In an awesome, moving, historic event which will be remembered for all generations, the elders of the Jewish community, maranan verabbonon, leaders of the various kehillos and, of course, the members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of both Degel HaTorah and Agudas Yisroel, gathered to vehemently protest the terrible decree hovering over Klal Yisroel regarding the mobilization of yeshiva students. Not since the establishment of the State has the threat been so drastic as to completely change the face of the Jewish People by proposing to forcibly eject yeshiva students from the halls of Torah, the spiritual greenhouse and nurturing ground of Jewry from generation to generation.
In a stirring, poignant and very awesome gathering, an urgent and adamant demand was formulated to be presented to the heads of the government not to make any changes whatsoever in the time honored status quo in matters regarding the character of Judaism. The gathering's main feature was the talk of the Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, who burst into tears as he cried out that "This matter is a genuine life-and-death issue; Klal Yisroel must be allowed to continue the study of Torah without obstacles and interference." He vehemently protested the attempt to uproot the mighty oak and firm roots of the Jewish people, and his heartfelt, acute words made their wings throughout the corners of the entire Jewish world, and were heard with dread.
Massive prayers were offered at the meeting for the recovery of HaRav Mordechai ben Hinde Malka Ezrachi, member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah and Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Yisroel, who was suddenly taken to bed.
"Jewry assembled for the sake of their lives."
When the Rosh Yeshiva began speaking, everyone was gripped with the awareness of the heavy yoke of accountability for the entire generation resting heavily upon the shoulders of the acclaimed leader of this generation, very advanced in age, who depicted that responsibility as guarded by the transmitters of Torah from previous generations. He looked meaningfully at the leaders of Torah and Chassidus, entrusting them to carry on the battle, to cry out from the depths of their hearts and rend asunder the blocked hearts and clogged-up ears.
He began his message, saying, "Familiar are the words of Rabbenu Saadya Gaon who said that 'Our nation is a nation because of the Torah.' Its very survival is intertwined with Torah and without it, there can be no Klal Yisroel, Consequently, it is our very life; life without Torah is inconceivable. Removing it is verily uprooting the entire tree and roots of our people!"
At this point, his voice choked and he was unable to continue. After a pause, however, he resumed, "What will be if they uproot the tree with its roots!" He burst into sobs of alarm for the future of Klal Yisroel, a cry of pain for all of Jewry which plucked the heartstrings of all the participants.
"This affects our very lives and threatens the continuation of our people to be able to dedicate themselves to studying Torah and keeping the mitzvos," he cried out from the very depths of his heart, and again, burst into tears, evoking the tears of the Torah leaders and all of the audience as well. Those tears expressed the pain of our people, of the exiled Shechina and a sharing of the pain of the Rosh Yeshiva who bears the burden of his people like a nursemaid, with deep concern lest foreign plantings penetrate our camp and lest any changes whatsoever be made it the time-worn traditions transmitted down through the ages.
He suddenly assumed a strong stature, now addressing his words to the government authorities, reminiscent of the stance which the Chofetz Chaim had taken while standing before the Polish Minister, and of the Ksav Sofer who stood before Emperor Franz Joseph when asking that decrees against religion be rescinded. "We are asking and beseeching the government not to create difficulties, for this will result in the uprooting of our people, its mighty oak along with its many roots."
