Under the direction of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, thousands of cheder students from the Ateres Shlomo network, led by HaRav Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, gathered Monday morning outside Prison 10 to protest the arrest of Yeshiva Bochur Ariel Shamai.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m., organized buses brought children from Ateres Shlomo schools across the country to the prison where the young bochur is being held.

During the event, HaRav Sorotzkin addressed criticism surrounding the “hostage campaign” theme used to raise awareness of the case. “Some people complained that we used the imagery of the hostages,” he said. “But let me make one thing clear — the hostages are not only yours, they are ours, maybe even more ours than yours. Gedolei Yisroel and bnei Torah couldn’t sleep on their beds while the hostages were in captivity. We cared, we davened, and we learned for them. Don’t think you are the only guardians of their memory. The great miracles we saw — those who came out alive — were in the merit of the “kol kol Yaakov”, the voice of Torah learning.”

He added, “We have no desire, chas v’shalom, to hurt anyone. Everyone is beloved and precious to us. But understand — to separate us from Torah is to take away our oxygen. Torah is our life, our lifeline.”

HaRav Sorotzkin then read aloud a letter written by Ariel Shamai from his prison cell to his friends in yeshiva.

At the prison gates, thousands of children joined their rabbeim in emotional tefillos, reciting Tehillim and Selichos. Many wore hats bearing Shamai’s photo and a call for his release — part of a campaign echoing the hostage release efforts that have stirred wide public debate.

The rally concluded with a moving Kabbolas Ol Malchus Shomayim led by the young students.

In a letter sent to parents by Ateres Shlomo leadership the night before, it was written:
“By the instruction of Maran Rosh HaYeshiva HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch shlit”a, thousands of students from our Talmudei Torah, from grade three and up, will travel on Monday, Parshas Lech Lecha, to a prayer and protest gathering outside the prison where our yeshiva’s dear talmid Ariel Shamai is being held.”

Parents were informed that buses would depart at 9:30 a.m. and return around 1:00 p.m., with food and drinks provided for all participants.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)