An overwhelming spirit of unity prevailed at a landmark
gathering of United Torah Jewry representatives that opened
near Tiberius at Kibbutz Lavi on Sunday, marking the first
time Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisrael representatives have
met to work side-by-side in such a forum. Hundreds of
participants arrived from across the country to take part in
the three-day seminar painstakingly organized by UTJ. The
opening speakers voiced strident opposition to the current
threat hanging over the Torah world and the chareidi
sector.
The opening session began with an address by Agudas Yisrael
Chairman Rabbi Yosef Cooperberg, who welcomed the
representatives and public figures from the entire spectrum
of the chareidi public who traveled to the edge of the
country to take part in the event. He was followed by MK
Rabbi Avrohom Ravitz, who applauded all of the participants
for their efforts for the public's sake. "I would like to say
that it may very well be quite difficult for us, particularly
in the education system. We politicians cannot promise you or
ourselves that we will be able to overcome all and continue
living the same as before. [But] when I see the togetherness
I also see the one big strength of United Torah Jewry," he
said.
The Admor of Vishnitz sent his blessings via his son-in-law,
HaRav Menachem Mendel Ernster, rosh yeshivas Vishnitz. HaRav
Ernster reported that upon entering his father-in-law's inner
sanctum on motzei Shabbos the Rebbe said, "I am very glad
that they are gathering together to take action for the sake
of Torah and Judaism and to do Hashem's will. Through the
power of unity a great deal can be accomplished. May it be a
great success."
The Admor of Gur sent his blessings with HaRav Nochum
Rothstein, rosh yeshivas Nezer HaTorah, saying, "May the
participants and activists have brochoh and
hatzlochoh."
Then HaRav Yosef Efrati arrived, bringing with him a message
from Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv. "I have been given
the honor of conveying the blessings of Maran HaRav Eliashiv,
shlita, to this important gathering. B'ezras
Hashem may it be a meeting for the sake of Heaven, may
HaKodosh Boruch Hu help us to have brochoh and
hatzlochoh in the conference and its results."
Added HaRav Efrati, "Many people turn to gedolei
Yisroel asking, `What is our task during such times? What
do we have to do?' It goes without saying that when it comes
to [the chareidi] public we do not act according to our own
understanding, neither as individuals nor UTJ as a whole, but
we ask, want, pray and plead to act in accordance with the
guidance of gedolei Yisroel, in accordance with
daas Torah. Therefore when practical questions arise
regarding how to act against the decrees, obviously we will
do nothing without consulting with rabboseinu gedolei
Yisroel.
"But what I have been instructed to bring before this
important gathering is a number of important points [HaRav
Eliashiv] mentioned briefly: First of all, we must repeatedly
remind ourselves of Rav Saadia Gaon's formulation, `Our
people is a people only through its Torah.' If an evil
thought enters our minds periodically, there is a slackening
in understanding the issue, and no wonder there is a decline
in the general public. This follows the maxim that when Torah
learning diminishes in Vilna there is a mumar in
Berlin. If among us there are the slightest thoughts not
based on the true foundation that there can be no Am Yisroel
without Torah, then the degeneration of the party opposed to
the Torah and the nation of the Torah escalates. We ascribe
our security to the true `guardians of the city.' Who guards
over this nation? Who guards over this land? Lomdei
Torah!
"But contemplation is not enough; we must act. When a
conference of hundreds of Jews is held here with public
representatives of chareidi Jewry at all levels--the
municipal level, the national level--particularly on such
occasions each and every one of us must think, `How can I do
something positive, in practical terms, against the hatred
and the actions taken against the Torah? How can I act in my
city, in my neighborhood, in my area, on the national level,
to increase Torah and promote Torah scholars?'
"At [the Sixth Agudas Yisroel Knessiah in 5740] when Maran
HaRav Shach zt'l spoke on this matter with such
forceful trembling, saying without Torah there is no Nation
and no Land . . . he cited the Yerushalmi in
maseches Demai as HaRav Meir Shapira explained it in
one of the conventions: When one says, 'Vehizoh hatohor al
hatomei,' one purifier can purify several impurities. In
other words the Torah is teaching us that one tahor
can purify several temei'im. One act of purity does
not only bring another [act of] purity, but it also increases
the [number of acts of] purity. Sometimes an askan
thinks, `What do I have the power to accomplish?' We must
keep in mind that one tahor purifies several
temei'im, and one act of purity--yeshivas if that's
what one can do, a cheder if that's what one can do, a
school if that's what one can do, whatever one can do--can
lead to more and more purity.
"Yesterday Maran HaRav Eliashiv told me to ask of and say to
all of the representatives: Today it is well known that
individuals and institutions feel hard-pressed, and
undoubtedly there will be many more requests for help and the
representatives are loaded with holy work. But their
obligation at a time like this is to ensure that chas
vesholom not a single request regarding kodshei
Shomayim goes unanswered; that a Jew wherever he may be
should feel palpably, and not just in words, that the
representatives on every level, the municipal and the
national, are both shluchei deRachmono and our own
envoys. Because particularly at a time like this they are
being called upon to carry out the King's will. And for all
of us, the way to fight against the decrees is definitely not
through demonstrations but through increasing the light,
increasing Torah, shiurei Torah. This is the way we
will merit annulling the decrees. By strengthening every
school, every Beis Yaakov, every Chinuch Atzmai institution,
every Torah yeshiva, every institution that increases Torah
and chesed, be'ezras Hashem we will merit
holding the next conference after the decrees have been
annulled and eradicated."
Rav Yitzchok Levinstein, Rosh Yeshivas Bircas Yitzchok,
conveyed the message sent by HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman.
