Rav Shteinman, Rav Chaim Kanievsky issue joint letter

With the legislation pending in eretz Yisrael on drafting yeshiva Bochurim, Harav Aaron Leib Shteinman and Rav Chaim kanievsky call on everyone to be mechazek in Limud hatorah. It is the only way that klal yisrael will have protection from our enemies. The letter calls on Roshei yeshiva to strengthen Torah learning and establish extra Sidrei Limud on days that have distractions such as Friday and Shabbos. There was never a time when Jews tried to stop others from Torah learning  woe to us that this is happening in our time.  The letter did not call on any form of Hafganos at this time or state what action should be taken by the yeshiva Bochrim. Rav Chaim kanievsky added on the bottom of the letter that this is the only way to stop the gezeirah.

 Full English translation below.

BS”D

Much to our sorrow, at this time, there has risen against us a group of destroyers from among our nation, who plan to uproot the Torah and its students, something which has never been before that Jews should arise to prohibit the study of Torah  and prevent us from being involved in the Holy Torah, woe to us that this has happened in our times.

As we see that the Hester Panim has increased, and we do not know for whom this storm has become, and we do not have a prophet to say what we must correct in order to cancel this difficult decree from us, we must search our ways and investigate them, and perhaps because our hands have weakened from the Torah therefore in Heaven they are demanding from us about this.

Therefore it is an absolute obligation upon us at such a time to watch with every safeguard the Torah and its students, it is brought in Nefesh HaChaim (Sha’ar 4: Chapter 15) if you see punishment coming upon you, run to the chambers of the Torah and immediately the punishment will run away from you, as the Possuk says “go my nation, come into your chambers (Isaiah 26:20)”.

 We are suggesting to strengthen and to increase the uninterrupted study of Torah without disturbances, especially in those days when there is a weakness, such as Friday and Shabbos where the laxity is great, and to set certain times for Torah study that in those times there should be a tremendous strengthening in learning Torah. And the Roshei Yeshivos should implement this.

In addition to this we must strengthen ourselves in Prayer and pleading before the Master of the World to annul all of the decrees from upon us.

And through strengthening our involvement in Torah and Tefillah we hope that He will remove from us all of the bad and difficult decrees and we shall soon merit that the world will be full of recognition of Hashem as waters that cover the sea.

We appeal to anyone who seeks to hurt the students of the Torah, “do not touch my anointed ones (Psalms 105: 15 )", because at this time when the enemies of Israel are coming against us to eliminate us G-D forbid, only our Holy Torah will provide us protection. Please do not hurt or cause to decrease the number of Torah students for this involves a danger to our bodies and souls chalilah.

Written and signed with pain,

A.L. Steinman

18 Sivan 5773

With the help of Hashem

All of the above words are clear and simple and this is the only way to cancel the decree