Statement of the Moatzos

Lech Kenoss Es Kol HaYehudim

It is not a time to desist, when those from among the government in Eretz Yisrael, directed by the prime minister, rose to rebel against Malchus Shamayim, and intend, R”l, to pass laws uprooting Torah and to impose criminal sanctions on those who are Torasam umnasam, to the extent that they will be thrown into prison.

We fear the terrible chillul Hashem, and the elbonah shel Torah, that this involves. We fear the result and are pained by the continuing harassment directed at the Torah world and the constant efforts to place obstacles before its every step.

As such, we have decided as follows:

The Moatzos Gedolei and Chachmei HaTorah demand that the government immediately annul the decisions of the committee regarding forced conscription to the army of yeshivah and kollel students, and call on all the bnei yeshivos and kollelim not to enlist in the army under any circumstances, and not to capitulate to temptations or punishments of any kind, and not to cooperate with the army’s plans to establish a chareidi screening center [Mercaz Miyun Chareidi], but rather to continue learning day and night.

If, chalilah, the persecutors of religion will carry out their plans to enact the forced draft law, the Moatzos Gedolei and Chachmei HaTorah will convene again to come up with a plan against the persecutors of religion. They will consider forbidding the bachurim from reporting to the recruiting centers.

The Moatzos Gedolei and Chachmei HaTorah demand that the government stop dogging the steps of the Torah world, but rather to help the Torah and education institutions in Eretz Yisrael thrive, in the path paved for us by our Rabbanim.

The Moatzos Gedolei and Chachmei HaTorah appeal to Klal Yisrael with the call: “Ein lanu shiyur — we have nothing else — rak haTorah hazos — aside from this Torah.” Learning Torah and keeping its mitzvos in holiness and purity are the protective wall for Am Yisrael wherever they are against any troubles, and that is what will stand strong in the difficult times that have befallen Klal Yisrael, wherever they are, whether as a klal or on an individual basis, spiritually or physically. We must strengthen ourselves staunchly in Torah learning and keeping the mitzvos in purity, along with all the nuances of halachah.

The Moatzos Gedolei and Chachmei HaTorah are calling on all of Am Yisrael wherever they live, in Eretz Yisrael and abroad, to grasp the craft of our forefathers in their hands and to gather “kol haYehudim yachad kol shivtei Yisrael anashim vetaf — all the Jews together, men and children” to call to Hashem strongly — that our Father in Heaven have mercy on us like a Father to His sons. We are hereby announcing that all those who are chareidim lidvar Hashem will come together in an Atzeres Tefillah and mass protest on Sunday 7 Adar II 5774. May it be a kiddush Shem Shamayim to counteract the chillul Shem Shamayim carried out by the uprooters of religion.

May Hashem hear our pleas and accept our tefillos willingly, and hasten to redeem us and bring us out from our troubles to relief, and from darkness to light, speedily in our day.

This article appeared in print on page 1 of the February 25th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.