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4 Adar 5773 - February 14, 2013 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Study: Chareidi Politicians are Not Extortionists

A study carried out by Ido Almakayis, a senior researcher in the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute, indicates that there is no basis to the claim that the sectarian parties, including the chareidi parties, are more successful in winning political gains than others. One of the main criticisms of religious parties is that by serving as "kingmakers" they manage to garner benefits for their constituents far out of proportion to their actual numbers.

A Great and Bitter Outcry

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.

Decisions of the Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah

The Moetzes Gedolei Hatorah is upset and fearful and expresses its deep pain at the ugly wave of incitement instigated by a handful of people that floods the residents of Eretz Yisroel directed against the chareidim ledvar Hashem, and in particular against those who study the holy Torah in whose merit the world exists. We mean the dear bnei yeshivos who study Torah day and night, and grow in yiras Shomayim in an atmosphere of kedushoh and taharoh. People come to undermine their standing through various efforts to interfere with their growth in Torah and yiras Shomayim.

The Point of Drafting Yeshiva Students is to Make Torah Obsolete

"We are facing a decisive period regarding the survival of the Torah world and the Israeli nation as a whole," said HaRav David Cohen, Rosh Yeshivas Chevron and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, in a message of chizuk delivered to his talmidim. "Most distressingly, irresponsible, mean people have succeeded in inciting the public against the Torah world through false demagoguery in a base demand for `sharing the burden' [regarding military service]. `At the site of justice, there lies wickedness.' They abolished the status quo which was established at the foundation of the State of absolving clerical students from the draft, thus raising an ax against the illustrious Torah world which Providentially sprang up here in Eretz Yisroel from the ashes of the Holocaust. This generation constitutes Bnei Torah who toil in Torah as their life's pursuit and ascend constantly higher in their knowledge and piety and who verily support the State of Israel, protecting it from the seventy wolves surrounding it from all sides, bent upon uprooting us from the world."

Rain and Kinneret Watch

As of February 14 (4 Adar) 502 millimeters of rain had fallen in the Jerusalem area during the current season (August 1 to date). This represents 150% of the average rainfall for this period and 93% of the average rainfall for the entire season in the Jerusalem area which is 537 mm. There was no rain in the past week.


HaAdmor Rabbi Yitzchok Eizik of Kaliv, ztvk"l
In honor of his yahrtzeit, 7 Adar

All year round, the kever of R' Eizik'l of Kaliv was a focal point for Hungarian Jews. It was there that many a broken heart found solace, and those in need of salvation found their prayers answered. The Divrei Chaim of Zanz was once heard to remark that the holiness of R' Eizik'l can be felt for a three mile radius around the burial site.

From Our Archives


Opinion and Comment
A Middos Workshop: Waging War With Jealousy (Part 2)

Based on shiurim of Rav Dovid Siegel

Now that we have presented several issues of our Middos Workshop, this may be a good time to address a basic question: What are middos?

Opinion and Comment

Challenges of the Modern World: Life is Dear


People no longer are so opposed to bloodshed. They even seek it out as "entertainment."



"Army Forward Command Post" is a toy sold in the USA. It is a doll house set up as a home that has been hit by a bomb: there are holes in the roof, one wall is demolished and bullets are scattered on the floor. It is marketed as appropriate for children aged five and up, and comes with dozens of "accessories," including a machine gun, rocket launcher, magazine belt and explosives. It was sold by mainstream, respectable US stores like Toys "R" Us and J. C. Penney (though it is reportedly no longer available).

Opinion and Comment

Rav Yisroel Salanter's Teachings In Yerushalayim -- The Beis Hamussar and Yeshivas Or Chodosh, Founded By Talmidim Of The Alter Of Kelm


by B. Re'eim

120th Yahrtzeit of HaRav Yisroel Salanter: 25 Shvat

From Kelm To The Old City

In his introduction to HaRav Yisroel Salanter's Or Yisroel, HaRav Yitzchok Blazer zt'l writes that some of the greatest among his rebbe's talmidim, "followed his holy path and worked to spread his teachings and his goodly approach to mussar to benefit the public and to draw their souls closer to the study of the fear of Heaven and of mussar. A spark of this light also went to illuminate the east, the holy site, Tzion and Yerushalayim. There too, there was a remnant to whom Hashem called, disciples of his disciples, who dwell in the tent of Torah and engage in Torah debate. They instituted the holy path of the study of mussar and yir'oh among themselves and through them, light shone forth. May they succeed in swelling their ranks, through Torah and the pure fear of Heaven."




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