At the conclusion of a moving and uplifting Rischa D’Oraisa event held in Bnei Brak, the Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka, HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau Shlita, delivered powerful words of chizuk in the face of the harsh decrees looming over the Torah world and the Chareidi public.
“We all know that due to our sins we have been in galus for many years, and now we tangibly feel the weight of that galus pressing down upon us. There is a decree upon us—the lomdei Torah—a harsh and bitter decree. Jews are persecuting fellow Jews because of limud haTorah. This is a dreadful decree, and in our sins we find ourselves in the midst of it, rachmana litzlan.”
“The difficult situation we find ourselves in is the decree of galus, but the true test is how we confront this decree—the nisayon that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is placing upon us. Our duty, as one united people, is to withstand this test from Hashem Elokeinu and to stand as firm as rock, never yielding to the decree of the authorities to, chas v’shalom, draft lomdei Torah. One who is arrested by them has an obligation not to give in and not to be enticed in any way to go to the army, rachmana litzlan.”
“Those who study Hashem’s Torah and follow its path are the true representatives of Judaism, and we proclaim before the entire world: It is inconceivable that a Jew should be imprisoned for his devotion to Hashem’s Torah. The Torah is the protector of the Jewish people, and only the Torah and its study grant Jews the right to exist in Eretz Yisrael. Without Torah, there is no merit for Jews to remain in Eretz Yisrael, and one who fights against the Torah and its learners is, in fact, fighting against the safety of the Jewish people in Eretz Yisrael.”
He concluded his remarks with a forceful declaration:
“We will not rest and we will not remain silent until the authorities remove their hands from the lomdei Torah and allow us to continue our learning, just as it has been since the beginning of Jewish settlement under this government in Eretz Yisrael.”
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11 Responses
He’s absolutely right, all those fake Wicked Jews screaming for the closing of the holy books are asking for a removal of the Miracles and siyata dishmaya that was only merited through all this learning. If you want to see what happens when there’s no Heavenly assistance, there’s your army and Intelligence on October 7th. If you want to see what happens when there is assistance, the success in Iran in 12 days. Stop shooting ourselves in the foot and stop messing with the learners
“Those who study Hashem’s Torah and follow its path are the true representatives of Judaism…”
Many might have glossed over the above, but it is very important to understand what that means. Specifically, that would be as opposed to the wicked Zionists who propagandize and lie endlessly that they represent Jews and Judaism.
If only world were as black and white as the small minded one and Mr. I know the truth think it is….Reality isn’t so neat or simple.
This is all very sad to see. Of course the Rosh Yeshiva is correct that Lomdei Torah should not need to go to the army. They should be respected for making Toraso Umaso. But that is NOT the issue. We have thousands of Charedim who are living the “lifestyle” of Lomdei Torah but are not really living as Lomdei Torah. There is a large percentage that are not learning full time or at all but are involved in many business activities, real estate, electricians, plumbers, technology etc etc. I know as I live half my time in Yerushalyim I know them and see all this first hand. This is the issue,,, all this talk about attacking Lomdei Torah is a smoke screen for the real issue. If you are working you should serve!
I didn’t know that haRav has such respect for the Medinah. Surely, we had harsh decrees in golus before. I don’t recall r Chaim Volozhiner calling for civil disobedience when Russia was drafting Jews to the army for 25 years. Same in US. But evidently rabbonim hold Medinah to higher standard. Great.
The question is, what IS the correct path of Torah. The fact is that we say it every day – lishmo’a, lilmod ulelamed, lishmor vela’asos – the path of Torah includes not only LEARNING Torah, but also LIVING Torah – i.e., following the dictates of Halacha, including those that relate to defending one’s fellow Jews.
Something worth thinking about.
an Israeli Yid
RebEmmes, I don’t understand. According to what you’re saying, how did October 7 happen? Was there no learning going on? Why was there no heavenly assistance?
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/the-fourth-reich-of-israel
Seems to be a very simple solution: Remove the requirement for mandatory service. Once that’s gone they can force bochurim to serve
Circle- if you remember what was going on right before October 7th, Israel was close to a civil war just like today. The hatred of religion was so strong and the sins going on in the country are beyond the point where Hashem can defend against the prosecution. Eventually he must answer and be truthful as he is the true judge. Do I know exactly why we merited such a horrible day? No but sometimes the sins are beyond what even the Learners can compete with
@rebemes, out of curiosity where do you get this often repeated idea that learning Torah is all that is needed to protect us? You don’t see that in תנ״ך actually you see just the opposite. פרשת כי תצא, בני גד ובני ראובן most of ספר מלכים. Now if לימוד התורה was not enough for the Jews at the time of משה רבינו and the נביאם how do you think it will be enough today? It is really important that people think a little deeper than off hand comments that they hear. By the way when the גמרא talks about תורה מגין it is a rather complicated topic and not as simplistic as you think.