The 'Moetzes' gathered on 5 Chazon Ish. "Turning to heads of government not to change"

After a long period, the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah gathered again in the home of Hagy"l Shteinman on 5 Chazon Ish street in Bnei Brak.

The members of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah who were present: Hagry"l Shteinman, Hagy"g Edelstein, Hagr"n Karelitz, Hagrm"z Bergman and Hagr"y Sheiner.

In addition, the new members who joined during the meeting were: Rosh Yeshiva of Mir Hagaon R' Arye Finkel, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateres Yisroel Hagaon R' Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, Rosh Yeshiva of Kol Torah Hagaon R' Moshe Yehudah Schlesinger, Rosh Yeshiva of Kol Yaakov Hagaon R' Yehuda Ades, the Mashgiach of Kfar Chassidim Hagaon R' Dov Yafe, Rosh Yeshiva of Slabodka Hagaon R' Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rosh Yeshiva of Chevron Hagaon R' Dovid Cohen, and the Rav of Ramat Elchanan – Hagr"y Zilberstein.
Earlier on, Hagr"c Kanievsky declared that despite his weakness, and despite the fact that only yesterday he was released from hospital, if there is a need in order to strengthen the Torah world – he is prepared to make an effort and arrive.

Hagr"c was also asked to give his opinion whether to add one of the sons-in-law of Hagry"s Eliashiv zt"l to the Moetzes, just as Hagrm"z Bergman joined after the ptira of his father-in-law Hagram"m Shach zt"l. Hagr"c suggested that they will add on Hagr"y Zilberstein.

Hagr"m Hirsch went up before the meeting to the home of Hagr"d Landau, who was also invited to join but refrains from dealing with any political issue and therefore refused, Hagr"d blessed him warmly and escorted him on his way.

Earlier on yesterday, a member of the Moetzes, Hagr"s Auerbach, demanded to also add Hagrd"z Karelinstein, but this demand was met with opposition on behalf of other members for a few reasons. In light of this, Hagr"s Auerbach clarified that he will not take part in the meeting.

The proceedings of the meeting:

The meeting was opened by Hagry"l Shteinman who spoke in short about the obligation to be "moser nefesh" about the decree of enlisting.

"Everyone surely knows the situation we are in from the time the state was founded until now, even when they were not so religious, they made an effort not to touch Torah, because through Torah one maintains the world, as it says "Im lo briti yomam valayla cukot shamoayim va'aretz lo samti", and now, to our dismay, there is a big misfortune, chas veshalom they want to abolish the Torah learners, and if they stop them and a young bochur cannot learn Torah, when will he learn? At the age of 80? One has to acquire all the Torah when he is young – and this is what the yeshivos are for, and if chas veshalom they will abolish this, then G-d forbid they are abolishing the entire Torah, Nora ve'ayom, and one needs great mercy from HK"H.

"Therefore we have gathered here to speak of the pain we have, and to answer mercy of the authorities that they should not touch the Torah and its learners, and thereby we will have the merit to continue Limud Hatorah until the coming of the Mashiach, and may Hashem help us that we will be saved eternal salvation, and then we can carry on.

And B"H in due time thousands and thousands who learn Torah will join them, and among them those who have written nice compositions on the Shas, and the bochurim who have learned Torah have grown very much in Torah and have become very big Talmidei Chachamim, and now we ask mercy that Hakodosh Baruch Hu will help us that chas veshalom the Limud Hatorah will not cease in Klal Yisroel, for this is our lives, and Hashem should help".

Hagry"l turned to the members of Knesset as well and said: "And we will ask of the members of Knesset to explain what the situation is, for there are those who do not know what the situation is".

Afterwards, Hagaon R' Chizkiyahu Avrohom Broide, Rosh Kollel Zichron Kelm in Bnei Brak, brought the words of his Rebbe, Hagr"c Kanievsky.

Later on, the chairman of Degel Hatorah M.K. Moshe Gafni, reviewed the issues which are under debate, including the issue of the recruit, at length. At this stage, all the gabboim and meshamshim who were present, were taken out of the room.

In conclusion, the secretary of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, Harav Avrohom Rubinstein read out the decisions.

Afterwards Hagry"l said: "Probably, all that is necessary was discussed here, and the main thing one needs is siata dishmaya".

Behadrei Hareidim presents: the full list of decisions.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!