R' Aharon Leib Steinman in emergency rally against 'draft decree'
Emergency or publicity stunt? • Thousands were dispatched to what was presented as an emergency rally in Bnei Brak against recruitment • The main speech was given by Hagry"l Steinman • Critics: Commercial trick
- Shlomo Greenberg, Behadrey Haredim
- ו' ניסן התשע"ג
R' Aharon Leib Steinman. Photo: Moshe Goldstein
Tonight (Motzaei Shabbos), a gathering of thousands took place in Armonot Chen, Bnei Brak, headed by rabbis and Roshei yeshiva in what was presented ostensibly as a rally against the recruitment of yeshiva students.
At the conference, the speakers were Hgr"d Cohen, Rosh Yeshiva of Hevron, Hgrs"y Borstein Rosh Yeshiva of Kiryat Melech, the Mashgiach Hgr"d Segal, Hagaon R' Yaakov Hillel head of Ahavat Shalom institutions, Hagr"c Mishkovsky, Mashgiach of Yeshiva Orchos Torah.
The speech was given by Hagaon R' Aharon Leib Steinman:
"Morai verabosai, we are in a day of great tribulation, each and every one of us knows what a very great trouble, for several years now, thank G-d who allowed us, we could learn and teach our children Torah, and Baruch Hashem the yeshivos multiplied, with boys learning Torah. Suddenly such a tribulation overcame us, they want G-d forbid to destroy Klal Yisroel from Torah, G-d forbid! Hashem yerachem! A very great trpin;e. We ask for mercy from Hashem that He should let us continue teaching our children Torah all their life, that Torah will not be removed from us and from our seed forever.
"There is one thing besides that we need to increase Torah, the more we increase Torah Hashem will light up, the zchus of Torah will stand for us. Another thing, so long as there are people who are sorry for this great Chilul Hashem which G-d forbid might come about that Torah will be diminished in Klal Yisroel, such a great Chilul Hashem hurts him, the whole heart hurts G-d forbid that such sorrow should not happen, G-d forbid. And Hashem will help that we should merit that there should only be good, that Torah should not be diminished, never diminish Torah, until the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days Amen Sala. "
But at the end of the evening, a commercial presentation of entities dealing with Web filtering technology was screened. According to critics of the assembly, this is improper utilization of the emergency situation for promoting commercial interests, and the two ought to be separated.
The organizers' response will be posted when it is received.
