As deliberations over the proposed draft law continue in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, an emergency gathering of leading Chassidic admorim, mashpi’im, and Sephardic gedolei Torah was held Sunday evening at the Vizhnitz Beis Medrash on Nechemia Street in Yerushalayim. The asifah was convened under the leadership of the HaRav Moshe Tzadka shlit”a.
At the conclusion of the meeting, a forceful public declaration was issued opposing the draft law currently being advanced, as well as rejecting any form of compromise on the issue. The rabbanim further announced the decision to organize a joint mass atzeres of tens of thousands, uniting Chassidic and Sephardic communities together with segments of the Eidah HaChareidis, in protest of the draft law.
The atzeres is expected to take place on Monday, 16 Teves, at the Yirmiyahu–Brandeis junction in Yerushalayim.
The formal resolutions expressed deep alarm over what was described as a grave gezeirah threatening the Torah-observant public in Eretz Yisrael, and particularly the intensified pressure being placed on Sefardim. The statement decried religious persecution by state authorities, warning of an effort to uproot any remaining spark of Yiddishkeit from the hearts of Klal Yisrael.
The declaration reiterated the unequivocal position of Gedolei Yisrael that it is strictly forbidden for a chareidi Jew to enlist in the army under any framework, including so-called “chareidi tracks,” which were described as leading to spiritual destruction. Specific programs marketed under various names were explicitly rejected, as was participation in any form of alternative governmental service, including civil service, in accordance with the psak of earlier gedolei hador.
The rabbanim further warned against reports that lawmakers are seeking to advance legislation including quotas, targets, and sanctions directed at the chareidi public. Such a law, they stated, would effectively consign thousands of bnei Torah to the army. Any agreement to such a law—whether through direct support or even indirect acquiescence, such as abstaining from a vote—was declared completely unacceptable.
Addressing arguments that partial compliance might save others from conscription, the statement firmly rejected this reasoning, citing the established halachic principle that one life may not be sacrificed for another. The rabbanim emphasized that experience has shown that only uncompromising, resolute resistance can protect the Torah community from such decrees.
In a message to chareidi representatives and activists standing at the forefront of the struggle, the rabbanim urged them to be strong and courageous, not to fear intimidation, and to continue being mekadesh shem shamayim with strength and dignity. They publicly pledged that the chareidi community will stand fully behind any bochur or avreich who is arrested due to his refusal to submit to conscription.
Around the table was seen a rare and awe-inspiring assembly of Gedolei Yisrael representing virtually every segment of the Torah world. Among those present were HaGaon HaRav Yaakov Meir Shechter, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Tzedakah, and the Admorim of Lelov, Bohush, Zvhil, Slonim, Shevet HaLevi, Chug Chasam Sofer, Rachmastrivka, Chernobyl, Skulen Yerushalayim, Biala Bnei Brak, Sassov, Vizhnitz Beit Shemesh, and Pinsk-Karlin..
Also present were the renowned mashpi’im and mekubalim: HaGaon HaRav Gamliel Rabinowitz, the famed mashpia Hagaon HaRav Elimelech Biderman, HaGaon HaRav Tzvi Meir Zilberberg, HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Meir Morgenstern, HaGaon HaRav Avishai Tzeinvirt, HaGaon HaRav Meir Heisler, and many others.
Representing the Gedolei HaDor of the Sephardic Torah world were Hagaon HaRav Yitzchak Tzofik Aviezeri, HaGaon HaRav Ben Tzion Mutzafi, HaGaon HaRav Baruch Shmueli, HaGaon HaRav Tzion Boaron, HaGaon HaRav Yoram Chaddad, mashgiach of Yeshivas Kisei Rachamim, HaGaon HaRav Shlomo Toledano, Rosh Yeshiva of Tiferes Yaakov, among other prominent rabbinic leaders.
The extraordinary sight of so many towering Torah figures — chassidic, litvish, and sephardic alike — gathered together in unity was a moment of rare hisorerus and profound achdus in the Torah world.
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15 Responses
How about Gur and Belz?
They are the largest two chassidus in EY.
Were they participating?
Stand up for what’s right! We are with you in our hearts. Those of us not part of the erev rav who wish to donate to lomdei eretz yisrael can always give some maaser to keren olam hatorah. It will earn you a much bigger return than donating sufganiyot to ukranians
The Shla Hakadosh speaks about the motivation of the Meraglim. They were afraid to leave the insular environment of the midbar where klal Yisroel lived with the anane Hakavod and enter Eretz Yisroel where they would have to be involved with worldly matters such as developing agriculture, political systems and fight wars. Does anyone see any parallels between the leadership of the Meraglim and today’s leadership?
Are they prepared to demonstrate their anti-zionist credentials by refusing to accept benefits from the zionists? They should be demanding the same status as Palestinians Muslims (some restrictions on rights but also exemption from conscription.
Are they prepared to address the reason why the zionists want people who will be unwilling and potential disloyal soldiers (the zionists’ “forever war” with the Muslims) by proposing a solution to the conflict with the Arabs that is likely to be acceptable to the Arabs, e.g. full compensation to the Palestinians for loss of property since the war started in 1948, and acceptance of a return to the former “Millet” or “Dhimmi” system under which Jews had very few political rights and less than full economic rights, but were allowed to learn Torah and do Mitsvos in peace (something secular zionists would find absurd).
Bnei Torah who are “chicken hawks” (support a war as long as they don’t have to fight it), especially while demanding government subsidies, look ridiculous. On the other hand, returning to the traditional Hareidi positions (still supported by the likes of Satmar and Neturei Karta) would be considered a rebellion against the government (Satmar and NK are tolerated only because they are so small, if most Bnei Torah adopted that positions they would be ruthlessly suppressed).
@rebemes do you mean to say “those who are with the Meraglim?”
Dlp, as they say – gut gesugt. Look no further to understand how an entire Beit Din HaGadol can err.
Hard to believe that the Great Bearded ones did not envision the day that their children would need to step up and take part in public affairs of the country they live in, and custom tailor their chinuch accordingly.
Now, the slightest exposure to a not yet frum person and their sheep fall off the derech faster than the the Isralites among the bnos Moav.
chareidi amiti, you are correct; chacham einov be’rosho. isolation is only increasing; unfortunately, that only hastens the eventual debacle
Good to see the normal Heretics at work. Speaking against all the rabbis of the generation in one room because they know better sitting on the couch hardly learning 5 minutes a day
“Ein dochin nefesh mipnei nefesh”… except if it means forcing 10,000s of other yidden to take your place in the army while you exempt yourselves.
@rebemes. Now that you have gotten the ad hominems off your chest, would you care to address the substance?
Someone publicly speaking against the leaders of the generation and I have to explain why I’m sticking up for them? You can stay a rebel it doesn’t bother me what happens to you. I just suggest that you wake up and start respecting them even if your heart is telling you not to. Because they have the reputation and the expertise that landed them in their position, and hundreds of thousands of Jews if not more testify to that. And you’re just a commenter like me here with nothing to show for their life, but at the very least I have kavod hatorah. Keep calling them meraglim 2.0 but it’ll come that time in the hospital when you start begging them for a blessing
Dip, rebEmes is as familiar with substance as I am with green cheese from Mars!!
@rebemes How many yiddin followed the Meraglim? How did they earn their positions? What happened to those who followed them?
How many yiddin followed the Meraglim? How did they earn their positions? What happened to those who followed them?