With the presence of as full roster of Torah leaders, headed by Rabbenu HaRav Dov Lando, HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, together with HaRav Avraham Salim and many roshei yeshiva, this past Sunday saw a celebrated event of Kiddush Hashem in a welcoming gathering in honor of the students, Yair Saada, a student of Yeshivat Kisei Rahamim, and Yitzchak Rebibo, student in Yeshivas Rabbenu Chaim Ozer, who were released from the military prison for the 'crime' of studying Torah.
Against the backdrop of a resounding "Fortunate are you for having been imprisoned for studying Torah" emerging loudly from the mouth of HaRav Dov Lando,he went on to clarify the present difficult situation.
"We are very fearful, primarily over the difficult repercussions which may ensue if more yeshiva students are imprisoned. We have been trying very hard, through our representatives and other means so that our students not be disturbed from their study, one and all, with no exception."
Turning very emotionally to those who occupied the benches of the Beis Medrash but were imprisoned to fill the benches of the military prison, he declared, "... but to those who were imprisoned for having studied Torah, we show huge respect for their having stood steadfastly and courageously against temptations on the one hand, and the difficulties on the other, and hereby express our appreciation and respect for their declaration: "Many waters cannot douse the great love we have for the Torah." "
In a resounding cry, he declared, "When HaRav Amram Blau was imprisoned, the Chazon Ish paid him a visit and said: "It is not Rav Amram who is incarcerated here but also the very Shabbos!" When a yeshiva bochur is in jail for the mere reason that he wished to study Torah, it is not he who is imprisoned. Rather, the very Torah is there in prison, G-d forbid.
"Let whoever is an accomplice to this crime be aware that in putting the holy Torah, Hashem's Torah, behind bars: you are not fighting against flesh and blood. You battling with the Torah and the One Who gave it, may Heaven preserve us. To our regret, we find ourselves in an exile of Jews, and we all pray that Hashem succor us speedily to redeem us from this exile so that we can study Torah in peace and security."
HaRav Moshe Hillel Hirsch delivered a strong address, opening with: "With permission of Rabbenu and with permission of all the roshei yeshiva and rabbonim present here, this day is one of joy for the release of yeshiva bochurim who were imprisoned because they studied Torah, and we can possibly say for the merit of their having been incarcerated for this reason. But after all, imprisonment is a difficult situation and when they were released, it is a day of joy."
He emphasized the low state of those who scheme against the Torah, adding painfully, "Yet, on the other hand, it is a day of grief that our Jewish brethren fail to understand the simple fact that it is chutzpah to expect someone to enter the army where he will surely decline in his spiritual level.
"I have heard those from the general public asking why not? We, too, make sacrifices; why should they not do likewise, sacrificing their level of spirituality? Whoever maintains this, does not understand the essence of spirituality, nor the premise of Creation as well. They don't understand who the Creator is. This itself is the greatest error. It is audacity to say such a thing and to expect a person to lower his spiritual level. All the more so, to expect this of the yeshiva world itself."
He sharpened the significance of the contribution of those who study Torah: "It is written, 'so that the land will not disgorge you.' Eretz Yisroel does not sustain sinners. How then does the State of Israel exist at all? The answer: in the very merit of those who study Torah. This obvious fact has been recognized by Torah leaders of the past and present and today absolutely forbid entering the army."
Addressing those who seek to strike against the Torah, he shouted: "The secular world must realize why, in 5708, they agreed to give the Land of Israel to the Jews. Only because it had been inhabited by Jews throughout the generations. When the Romans arrived in Yerushalayim and wreaked destruction and shut down all the yeshivos, what remained throughout the ensuing millennia? Only Jews of Torah came to the land, to mourn the destruction and to study Torah. Throughout more than the past millennium, the only Jews in Eretz Yisroel were us."
He concluded pointedly: "The Torah is the very reason why the State exists, the reason why the outside world gave the land to the Jews. This fact is another point of audacity — to refuse to recognize the power of the Torah. May Hashem lead them to internalize this fact and realize that Torah study is what maintains it. Any decline in its spirituality, entering any such place, is forbidden. May Hashem allow us to succeed in preserving us thereby. Let there reign only Heavenly glory: perpetuating this will bring Hashem to have compassion on us so that we merit the true and complete Redemption."
