"To our Brothers, Bnei Yisroel the World Over: A Fire in the
Camp
"Our eyes shed copious tears upon seeing Jewish youngsters
who have been cut down and are withering at the height of
their growth. Youngsters who were once the pride of their
families and outstanding students -- or might have been --
have become dropouts who roam the streets and degenerate
from day to day. Recently this phenomenon is on the
increase, and youngsters from the finest chareidi homes have
fallen spiritually: both boys and girls. Their souls are
being burned in the city's streets, but no one pays heed to
their predicament.
"According to Chazal, seeing one's child degenerate is more
painful than the pangs of Gog Umogog. Can we remain silent
or stand by idly at such a crucial hour? Has anyone
guaranteed us that this fire won't consume us, too? In our
generation of ikvesa deMeshicha no one is immune to
affliction. Each and every one of us is in need of much
rachmei Shomayim.
"This situation could have been avoided! Had appropriate
help been extended to those youngsters prior to their
downfall, they would not have dropped out of the yeshiva
framework. Had there been a lifeboat or an anchor, these
youngsters would surely have been saved from the street. In
the meantime, the situation is appalling; the street is
ablaze and the community is unaware of what is occurring.
There is barely a street without a breach or cries of
devastated neshomos. We must arouse ourselves from
our indifference and cry out: `Woe to us!' We must not
sleep, but must wake up before it is too late.
Who can say; "My hands have not spilled this blood?"
"The obligation to save these youngsters rests on each and
every one of us, for the expense of saving such children is
too huge for parents to bear on their won. Kol Yisroel
areivim zeh lozeh!
"But we are not alone. The Nesivos Yitzchok Association,
directed by HaRav Yitzchok Waxman, has stated its express
goal to save these unfortunate youngsters: to extricate them
from the whirlpool of life threatening to suck them in.
Since its founding eight years ago, it has proven itself.
With great mesirus nefesh it has saved hundreds of
youngsters from deteriorating. Nesivos Yitzchok is crucial
to our times. Had it not been established, the entire
community would have been obligated to rise up and found
such an organization. The organization heads are inundated
with requests for help, but unfortunately, financial straits
prevent them from widening their activities.
"We call upon each and every yirei Shomayim to lend a
hand to this holy, distinguished enterprise. Do not let its
blessed, vital work come to an end. There are constant
demands for expansion of its activities all over the
country. Every household head must rally to its aid and
contribute to this vital rescue medium.
All of us, as "one man with one heart," must join forces to
guarantee the success of Nesivos Yitzchok.
"On the merit of this great mitzvah may we be saved from the
calamities threatening us. May Hashem in His kindness cast
upon us a spirit of kedushoh and tohoroh and
may we merit to see our children growing in Torah and
yiras Shomayim.
"Let us all band together to do His Will with a complete
heart."
Signed by: HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, HaRav Aharon Yehuda
Leib Steinman, HaRav Moshe Shmuel Shapira, HaRav Michel
Yehuda Lefkowitz, HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg, HaRav
Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, HaRav Shmuel
Auerbach, HaRav Mayer Tzvi Bergman, HaRav Elchonon
Perlmenter, HaRav Yaakov Edelstein, HaRav Yitzchok
Zilberstein
