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NEWS
Historic Joint Meeting of Both Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah
Calls for Support of UTJ
by Betzalel Kahn
The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah of Degel Hatorah and of Agudath
Israel held a historic joint meeting last Thursday in which
maranan verabonon called on the entire community to
join forces in order to strengthen United Torah Jewry,
particularly in view of the great threats hovering over Am
Yisroel and as anti-religious antagonism increases.
The special gathering, the first to bring together such a
broad range of gedolei Torah in many years, was held
in the home of HaRav A. Y. L. Shteinman with numerous
rabbonim in attendance, including HaRav Michel Yehuda
Lefkowitz, HaRav S. Y. Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Tzvi Markowitz,
HaRav Shmuel Auerbach, the Admor of Gur, the Admor of Belz,
the Admor of Tzanz, the Admor of Sadigor, the Admor of
Modzhitz and HaRav Efraim Fishel Rabinowitz.
The meeting made waves in various sectors and drew
considerable media attention. Hundreds gathered around HaRav
Shteinman's home on Bnei Brak's Chazon Ish Street late
Thursday afternoon to witness the arrival of gedolei
Yisroel, and camera crews were on hand to convey the rare
sight to the general public.
Once the rabbonim were seated around a table, HaRav Shteinman
opened the meeting of Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah with a short,
impassioned message about the critical nature of these times
and the significance of uniting Klal Yisroel through
this gathering of tzadikim.
An intensive one-hour discussion ensued, driven by
recognition of the great responsibility resting on their
shoulders during a time when great peril lurks both without
and within, namely the dire state of the economy and national
security, and the hate message against the Torah and Torah-
faithful Jews which has become the mainstay of the current
elections campaign. The rabbonim emphasized the power of mass
public unity, besiyata deShmaya, to counter this
threat.
During the meeting pain and concern were expressed over the
wretched state of today's youth, when hundreds of thousands
of them are unfamiliar with Shema Yisroel. Deep sorrow
over recent breaches of chilul Shabbos and the plague
of assimilation was also voiced. At the end of the meeting a
series of decisions were formulated (see sidebar). Gedolei
Yisroel called for increased teshuvoh,
tefilloh, tzedoko, Torah learning, greater
attention to mitzvos bein odom lechavero and
strengthened kiruv efforts. They also called on the
public to vote only for UTJ-Agudath Israel-Degel HaTorah, by
casting a ballot card for "Gimmel," and chas vesholom
not to vote for candidates who do not even keep Shabbos; to
work towards unity; and to persuade other voters, in a
congenial manner, to support UTJ and its efforts to stand
guard over Judaism. They also noted that the very act of
voting is a kiddush shem Shomayim berabbim.
HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg sent a letter of blessing
which read, "I was pleased to hear about the gathering of
gedolei hador held at the home of the Gaon HaRav
Aharon Leib Shteinman, shlita, a gathering of
tzadikim that is to their and the world's credit. I am
unable to participate in this gathering, but I wholehearted
join the call of gedolei hador, shlita, that each and
every individual must act to promote the success of UTJ-
Agudas Israel-Degel HaTorah . . . and may we have the merit
to stir rachamei Shomayim upon Klal Yisroel,
and may Hashem desire that we succeed in increasing Torah
and glorifying it."
A letter sent by the Admor of Vishnitz read, "The very fact
the Councils are holding a meeting is a blessing. I am very
pleased to see unity prevail. We must work together for the
sake of Yiddishkeit, for Judaism, which is the source
of life for every Jew. May a vigorous call go forth to work
toward strengthening the UTJ-Agudath Israel-Degel HaTorah
list."
Following the meeting maranan verabonon issued a
particularly impassioned notice calling on the public to
promote and cast their ballots for Gimmel. Under the heading,
"Mi leHashem Eileinu," the notice points out that
several critical issues are on the agenda in the upcoming
elections, including matters that touch the foundations of
the Jewish religion, the existence of the yeshivas and the
sanctity of Shabbos in Eretz Hakodesh, as well as other
weighty matters affecting Klal Yisroel.
"We are merely fulfilling the directives of the earlier
generations, the tzadikim and geonim of the
Holy Land, the Cedars of Lebanon and the shepherds of Israel,
may their merit protect us, who have stated their holy
opinion, daas Torah, that it is obligatory to take
part in the Knesset elections and to lend support to our
representatives, emissaries of the rabbonim. Gedolei
Yisroel shlita, are issuing a call to work in all
earnestness for the success of United Torah Jewry-Gimmel,
which incorporates the spirit of gedolei Torah and
Chassidus. And nobody is allowed to exempt oneself
from this obligation."
Rav Yechiel Michel Feinstein also issued a call supporting
Gimmel. His letter reads, "It is now clear that a great deal
depends on the results of these elections and Rachmono
litzlan religion is being pursued in an effort to uproot
all that is holy. Enemies of the Jewish religion from the
Left are stressing propaganda aimed at destroying fundamental
principles and the holy yeshivas, while the right is
publicizing heresy by preaching beliefs in things that stand
in opposition to our holy Torah. Therefore each and every
individual has an obligation to participate by voting for and
promoting the Gimmel list alone, which will increase the
number of representatives in the next Knesset and will guard
kodshei Yisroel and Torah observance."
