Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch left Bnei Brak early Thursday morning to travel to Jerusalem for the mass tefillah rally on Thursday afternoon.
Before leaving at about 9:30 a.m., the Rosh Yeshivah said, “We’re zocheh to be mekayeim the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem. Everyone is obligated to be moser nefesh to participate in the atzeres and to try to leave as early as possible.”
Yitzchak Feldman, who is close to the Rosh Yeshivah, told Kol Chai Radio: “I was zocheh to learn from the Rosh Yeshivah for over 25 years. I don’t remember ever seeing him so pained. The wave of arrests in recent weeks and the decision for the tefillah rally are something we haven’t seen in decades. This is a cry that comes from the heart, following the mistreatment of bnei yeshivos.”
“The Rosh Yeshiva is occupied with this matter from morning till night. The Rosh Yeshivah asked to leave early for the rally even though he could have arrived later. He is asking the public to come with meriras nefesh. This is a p’sak halach, not mere words or clichés.”
Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka HaGaon HaRav Dov Landau also left Bnei Brak early Thursday morning to travel to Jerusalem for the atzeres. Both of the elderly Roshei Yeshivah traveled directly to the Yirmiyahu Hotel 33, where they will stand during the mass atzeres.
Thousands of bnei Torah traveled to Jerusalem overnight Wednesday from various cities to heed the directives of the Gedolim and ensure their participation in the rally.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
No. This is tremendous chillul Hashem.
Going to the army is a mitzvah, an obligation.
You wouldn’t trust a hechsher which relied on such weak heteirim as the whole “learning torah exempts you from the army” thing, and kal vachomer castigate anyone who disagrees.
Nor do any of the weak excuses used stand up to scrutiny (“the army hates chareidim” – no, it doesn’t, if you would engage and help them find a solution we could work it out, instead of shouting foolish slogans about Czarist Russia or other nonesense)
Out of touch leadership telling you to “check out” from helping your fellow Jews.
Open your eyes
Mr. Feldman says: He [Rosh Yeshivas Slabodka HaGaon HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch] is asking the public to come with meriras nefesh. This is a p’sak halach, not mere words or clichés.” With respect this is not a psak halacha. It is a request. Those like Mr. Feldman who hold by the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva, will no doubt make every effort to heed his request. Those who take direction from elsewhere may stay, with true mesiras nefesh, in the Beis Hamedrash learning during the time of this political demonstration.
Rod in hell those who can look at a picture of an elderly holy rabbi coming to cry for his people and calling it a disgrace against God. The only disgrace against the Jews is you who can speak against someone who learns for nine decades straight