Harav Ovadia Yosef Addresses Yeshivah Draft

“A difficult decree hovers over us, of drafting yeshivah students,” the Rav said to the mispallelim of the shul where he davened Shacharis on Sunday and where he delivers a regular halachah shiur. “Fortunate is the one whose toil is in Torah and who generates nachas for his Creator, and they want to eradicate this nachas ruach. [We are] surrounded by enemies, surrounded by those who hate us, and these evil people hate the Torah, it all doesn’t matter to them, they want to impose decrees on us, harsh, bad decrees.

“We are in deeply troubled times. The Torah is in danger. When will there be talmidei chachamim if they are drafted to the army? Rabbosai, we are in a big trouble, great danger, have mercy on your children, have mercy on your grandchildren, so that they should toil in Torah. How will this happen? We will need, chas v’shalom, to leave Eretz Yisrael and travel abroad, to wait until the authorities will allow us, will free the bnei yeshivah for us.”

Harav Yosef continued, “We are in a great tzaar. Therefore, now is the time for each and every person to go and vote for the parties that are for the Torah, that help Torah, that want to strengthen Torah. All those who go to other parties — woe unto them from the day of judgment, woe unto them from the day of rebuke; what will they reply?

“Woe unto them from the rebuke. Hashem will tell them: How have you left My Torah in the hands of these evil people? You voted for evil people who hate Torah. [Hashem], call off the designs of our enemies and spoil their intentions.”