"There is no need to explain the value of Chinuch Atzmai,
which was founded by gedolei Yisroel of the previous
generation. Thousands of children receive a Torah education
there. Now hovering over [the system] is a definite danger
that it will be unable to continue and they will have to
close Chinuch Atzmai schools. So certainly one who is able to
help has a holy obligation not to stand by and watch this
holy enterprise get swallowed up," said Maran HaRav Yosef
Sholom Eliashiv, shlita, in a special satellite
broadcast to American Jews.
Held in the home of HaRav Eliashiv's son-in-law HaRav Ezriel
Auerbach, the lofty event was attended by HaRav Aharon
Feldman, a member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and rosh yeshiva
of Yeshivas Ner Israel of Baltimore, HaRav Yosef Efrati,
chairman of the Chinuch Atzmai Rabbinical Committee, and
Chinuch Atzmai heads Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Leizerson, Rabbi
Meir Luria and Rabbi Tzvi Baumel.
Rabbi Lazerson opened the event, speaking about the
importance of the gathering led by Maran for the sake of
Chinuch Atzmai. He then introduced HaRav Feldman, noting his
dedication to Chinuch Atzmai and saying that even in normal
times chareidi Jewry in the US, through the inspiration and
direction of its spiritual leaders and Torah giants, provided
firm and loyal support for Chinuch Atzmai throughout the
years. Chinuch Atzmai is the R' Yehoshua Ben Gamla of our
generation, and were it not for it, Torah would have been
forgotten from yaldei Yisroel chas vesholom. "All the
more so today, as harsh decrees are falling on the pure Torah
education system and its freedom is being restricted, are we
urgently in need of help from our brothers in the Diaspora in
order to fulfill the task with which we were charged by the
Supreme Providence."
Afterwards Rabbi Moshe Luria presented in detail the series
of budgetary cuts preventing Chinuch Atzmai from carrying out
its mission properly. He made special note of the
difficulties involved in transporting thousands of boys and
girls and the urgent need to obtain assistance from abroad in
order to confront the Education Ministry's severe
cutbacks.
During the meeting, which left a strong impression on the
participants, HaRav Feldman posed a number of halachic
questions regarding tzedokoh, most notably a question
from the chareidi communities in the US seeking HaRav
Eliashiv's opinion on whether to give priority in
tzedokoh matters to their own local educational
institutions or to Chinuch Atzmai. Maran ruled that since
Chinuch Atzmai institutions are engaged in the spiritual
rescue of children who are liable otherwise to fall into a
state of spiritual corruption were it not for Chinuch Atzmai
schools, helping them has a din of pidyon
shevuyim, which takes preference over aniyei
ircho.
Maran added a prayer that HaKodosh Boruch Hu will help
and provide enough resources to allow Jews donate adequately
to both their local institutions and to institutions here in
Eretz Yisroel.
The gathering was closed by HaRav Efrati, who said in
addition to the mitzvah of supporting the holy educational
enterprise of Chinuch Atzmai there is also the matter of
complying with the words of chachmei haTorah. Thus all
who support Chinuch Atzmai also fulfill the mitzvah of "lo
sosur mikol asher yorucho," a reference to the founders
of Chinuch Atzmai, zechusom yogein oleinu, and
ylct"a the gedolim of our own generation headed
by Maran HaRav Eliashiv shlita--and may it not be said
our hands spilled this spiritual blood by failing to make it
possible for Chinuch Atzmai to continue and develop.