"When I asked the Rosh Yeshiva shlita what to say, he
began to cry and he cried until he could speak. He asked me
to cite the gemora mentioned at the meeting of Moetzes
Gedolei HaTorah at the opening conference in America at the
big convention that was held there when the Rosh Yeshiva, and
the Admor from Gur, shlita, traveled to America to
bring a message of unity, a message on education, that it is
possible to bring about a revolution in Eretz Yisroel--which
is bearing fruits to this day. And at this opening conference
at the home of the Admor of Novominsk, shlita,
together with all of the gedolei Yisroel from America
and Europe, the Rosh Yeshiva, shlita, was asked to
speak and cited the gemora in Brochos that says
a blind person and one who cannot face in the proper
direction [i.e. towards Jerusalem] should direct his heart
toward the Heavens...and later the gemora says, 'Thus
all of Yisroel turn toward a single place.'
"And then he said that when one is definitely directing [his
efforts] for Hashem's sake it is very good, but there is a
higher level. If all of Yisroel directs their hearts toward
one place, it is an entirely different tefilloh,
entirely different barriers, as long as all of Yisroel
directs their hearts towards one place. The Kohen Godol
entered Kodesh Hakodoshim only on one day. In their
hearts Yisroel can enter Kodesh Hakodoshim at any
time. And then he asked that all Jews around the world direct
themselves toward a singular unity--belev echad--and
thus all of us can reach Kodesh Hakodoshim.
"The great gaon HaRav Shteinman, shlita, also
told me, 'These are very trying times. I can't sleep more
than half-an-hour at night and so I am in doubt about saying
Bircas HaTorah.' He is constantly asking with dread
what will become of the talmudei Torah. We want all of
Klal Yisroel to do teshuvoh--more Chinuch Atzmai
schools, more and more. And this is our task. But there's one
thing I'm sure of: with the unity in Klal Yisroel like what
has taken place here today, no one will be able to overcome
us. HaKadosh Boruch Hu will send us a different
conduit, we will no longer need this impure conduit of
theirs. But all this is if the kitrug hanging over
Klal Yisroel ceases as well. Then as a result of this
conference He Whose Name dwells in a great, exalted house
will place His Name in the great house known as United Torah
Jewry and may HaKadosh Boruch Hu help bring blessing
and peace and may everyone join into agudo echas . . .
"
During the latter part of the session Rav Cooperberg read
aloud letters of blessings from the Tsanzer Rebbe, the Gavad
of Erlau and the Bostoner Rebbe.
Rav Nosson Zochovsky, rosh yeshivas Gaon Yaakov made cutting
remarks against the affront to the honor of the Torah by a
minister from the Mafdal who made disparaging remarks about
Maran the Posek Hador on Sunday.
Agudas Yisrael's Jerusalem Chairman Rabbi Menachem Porush
said, "This is a conference designed to arouse Jews to
understand the severity of the present situation. The
conference demands that we proceed in the light cast by
gedolei Yisroel." Later in his remarks Rabbi Porush
echoed Rav Zochovsky's sentiments regarding the offensive
remarks.
"Today's gathering is in the spirit of the verse, "Lech
kenos [es haYehudim]." Are we able to appreciate our
current circumstances? I have been in public life for years
and I cannot recall, even under the Mapam government, decrees
like the present ones. In the most Leftist governments they
did not dare to uproot Judaism and make decrees like those
they are now plotting. We have an obligation to voice an
outcry that will be heard across the country. All of us must
rise up and stir the whole world over the decrees awaiting
us. We have lived through difficult periods, but such times
we have not known. We must declare war against such a
government that issues such decrees, that will have
repercussions for five years."
Later another session entitled "The Role of UTJ in the
Opposition" was held by MK Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, followed by
a session led by MK Rabbi Moshe Gafni on the recent Knesset
election results.
*
A Letter from HaRav Lefkowitz of Bnei Brak
Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz Zichron Meir, Bnei Brak BS'D 25 Nisan
5763
To all of the envoys of the rabbonim and the public, the
representatives of UTJ gathered together in unity to discuss
pressing issues, may Hashem's blessing be lifted upon you.
During this period when haters of Hashem have banded together
to work in tandem to accomplish various schemes against
shomrei Torah umitzvos, public representatives must
rise up against them, declaring in a loud voice that will
reveal to all the masses in Eretz Hakodesh and in the
Diaspora that their true intent is to break our spirit, to
harm our educational institutions and the holy yeshivas and
every family blessed with sons and daughters who maintain the
ways of our forefathers by bringing upon them the shame of
hunger. Those who constantly extol the merits of democracy
are pursuing practices that clearly discriminate against the
shomrei Torah umitzvos sector, a practice not found in
any other civilized state.
We must voice our objection in the language of the verse,
"Kol kli yutzar olayich lo yitzloch." And in response
to your statements of "pen yarbeh" we say, "ken
yarbeh," i.e. we will hold fast and keep the sacred watch
over education as we received it from our holy forefathers
and rabbonim in sanctity and purity and we will maintain the
yeshivas and the kollelim with greater vigor and
dedication, and even in the face of austerity we will
continue to increase Torah and those who toil in it.
Therefore you who have gathered together to discuss in
unanimity the most effective ways to strengthen and assist
Torah institutions and all shomrei Torah umitzvos
families are to be blessed. And when we grow stronger in this
we are guaranteed that HaKodosh Boruch Hu will help us
and we will merit siyata deShmaya in order to keep the
way of Hashem as we were commanded.
With broken heart [pleading] that G-d will not forsake and
will take pity on Klal Yisroel,
Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz
