A kol koreh signed by the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudas Yisroel, the Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah of Shas, and the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah has called upon Klal Yisroel to rise in protest against the renewed gezeirah of forced conscription.
The letter, issued Tuesday, describes the situation facing Am Yisroel as “a sha’ah kashe — from within and without.” It warns that the threat of drafting bnei Torah into the army is an existential assault on the very kiyum of Torah and mitzvos. “Our strength and our protection has always been the Torah ha’kedoshah,” the gedolim wrote, declaring that “the Torah is what has sustained us through all generations of galus.”
The gedolim decry the government’s insistence on pushing forward its conscription agenda despite the grave spiritual danger it poses. “They are seeking to tear bnei Torah away from the daled amos shel halacha, to uproot lomdei Torah from the yeshivos and kollelim, and to endanger the existence of the Torah world.”
In response, Chareidi leaders have announced massive protests for this Thursday. Police have already approved demonstrations in Yerushalayim, Beitar, Tzefas, Haifa, and Kiryat Gat, with coordination underway for additional cities.
“This is the time to cry out in tefillah and rachamim, to show before Hashem that the Torah world stands together in defense of Torah and lomdei Torah,” the gedolim wrote. They urge every member of Klal Yisroel to participate in these demonstrations as an expression of kavod haTorah and hiskashrus to daas Torah.
The gedolim further urged bnei Torah and yeshiva families to strengthen themselves in limud haTorah and tefillah during this eis tzarah. “With the zechus of Torah, we will continue to exist and endure against the nations of the world and against all who seek to weaken us.”
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5 Responses
Chazak v’ematz! Don’t be deterred by our treasonous Brothers who don’t respect talmidei chachamim and call to abandon learning and go fight for a country that the Attorney General kisses terrorists and punishes learners! And the Supreme Court nazis behind her how dare anyone go and serve them? Nobody even irreligious should serve such a treacherous government, nothing to do with religion. To serve a place that lives to serve the enemy is counter productive
Instead of “We refuse to serve an army for the sake of the Zionist religion”, switch to a positive: “We will continue learning Torah for the sake of the Jewish people”.
The rallies should feature deroshos from those saved from the Ramot terrorists, saying with emunah sheleimah that the armed soldiers and civilians who ran to engage the terrorists (rather than run away) played NO part in the outcome, that the terrorists were neutralized.
Those who engaged the terrorists with gunfire were nothing more than freierim, for it was the koach haTorah, and only the koach haTorah, that saved the other passengers. The survivors should openly say that they REFUSE to thank those who responded with guns and with running TOWARDS the shooters.
And they should also denounce the taxi driver who risked his own life to lead his elderly haredi passenger to safety. (Another freier, to their mind; he should have pulled out a gemara instead.)
There should be a written statement from this woman that she as well will not thank or acknowledge this taxi driver, as he as well deserves neither thanks nor gratitude.
Yes, the haredi position should be presented loud and clear, for everyone to hear.
“We Refuse to Serve an Army For the Sake of the Zionist Religion” ??
Is that the purpose of the army? To benefit the Zionist religion?
Who knew?
I thought the army was to provide for the protection of those living in Israel.
This type of sign is not only stupid but a chillul HaShem because it makes the crowds holding such signs (i.e. people who call themselves representatives of the Torah) appear stupid and hypocritical in the eyes of the general Israeli public that will observe this spectacle.
These people have no issue getting the benefits of the IDF.
If you find the country you live in so abhorrent such that you cannot contribute to its needs, then I think you need to leave.
You don’t have to like the secular nature of the Israeli system. You can even find it offensive. But you must recognize you are part of that system by the very fact that you are living there and are benefiting from the infrastructure it provides. And if so, you need to contribute to it.
If you knock it but have no problem taking its money and the protection it affords you, then you are a hypocrite of the highest order.
With their fighting spirit, they will make great soldiers.