Oficial Statement issued with conclusion of Atzeres Tefillah rally in manhattan

 Atzeres Photos HERE
The statement was read at the conclusion of the atzeres by Rabi Chaim Dovid Zwiebel Of Agudath Israel of America.
                                     Official statement at Prayer Rally in Lower Manhattan
 Klal Yisroel has no treasure greater than the Holy‎ Torah, no calling greater than the study of Torah, no asset more precious than those who devote themselves to learning and growing in Torah.

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B’siyata diShmaya, we have been privileged ‎in recent years to witness the flourishing of Torah study across the globe, and especially in Eretz Yisroel. In the aftermath of the destruction of European Jewry seventy years ago, when so many predicted the demise of Torah-true Judaism, we take pride and solace in this open manifestation of the Yad Hashem.



Now, however, a new law is proposed in Israel that is designed to severely limit the growth of Torah ‎in the Holy Land. It would not only abandon Israel’s longstanding exemption of full-time yeshiva students from military service, it would expose Bnei Torah who refuse to be conscripted into the military to potential criminal sanction. This development in the Eretz Ha’kodesh is both deeply dismaying and profoundly shocking, an affront to the world Jewish community and to the honor of Hashem’s Name.

We join with the hundreds of thousands of Jews who gathered in the streets of Yerushalayim last week to pour out their hearts in tefila, and to express their anguish and protest regarding this proposed new law.

This is our message to our dear brethren in Eretz Yisroel: Know that the Torah community in America stands with you in this difficult moment of challenge!

May He who is Melameid Torah L’amo Yisroel have mercy on Klal Yisroel and usher in the time when we witness the fulfillment of Yeshaya Ha’Novi’s prophecy: “וכל בניך למודי ד’, ורב שלום בניך — And all your children will be students of Hashem, and your children will have peace.”