At the Moetzes meeting. There are plastic dividers.
Led by Maran Sar HaTorah HaRav Chaim Kanievsky shlita and Maran Rosh Hayeshiva HaRav Gershon Edelstein shlita, the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah met last Friday erev Shabbos parshas Vayishlach.
HaRav Yitzchok Shaul Kanievsky delivered the remarks of his father HaRav Chaim.
"After having lived through difficult times last year, both in body and spirit, with the closing of shuls and botei medrash, causing us great damage, these latter were, Boruch Hashem, reopened in Cheshvan, including yeshivos and chadorim. These are what will prevent the epidemic from spreading since it is Torah which protects and saves, as Rav says in Pesochim 5, 'Let it come upon me and my neck.'
"Chanukah is approaching, a time when the Greeks sought to eradicate Torah and deflect us from the laws of Your will. Therefore, we are obligated to strengthen ourselves all the more in Torah study and diligence so that we merit what is written in Tractate Shabbos that whoever perseveres in mitzvah candles will be blessed with sons who are talmidei chachomim. Rashi comments that the light from Shabbos and Chanukah candles creates a great illumination of Torah, and if we are fortified in this light of Torah on Chanukah, we will merit sons who are talmidei chachomim.
"I hereby wish to thank all those who joined the ranks of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah to strengthen the hands of all those who toil in Torah, with all the askonim, emissaries of our rabbonim, to make it possible for yeshiva students to devote themselves fully to Torah and prayer, all their days, and to reinforce them in all other matters which require such support. May we all merit seeing the elevation of Torah, and see the Geula Shleima, speedily in our days."
"Chanukah is a time for Intensifying Torah Study"
HaRav Gershon Edelstein also addressed the meeting.
"Boruch Hashem for our having been able to gather here to bring merit to the public in those matters which require reinforcement. Thanks to Hashem, we have increased the numbers of gedolei Torah in joining the ranks of the Moetzes Degel HaTorah. May we all merit in aiding the public to augment the honor of Hashem.
"We are fortunate in being able, after the sickness, to toil in Torah as before, with all the possibilities of the past, with all cautionary measures, to be sure.
"Chanukah will soon be upon us. For many past years, Chanukah has become a time of increased and intensified Torah study in many places. Chanukah is not bein hazmanim but a time of dedicated study time in Torah, and in many places this is recognized and practiced. We hope that this year, too, Torah institutions will continue to toil in Torah during Chanukah as should be.
"There is a need to see to it that yeshiva students be able to study Torah without digression. We hope for Siyata deShmaya that those involved in this purpose succeed in their objective to organize matters that all those involved in Torah study continue without interference for this is our life and the length of our days.
"There is another vital issue to deal with: that of conversion. Whoever is in a position to stand guard that conversion abide with the Halochoh and not, chas vesholom, otherwise is urged to do so.
"May it be His will that we all bring merit to the public in all matters of sanctifying Hashem's Name."
