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| Rav Aaron Schechter |
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| Rav Shmuel Miller Rav Eli Chaim Swerldloff Rav Osher Kalmanowitz |
Tens of Thousands of Yidden attended the Atzeres/rally in lower Manhattan, federal Plaza against the drafting of Bnei Hayeshivos to the Israeli Army. The Demonstration was organized by Satmar and joined by many other Admorim, Chasidim and Roshei yeshiva as well. Attending Litvishe Roshei Yeshiva at the Rally were; Rav Elya Ber Wachtfogel, Rav Aaron Schechter, Rav Moshe Shimon shapiro, Rav Shmuel Miller, Rav Elya chaim Swerldloff, Rav Eli Sorotzkin, Rav Eli Yagid, Rav Lipa Margulies, Rav Asher Kalmonovitz, Rav Yaakov kokis, Rav Shea Krupenia from Lakewood, yeshivas Bais hatalmud, Rav Shlomo feivel Schustal, Rav Shmuel Shlesinger, Rav Binyomin Margulies, Rav Simcha Bunim Paler, Rav Moshe Meiselman RY Toras Moshe in EY, Rav Menachem Savitz, Rav Sholom zimmerman, and their respective Talmidim and yeshivos. While many individuals from lakewood went, the Lakewood Yeshiva did not attend, heeding the words of HaRav Aaron Leib Shteinman. Some signs held by neturei Karta with messages against Gedolei Yisrael were quickly removed by police. An NYPD spokesman Sunday night said there were no arrests associated with the protest. The initially planned march of sack cloths over the Brooklyn Bridge did not take place as was agreed prior to the event with the Litvishe Roshei yeshiva.
Most of the Speakers stuck to the theme of Giyus bnei hayeshivos, Drafting Yeshiva students to the IDF, they did not call for the destruction of the State or speak against zionizm. They mentioned how the army does not really want the yeshiva bochurim to serve rather the intention here is shmad. They want to turn the hakol Kol yaakov into Yedei Eisav. Today its Giyus bnei hayeshivos and soon they will start with Giyus Banos. The Chasidishe speakers naturally mentioned from the Heiliger rebbe. One speaker streesed that with the Army we wont compromise.
Speaking to the Media in English Rav Pinchas Jung of Monsey, NY mentioned how throughout history since Matan Torah on har Sinai there has been repeatedly fierce opposition to our way of life and Torah study. We have bravely resisted these attacks, our current crisis is not a new one. Powerful secular groups seek to undermine our flourishing houses of Torah study. We have gathered here to say to the government of Israel to live and let live, to respect religion, to allow those who toil in Torah study day and night and study the sacred message of the Torah. They will never deviate from its laws at all costs. We pray together for the ultimate redemption speedily in are times.
VIDEO of the Satmar protest click HERE HERE and HERE
I enjoyed my free copy of The Kuntris Torah magazine
ReplyDeleteI live in Israel and work with non-religious Jews. The VAST majority are NOT against the Haredi lifestyle and simply can not understand why people who are NOT learning full-time can not serve the country, either in the IDF or in national service and then work for a living. Everyone knows there are a lot of Haredi "hangers-on" who are not learning full-time. I see a lot of respect by non-religious for sincerely religious people, even if they don't want a religious lifestyle pushed on them. To say that the current move by the government is meant to be "shmad" and to eradicate the Haredi lifestyle is simply NOT TRUE.
ReplyDeleteIt may seem like that to you on the surface but tHe gedolim all across the board since the founding of the state have called them out on it. They know the frumm will overpower them soon and are doing all in their power to shmad them.
DeleteI am afraid I don't understand what you are saying. What do you mean that the Haredim will "overpower" them? Does this mean that the Haredim will take control of the government? They don't seem to show any interest in doing this. Does it mean that the Haredim intend to force religious observance on those who are not observant today? How do they expect to do that? Are you saying the Haredim will outpopulate the non-religious? Mathematical extrapolation into the future is a very risky business....after all, I am sure you are aware that all the non-religous Jews today are decendents of religious ancestors and yet MOST Jews abandoned religious observance in that last couple of centuries. Why do you assume that this can't happen again? You know perfectly well that even today there is a drop-out problem in the Haredi world, even if it is covered-up. Are you aware that many of the founders of the anti-religious MAPAM party came from prominent Hasidic families. Around 40 years ago, someone interviewed the founders of Kibbutz Merhavia (Golda Meir's kibbutz) and founnd many had come from prominent Rabbinic families. Shimon Dimanstein, the founder of the Soviet Yevseksia, the Soviet Jewish Communist movement, was a musmach of very famous Rabbis that you have heard of. Thus, you should be careful about assuming what will be in the future.
DeleteRegarding your claim that "they are doing all in their power to shmad them", will you please explain to me why this secular governemnt funds Haredi yeshivot and gives subsidies to Haredim that other Israelis don't get if it is their intention to "shmad" them in addition to maintaining a religious status-quo that imposes a certain amount of religious coercion on the secular population? Doesn't sound like "shmad" to me!