Hoenlein to R' Aharon Leib: "Journey of Council would not be helpful"

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Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Presidents of the United States Malcolm (Yitzchak) Hoenlein, arrived this morning for a visit at the home of Hagaon R' Aharon Leib Steinman at 5 Hazon Ish Street in Bnei Brak.

The meeting with Hoenlein was also attended by the chavrusa of R' Aharon Leib, Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Schneider, Rabbi Yitzchak Rosengarten, Israel Friedman, editor of Yated Ne'eman, and journalist Benny Rabinowitz, spokesman for R' Aharon Leib's home. Hoenlein was accompanied by the Belzer activist Chaim Mordechai Fried.

In the long conversation held with R' Aharon Leib, he heard his opinion that there would be no compromise regarding the recruitment and anyone who studies Torah could continue his studies without interruption: "Klal Yisroel received the Torah, and all the people of Israel are based on Torah," said Rabbi Aharon Leib, "in order to hold the Torah throughout the generations and in our generation too, it is not enough to have the Torah, but there must be Torah scholars, only that way Klal Yisroel exists.

"The settlement in Eretz Yisrael exists thanks to the fact that there are Jews sitting and studying Torah. This is possible only by the fact that avreichim and young yeshiva students devote their entire day to studying Torah, these are the years in which a person can transcend in Torah and not in later years. Only this way there will be a future for Klal Yisroel. Those who would allow it that they can learn Torah and release the Torah scholars so they can learn without interruption, will have a great privilege in maintaining Klal Yisroel and all the inhabitants of the Land of Israel," said Rabbi Aharon Leib.

Malcolm Hoenlein gave over to R' Aharon Leib his feelings of his meetings and conversations with the heads of government, "They want to pass the matter in the best way without unnecessary wars," he said , "and aim to allow those who want to work, that they can do so in a proper manner."

R' Aharon Leib repeated and said "We must demand of the prime minister and those at his side, to enable each avrech and young yeshiva student that he would be able to only learn Torah. And to allow anyone who wants to continue to devote his life to Torah study, to be able do so without interference."

The Council of Torah Sages trip which was canceled, was also discussed in the meeting. Hoenlein said: "It's siata dishmaya that the trip did not turn out at the end, it would not have had an affect nor would it have caused a change in attitudes among Israeli officials."

Immediately after the meeting with R' Aharon Leib, Hoenlein went to the government compound in Tel Aviv for a meeting with Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon.

As recalled upon his landing at Ben Gurion, Hoenlein was at the Belzer Rebbe. Last night Hoenlein met with MK Israel Eichler at the Knesset.

Hoenlein reported to him about his conversations with government leaders on pressing issues. MK Eichler explained to Hoenlein that "the danger of decrees is not only for Haredi Jewry but to Israel's image in the eyes of the whole world. The Arab world and the West will be happy to present it as an apartheid state persecuting the Jewish children in Israel," he said.

After Shabbos Hoenlein will return to the U.S..

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!