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R' Chaim Ahron Kaufman |
Enough with the "BS" "Gezeiras Ha'Gius"propaganda .... read this interview and see my "emphasis' and "underline" in red!
An interview with Rabbi Chaim Aharon Kaufman, Chairman of the Vaad Hayeshivos
by Yossi Goldschmiedt
The roots of Vaad Hayeshivos
Before we get into the current responsibilities and challenges of the Vaad Hayeshivos, can you please share with our readers the history of its establishment? Most of us have only heard of it recently, in connection with the draft law.
The Vaad Hayeshivos was established nearly one hundred years ago by the Chofetz Chaim and Hagaon Harav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski, zecher tzaddikim livrachah, in 5684 (1924), to help yeshivos and yeshivaleit. In those days, there was no government funding for yeshivos, and their survival was at risk. So the Vaad was established for this purpose, setting up a joint pool for amassing sums for the upkeep of yeshivos. The Chofetz Chaim initiated a set fee that all families were obligated to pay towards this fund. If not for this assistance, the yeshivos might have been forced to close, chas v’shalom.
At the time, Vaad Hayeshivos served the yeshivos in Poland and Lithuania. Obviously, with the outbreak of World War II, the activities of the Vaad ceased. Yet, it is well known that some yeshivos and many bachurim found shelter in Vilna at the beginning of the war, and were supported by the Vaad, under the leadership of Harav Chaim Ozer Grodzinski.
In Eretz Yisrael in 5701 (1941), barely a year into the war, Vaad Hayeshivos was re-established. The Gedolim in Eretz Yisrael at the time, led by the Gerrer Rebbe, the Imrei Emes; Harav Isser Zalmen Meltzer; Harav Zalman Sorotzkin; the Abir Yaakov of Husyitan; and Harav Yechiel Michel Tekachinsky, zecher tzaddikim livrachah, among others, saw the need to establish a system similar to the one in place in Europe, pre-War, in building a new vibrant center for Torah. Harav Zalmen Sorotzin, who had been an active force in the pre-War Vaad, took a leading role in its reestablishment in Eretz Yisrael, taking dozens of yeshivos under its wing at the time.
Ultimately, this was the beginning of the great olam haTorah that there is today, baruch Hashem, in Eretz Yisrael. As part of its assistance to the Torah world, the Vaad published Gemaros, Chumashim and other sefarim, which were made available to yeshivos at cost price.
The ORIGINS OF THE DRAFT DEFERMENT LAW
What was the role of the Vaad Hayeshivos in the original army service deferment?
In 5708 (1948), with the establishment of the State of Israel, the topic of army service came to the fore.
Through much siyatta diShmaya, an agreement allowing yeshivah students to be exempted from military service for as long as their sole occupation was Torah was signed into law in 1951. The new legal status was then named Toraso Umanuso.
The shtadlanus behind the scenes of this law included meetings between the government officials and Gedolei Yisrael. The chareidi askanim at the time, led by the Agudas Yisrael leader, Harav Yitzchok Meir Levin, zt”l,helped finalize the law.
At the time of the initial agreement, the Roshei Yeshivos stated clearly that the bachurim would be exempted from service for as long as they’d be learning. Not a blanket exemption, as many in the secular world believe. The Gedolim who worked this agreement out felt that this was the way to establish and build the olam haTorah.
The Vaad, which was led by the Gedolei Roshei Yeshivah of the time, was officially recognized as the authority with whom the government would deal to effect any further arrangements.
We must note that the Vaad Hayeshivos isn’t “for” or “against” the army; Vaad Hayeshivos’ raison d’etre has been, and is, to facilitate the unhindered Torah learning of anyone who wishes to do so. (Noteworthy is that Vaad Hayeshivos didn’t take a stance in the giyus banos saga, in adherence to its core mission, on behalf of yeshivos.)