Calling sanctions on draft dodgers a “war” insults real soldiers and hostages. The true war began on October 7th defending against our many enemies, Misusing that word is offensive and shameful.
The Chareidi narrative of perpetual “victimization”, this time by the State, is the card they always play to keep their power with their “flocks”. Same old, same old.
I don’t understand. Why the protest? Why the call for action? Why the threats of boycotts? Just go and learn in the Bais HaMedrash and Kollel. If that is good enough to protect Israel and obviate the need to actually defend oneself and your fellow Jews, then why isn’t learning good enough to protect against any Gov’t decree or action? Or is this just another example demonstrating the hypocrisy and morally corrupt Chareidi leadership?! You can’t have it both ways. Either personal Hishtadlus is needed or it is not. Clearly, the whole refusal to serve and help the country is a smokescreen and sorry excuse for the lack of character and ethics of the “Gedolim”! Sorry to say it but think about it and be honest. Sadly, it is true!
Isn’t a protest in the streets Bital Torah? I don’t recall chareidim protesting on behalf of Soviet Jewry, agunot, in support of the hostages or against Hamas. Their reason was Bital Torah. Well, the Torah did not save my father’s Rebbe, R’ Elchonon,Hy’d, R’ Simcha Zelig, Hy’d who gave my father smicha nor my grandfather, Hy’d, the Chorkever Dayan. Only my 4 grandchildren currently serving in the IDF will save the chareidim.
Ever since Yated shamelessly eulogized the pedophile Chaim Walder, yemach shemo, they’ve been a disgrace—no better than toilet paper masquerading as journalism.
In the early hours of Monday, two brothers from the Yitzhakov family, who are students at the “Meorot HaTorah” Yeshiva in Telz Stone, were arrested at their home in Tel Aviv for “draft evasion”. (A third student from the Acheinu yeshiva in Modiin Illit, was arrested early Thursday morning.)
While the arrest initially passed quietly, by Wednesday evening top rabbinic leaders convened for urgent consultations and, as reported extensively in this morning’s religious newspapers, decided to ‘declare war’ over the matter.
In an official statement, the Va’ad HaHatzalah of the Jerusalem Faction (“HaPeleg HaYerushalmi”) wrote:
“Due to the dangerous escalation in the decree of spiritual destruction and the continued persecution of Torah learners by the evil authorities, and following the wicked arrest of ‘Meorot HaTorah’ yeshiva students for the ‘crime’ of Torah study, the rabbis of the Committee consulted with Rabbi Azriel Auerbach and other Roshei Yeshiva. From them came a clear directive: to hold a mass protest against the wicked regime, with thousands of Torah-observant Jews gathering for a major demonstration in the streets of Jerusalem at 17:00.”
The statement continued:
“The rabbis expressed sharp condemnation of the situation: ‘Today, everyone understands that we are in a decisive battle for the soul of the entire charedi world. It is the obligation of every Jew to protest the grave humiliation of Torah learners.’”
The battle this time was not confined to the Jerusalem Faction, representing 10-15% of the charedi public, but has spread to the mainstream charedi public. From the home of Lithuanian Haredi leader Rabbi Dov Landau, a statement followed an emergency consultation held at his residence in Bnei Brak:
The statement stressed:
“Last week, Rabbi Landau warned in his speech at the Va’ad HaYeshivot assembly that if the State of Israel declares war on Torah students, the global charedi world will rise up in battle. The State of Israel has now declared war on Torah students. The global charedi community will wage an unprecedented battle!”
The headline of the Loshon Hara Paper the Yated Ne’eman, the newspaper of the Degel HaTorah party which is vetted by Rabbi Landau’s associates, on Thursday morning carried a single word: “War.”
The subheadline reads:
“The State of Israel has declared open war against Bnei Torah: Two yeshiva student brothers were taken from their home and arrested by military authorities.”
According to the article in the newspaper, military and police forces carried out nighttime raids on the homes of yeshiva students, during which the two brothers, both yeshiva students, were arrested at their home in Tel Aviv. Their remand has reportedly been extended by a military court.