one must view the world through the Torah’s lens, not through the lens of whatever political nonsense happens to be in vogue.
The Rav clearly had the best of intentions in trying to be mechazek his talmidim in the face of a seemingly non-stop series of tragedies befalling the klal as recently reported in the media. In reality, though, any review of accident and mortality statistics compiled by various government agencies show that these anecdotal reports do not indicate a substantial increase in such events and that mortality and serious injuries from auto accidents, fires, etc. have substantially declined in recent years as the cars on the road are safer, homes have more fire alarms, etc. The rav’s admonition to learn more may have independent standing, but don’t tell all the bochurim to sit at their shtenders 24×7 out of fear of the tragic consequences that may befall them if they venture outside for some relaxation and recreation or to visit friends.