Harav Dov Landau shlit”a has issued a severe warning to Israeli officials following the arrest of two yeshiva bochurim over allegations of military draft evasion. In a sharply worded statement released by his gabbaim, Rav Landau accused the Israeli government of “declaring war on the olam hatorah” and warned that the entire Torah community would rise up in response.
“The State of Israel has declared war on yeshiva students,” the statement read. “Torah Jewry will embark on a global campaign the likes of which the world has never seen.”
Rav Landau, the venerated leader of Degel HaTorah and widely considered the gadol hador, has been holding emergency consultations in his home in Bnei Brak with senior askanim and leaders from across the Torah world to establish a unified front. “The response will not be from one segment of Klal Yisrael alone,” an insider said. “It will be a unified cry from all who hold the Torah dear.”
At a recent gathering of rabbanim in Bnei Brak, the Rosh Yeshiva warned that if the Israeli government dares to arrest even one more yeshiva bochur, the Torah world would not remain silent. “We will shake the world—with all our strength and heart,” he said. “A united Torah Jewry across the globe will rise to defend the honor of those who carry the burden of Torah.”
Degel HaTorah, which represents the Lithuanian-Yeshivish tzibbur, is one of the two factions of the United Torah Judaism party alongside the Chassidic Agudas Yisrael. Senior rabbanim and leaders from both factions have been in communication in recent days to coordinate a joint approach as tensions escalate.
This latest episode follows growing pressure from certain elements within the government to impose stricter enforcement of military draft laws against yeshiva bochurim—a move which gedolim have called a direct attack on Torah.
Gedolei Yisrael are expected to release additional directives and statements in the coming days as the Torah world braces for what may be a defining moment in the struggle for Limud Torah in Eretz Yisrael.
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12 Responses
All non-hareidi traditional jews and all non-practicing Jews as well who provide the vast majority of support for the State of Israel, will celebrate the arrest of those who will not serve in the IDF, while drawing extensive financial support. Fear not, more arrests will lead to greater support.
This insanity must stop!!
A real question – if, leshitasam, learning Torah is the best defense against all harm, why don’t they call for round-the-clock learning in shifts – especially now during bein hazemanim, to overcome what they see as this gezeira? “Hakol kol Ya’akov” – what business do they have using the “yedei Eisav” to fight this by going out to the streets and causing havoc? How do they reconcile such an approach with their underlying shita?
I’d love to hear a logical answer to this – but one has yet to be offered.
an Israeli Yid
I am now confused, because many recent articles & publications had led us to believe that Moreinu HoRav שמואל Kaminetsky שליט”א is the גדול הדור:- So what is the correct version on this issue?
It’s a shame so many Jews betrayed us and unite with the voices that want to shmad every bachur. Even if you have trouble understanding the importance of learning, what gives you the right to speak against such holy rabbanim? Is that who you are? Do you expect to be around for the geulah if you make rav Landau your enemy? Think about your own future and switch sides before it’s too late
our brothers from the erev rav have always told us that it is milchemet mitzvah
they are finally right it is chov kadosh now to battle the zionist regime-
nosei degel hakefirah bedoreinu
It’s time to petition all the governments around the world including the US government and European governments, to recognize that the Israeli government persecutes its disfavored religious minorities, including Orthodox and religious Jews. And ask that they apply pressure upon the Israeli government. And offer refugee/asylum status to persecuted religious minorities in Israel.
I have to thank dr.Fakeyidd and israeliShmadYid for encouraging me to give.more money to Keren Olam Hatorah now that I see we have such treacherous Brothers Among Us who want to run over the gedolim with their Kefira and apikorses. Now I know for sure my money is going to the right place because they’re against it. Hopefully it will end quickly for you
an Israeli Zionist:
That’s not a real question. King Solomon wrote that different circumstances call for different approaches. Protesting is obviously not “yidei eisav”, but your idol of Zionism is very much that.
An Israeli yid why did Simon and Levi go to wipe out shechem why did moshe say to go be locheim with midyan why didn’t they stay in the beis medrash
when you find the answer to that you’ll have the answer to your question, but the fact that you don’t have the answer does not mean anything
@anisraeliyid- you’re right, yet you need to agree that the only way to get things done in Israel is by ‘going out to the streets’. Otherwise nothing will change.
@147- Rav Shmuel is our Gadol of AMerica, Rabbi Landau in Israel
@rebSheker (I can do it too, punchanello funny fellow…) – I note that ro resorted to name-calling rather than answering my question. If you – and Chareidi leaders – can not even coherently explain their position, and when the logical inconsistency is blatantly obvious, how do you – and they – expect to convince people? Are they no better than the bulvan on the street who threatans to break your windows and make your life miserable if you don’t pay him off?
They claim to represent Torah – then they explain their position al pi Torah, and fight for it with Torah. If they can not – then while they themselves may know more Torah than you or I do, the derech can not be called a derech of Torah.
an Israeli Yid
@HaKatan, @lbj, @Rlevy – saying*this is different” without saying WHY it’s different is not an answer. As noted, I’ve yet to hear any logical, coherent explanation for their positions. And @lbj – the examples you bring support actually physically fighting to defend Klal Yisrael rather than saying “Torah protects” and refusing to fight.
an Israeli Yid