Moetzes: Full Time Torah Learners Must Be Permitted to Toil in Torah

After prolonged consultations on Sunday, the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Agudas Yisrael of Eretz Yisrael has decided they would remain steadfast in their resolve that all yeshiva students must be allowed to continue learning Torah for as long as they desire. The Moetzes instructed the MKs to establish this decision as a clear policy.

The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah proclaimed the importance of Torah study, in all generations and all times, and under all forms of government in the world. “Jews have risked their lives to learn Torah, and Torah alone is what preserved the Jewish nation, despite persecution, throughout the millennia, whereas other nations have disappeared and vanished.”

The meeting, which took place at the Executive Committee of Agudas Yisrael in Yerushalayim, was attended by the Rebbes of: Ger, Belz, Vizhnitz, Sanz, Slonim, Boyan, Biala, Seret-Viznitz, Modzitz, and Sadigura.

The Vizhnitzer Rebbe opened the assembly by blessing the outgoing Secretary of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah, Rabbi Mordechai Stern, who served with skill and grace. In addition, he conveyed his blessing to the incoming Secretary, Rabbi Yaakov Veltzer.

The president of the Vaad Hayeshivos, Harav Chaim Aharon Kaufman, gave a detailed review what was taking place in the scope of the Vaad Hayeshivos concerning the postponement of the draft. The Agudas Yisrael MKs reported about the measures taken to protect the status of bnei Torah who study Torah full time.

After an intense and thorough discussion, the following was decided:

1) The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah emphasizes that those who learn the holy Torah are the protectors of the Jewish nation from the hazards of the times in all generations. We will remain steadfast, even at the cost of martyrdom, that the Torah learners should be able to toil in Torah for as long as they desire, as has been the case until now.

2) The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah instructed the MKs to see to it that this decision shall be implemented as a clear policy and shall act in accordance with it.

The Secretary general of Agudas Yisrael and mayor of Bnei Brak, Rabbi Chanoch Ziebert, painfully reported the breach in Shabbos desecration and, last but not least, what has transpired recently in Bnei Brak, the city of Shabbos, where the barriers of Shabbos observance were brazenly breached.

The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah decided to publicize a sharp protest concerning the harm done to the crown of the Jewish nation, the holy Shabbos. They encouraged all to do whatever is possible to fortify the defense of Shabbos and the prevention of its desecration.