The signatures on the "Krias Kodesh" for the UTJ list
were:
Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, Moshe Yehoshua (Admor of Vishnitz),
Aharon Yehuda Leib Steinman, Yaakov Aryeh Alter (Admor of
Gur), Yisochor Dov (Admor of Belz), Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz,
Tzvi Elimelech (Admor of Zanz), Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg,
Avrohom Yaakov (Admor of Sadigor), S. Y. Nissim Karelitz,
Avrohom Menachem Danziger (Admor of Alexander), Tzvi
Markowitz, Chaim Meir Yechiel Shapira (Admor of Norol),
Avrohom Yaakov Zalesnik, Yisroel Don Taub (Admor of
Modzhitz), Chaim Kanievsky, Shmuel Auerbach, Levi Yitzchok of
Boston (Admor of Boston), Boruch Rosenberg, Yitzchok Shlomo
Ungar (gavad Chug Chasam Sofer), Yehuda Shapira, Binyomin
Yehoshua Zilber (author of Oz Nidberu), Gershon Edelstein,
Efraim Fishel Rabinowitz (rosh yeshivas Tiferes Yisroel
Ruzhin), Meir Tzvi Bergman, Eliezer Berland (rosh yeshivas
Shuvu Bonim), Yehuda Ades, Nissim Toledano
HaRav Yechiel Michel Feinstein also wrote a separate note
saying that it was "obligatory upon everyone to participate,
vote and strengthen the list, letter "Gimmel," whose
representatives . . . will stand watch on kodshei Yisroel
veshemiras HaTorah."
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Decisions
At a meeting of the leaders of Am Yisroel, a united meeting
of maranan verabonon Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah reached
the following decisions:
Am Yisroel in Eretz Yisroel and the Diaspora is facing a
difficult period, as sonei Yisroel rear their heads to
harm all that falls under the name "Yisroel." The nations are
riling each other up and the lamb of Yisroel is left among
seventy wolves and is in need of rachmei Shomayim. The
economic state is also dire, and Amcho Yisroel is in need of
parnossoh. Am Yisroel must strengthen its faith. We
have no recourse other than to lean on our Father in Heaven,
through teshuvoh, tefilloh and tzedoko.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is calling for increased Torah
learning everywhere: Those who have the merit to sit in the
tents of Torah should increase their efforts in Torah, the
chareidi public should augment Torah learning; ish es
rei'eihu ya'azoru ule'ochiv yomar chazak; endeavors
should be made to bring our wayward brothers closer; we
should pour out our hearts in pleading and tefilloh;
we should show greater care in mitzvos bein odom
leMokom and in mitzvos bein odom lechavero; we
should be particularly prudent in performing the mitzvah of
ve'ohavtoh lerei'acho kemocho--and then Yisroel will
be granted eternal salvation by Hashem.
We are greatly pained to see the enemies of religion increase
their power as they openly declare their evil intent to
uproot the soul of the Jewish people and are being assisted
by instigators who increase the hatred against all those who
carry the banner of Moshe's Torah. Moetzes Gedolei Yisroel is
calling out to the spark of light in every Jew--al noh
achai torei'u--to gaze at the Creator Who formed you and
see how your forefathers and their forefathers gave their
heart and soul to safeguard even the tip of every yud
written in the Torah.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah regard with great pain and concern
the wretched state of today's youth, the Nation's future, at
a time when hundreds of thousands of Jewish children are
deprived of even being taught the meaning of Shema Yisroel
and have no opportunity to taste the sweet honey of Toras
Yisroel. Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah expresses its dread over the
plague of assimilation spreading among numerous Diaspora
communities far from Torah, and of late, in Eretz Hakodesh as
well. This assimilation eats away at the walls protecting the
survival of the Jewish people, which has been sustained ever
since it became a people.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah views with dread the breaches
emerging in the walls of Shabbos Kodesh, including the
opening of shopping malls on Shabbos. This call is directed
at all who have the power to act to defend against Shabbos
desecration--likras Shabbos lechu veneilchoh ki hi mekor
habrochoh.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah expresses a desire to safeguard the
spiritual future and survival of every single Jew.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is calling to all those with a fear
of Hashem in their hearts to vote in the upcoming elections
for UTJ-Agudath Israel-Degel HaTorah alone, by casting a
ballot card for "Gimmel," and chas vesholom not to
vote for candidates who do not even keep Shabbos; to work
toward unity; and to persuade other voters, in a congenial
manner, to support UTJ and its efforts to stand guard over
Judaism. The very act of voting is a kiddush Hashem
borabbim. Those who vote for and work to promote the
Gimmel list will merit blessings from Heaven in all their
deeds.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is calling on avreichim to set
aside a certain amount of time every day from the 17th of
Shevat until after the elections to promote this matter.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah recognizes the value of electing UTJ-
Agudath Israel-Degel Hatorah representatives who have worked
and will work as much as possible to stand guard over Judaism
and for the merit for Torah-faithful Jews to continue to live
in Eretz Yisroel.
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah is turning to the Creator to pray
that the merit of unity and efforts to defend kodshei
Yisroel and to save Klal Yisroel will stir compassion for
the Jewish people in Eretz Yisroel and around the world in
these difficult times, to save them from their pursuers and
to protect them from all those who rise up against them. May
Hashem bless Am Yisroel with physical well-being and great
light, and may our Redemption come soon with the arrival of a
redeemer swiftly in our days, amen.
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