Rav Moshe Sternbuch Declares: “We Are Not Afraid of Iran but of Israel's Government Policies"

The article on Matzav only reinforces my belief that certain Gedolei Yisrael today are completely disconnected from the lived reality of the rest of Klal Yisrael. This Shabbos, we spent hours running to shelters, and a cluster bomb even struck Eshtaol near Beit Shemesh, right across Highway 38, injuring nineteen people.

Yet Rav Sternbuch declared that “the greatest danger facing Klal Yisrael is not external enemies, but internal spiritual decline and government policies.”

Anyone actually living in Israel knows that this statement does not reflect reality. It is a narrative fed to him by those around him. Rav Sternbuch does not follow the news, has no TV or radio, and relies entirely on the people who surround him—people who benefit financially from maintaining a particular anti‑Medina agenda and who rely on naive American donors who are unaware of what is really happening here.

The truth is that since October 7, Israel has experienced a remarkable spiritual awakening. Entire communities have become shomrei Torah u’mitzvos, and the change is visible to anyone who opens their eyes.

Rav Sternbuch then quoted the Chazon Ish:

“I am not afraid of the bombs; I am afraid of the desecration of Shabbos, because that is what causes the bombs. And today as well, we say: we are not afraid of the missiles from Iran—we are afraid only of the leaders here who are defiling the people of Hashem and trying to take yeshiva bochurim into an army that is entirely heresy and apostasy.”

But now that bombs actually did fall in Bnei Brak—injuring people and destroying buildings—a new version of the Chazon Ish’s words suddenly appears.

For years, many in Bnei Brak insisted that the Chazon Ish promised the city would never be bombed. When that proved false, the claim shifted to “no one will be injured.” And now that injuries did occur, the narrative has changed again: “The Chazon Ish said he is not afraid of bombs.” The inconsistency speaks for itself.

Even more troubling is the statement that the Jewish army—whose soldiers protect every one of us—is “entirely heresy and apostasy.”

Anyone living in Israel knows this is simply untrue. My own neighborhood is filled with hundreds of IDF soldiers, and they are shomrei Torah u’mitzvos. To label these young men and fathers as heretics is a baseless accusation against Jewish children in uniform and must be rejected forcefully.

For a Rav to make such claims in a Shabbos Hagadol drasha is deeply painful and, frankly, a cChillul Hashem. Of course, he was speaking to an audience predisposed to accept these messages, surrounded by the most extreme elements.

Rav Sternbuch also claimed that the government is closing yeshivas and cutting funding. This is demonstrably false. Not a single yeshiva has been closed, and no funding cuts have taken effect. In fact, just last month, the Zionist government transferred 800,000 shekels to mosdos haTorah. Yes, there is debate about future cuts—but that debate exists because certain leaders refuse any form of enlistment, even for those who are not learning and who spend their days loitering and harassing girls in the streets.

 In a dramatic and forceful drashah delivered for Shabbos Hagadol, Rav Moshe Sternbuch warned that the greatest danger facing Klal Yisroel is not external enemies, but internal spiritual decline and government policies.

Thousands streamed Thursday night to the main beis medrash of the Dushinsky chassidus in Yerushalayim to hear divrei Torah from the senior posek. As is customary each year before Pesach, Rav Sternbuch addressed a packed crowd that included senior rabbonim, members of the Badatz Eidah Hachareidis, admorim, and prominent Torah figures, all seated without ceremony as they listened intently.

Opening with profound Torah insights, Rav Sternbuch soon turned to urgent issues confronting the community. Speaking with deep emotion, he addressed the security situation and the broader challenges facing the Torah world.

He said, “The Chazon Ish already said: I am not afraid of the bombs; I am afraid of the desecration of Shabbos, because that is what causes the bombs. And today as well, we say: we are not afraid of the missiles from Iran—we are afraid only of the leaders here who are defiling the people of Hashem and trying to take yeshiva bochurim into an army that is entirely heresy and apostasy.”

Rav Sternbuch also spoke strongly against efforts impacting the yeshivos, including closures and funding cuts, emphasizing the foundational role of Torah learning.

He said, “These criminals here do not understand that the entire world stands on the Torah of tinokos shel beis rabban. This is literally the destruction of the world.”

In another part of the address, Rav Sternbuch sharply criticized those who ascend the Har Habayis against halachic guidance, warning that such actions provoke danger.

He said, “There are those who provoke the nations and ignite a fire of hatred. About this it is said: ‘Who asked this of you, to trample My courtyards?’ This is unnecessary and dangerous provocation, and it must be protested with full force.”

Following the drashah, a rare and notable moment took place in the beis medrash, as Rav Sternbuch personally distributed financial assistance to rabbonim of the Eidah Hachareidis through his private fund, Kupas Tamchin D’Oraisa.

Amid financial strain and delayed salaries within the Eidah, Rav Sternbuch organized a group of donors—including supporters connected to Satmar and benefactors of his yeshiva in Beit Shemesh and the well-known kollelim of Teshuvos V’Hanhagos—to provide relief ahead of Yom Tov.

He reviewed the checks and personally handed envelopes containing $1,000 grants to each rov and moreh horaah. In total, more than $100,000 was distributed to dayanim and members of the Badatz, in coordination with the leadership of the kollelim and the Vaad Hapoel of the Eidah Hachareidis.