The Beis Din of Chabad Rabbonim in Israel has issued a public call to the Chabad community to take part in a special prayer and protest gathering tomorrow in Jerusalem, in response to the recent drafting and arrest of yeshiva students dedicated to full-time Torah study.
The Rabbonim clarified that within Chabad, as is customary, military service is considered only after marriage and study in kollel, and within appropriate frameworks for a chassidic lifestyle.
In recent weeks, the IDF has continued to challenge and disrupt the longstanding arrangement between Chabad and the authorities in Israel.
“We issue this call to strengthen participation in the ‘Prayer and Outcry Assembly’ regarding the attempt to alter the long-established arrangement in our Holy Land, under which yeshiva students and kollel scholars devoted to Torah study have their military service deferred, in recognition of the Torah’s power to protect the Jewish people as a whole, and the soldiers of Israel in particular,” the Rabbonim wrote.
“It is well known that the Rebbe, the leader of our generation, stated many times that yeshiva students contribute to the defense of Israel through their Torah learning, just as soldiers protect the people of Israel with their physical service and self-sacrifice.
“It must be emphasized that in Chabad, military service is only considered after marriage and after a full period of study in yeshiva and kollel, and even then, only within frameworks suitable for a chassid and a G-d-fearing Jew. All this is without detracting from the Rebbe’s clear directive that every Chossid’s primary mission is to be engaged in spreading Yiddishkeit and the wellsprings of Chassidus.”
The Rabbonim outlined practical directives:
First and foremost, they encouraged yeshiva students—who stand at the forefront of the spiritual battle through diligent study of Nigleh and Chassidus—not to be swayed by pressures or difficulties, and to firmly avoid any programs that would undermine their Torah learning now or in the future.
This Thursday, 8 Cheshvan, tens of thousands of Jews are expected to gather in Jerusalem for the Atzeres Tefillah gathering. The Lubavitch community is urged to attend and participate in this important event.
• Those unable to attend in person are encouraged to increase in Torah study, prayer, and charity at the same time that the event is taking place.
• Participation of bochurim from yeshiva ketana and yeshiva gedolah institutions should follow the decision of each yeshiva’s administration.
The statement concludes with a prayer that we merit very soon to see the fulfillment of the Rambam’s words regarding Moshiach: “He will wage the wars of Hashem and will be victorious over all the surrounding nations,” with the true and complete redemption immediately.
I love how these people cry for “bittul torah”, yet they spend hours and hours protesting. Maybe if they actually put their money where their mouth is, and stayed inside learning, the government might see them as serious and lessen their grip a bit.
You clearly have no understanding of the dynamics in the holy land…
You clearly have no understanding about the dynamics in the holy land…
My heart goes out to the poor families who are mourning fallen soldiers. Imagine burying a child who gave his/her life defending Klal Yisroel and then seeing these terrible protests? The lack of concern and sensitivity by the protesters is staggering. Have these protesters attended any of of the hundreds of shivas? Please do not call them prayer gatherings. Sadly, I think Chabad’s participation is shameful.
Sadly, you have no clue what you’re talking about..
Nothing about Zionism, nothing about what Chabad didn’t generations to fight it, what OUR rebbe did.
Our respect and love to the soldiers is great! But out ideology hasn’t changed.
And a few people wearing Tush Kapottas and eating brownies in Shul’s in CH aren’t going to change any educated Lubavitchers mind.
Chabad light is kinda like reform. They take all the original and mess it up with their own weird apologetic and liberal agendas.. that’s what’s sad
This has nothing to do with politics. I see people are very animated…. The Rebbe said many times we are not allowed to call Israel a “medina “ only eretz H’koydesh or Eretz Yisroel But not A country because it is not run according to Jewish law, which is totally totally alien to Judaism The IDF is not ran according to Jewish law These are the facts!!!!! Yes, we should protest, if you don’t like the protest, move to Israel and have your sons and daughters going to the army, please!!! I have lost a nephew due to Chamas attack….… Read more »
Your facts aren’t factual, and…. your grammar isn’t grammatical. I live in Israel. My son is in the army. The Rebbe said not to call the land, medinat Yisrael bec if one changes the name Hashem gave the land, other things (ie boundaries) can be changed as well. Basically, stick to calling it Eretz Yisrael – the land Hashem gave to us, with the name He called it by. If one is seriously learning full time, great. He is protecting Am Yisrael, and Eretz Yisrael. If not, he should do some sort of service whether it be army, sheirut le’umi,… Read more »
To the lowlife anonymous commentator go spend a week in the army or in a yeshiva and learn
Instead of being a benbayis at col
right on shpiegs do u know what goes on in the army?how can any lubavitcher not understand the danger for someone frum to be in thearmy? chabad was always very antizionist but now i guess we forgot who we once were
The Rebbe said that if one is not a full time Torah student he should be in the army. Are you more frum than the Rebbe?
bochurim who learn torah should be arrested?rchl
The Rebbe wanted quiet diplomacy for Jews to leave the Soviet Union. Are these protests really accomplishing the goal of not having yeshiva students enlist? It seems like they will only antagonize the Israeli public who has seen soldiers fight for them and in too many instances, die for them. Does this a love for the Torah and those who want to avoid the draft because they say they learn Torah?The public sees those who want to learn wasting time that can be used for Torah learning by protesting and those who say Torah learning protects but don’t feel that… Read more »
Israel is not Russia, and not the Ussr.
Maybe the protest is also funded by George Soros to undermine the Israeli government.
This is not a protest. This is a sacred gathering — a moment of tefilla and a call to stand unwaveringly for our Torah values. Before you speak, learn the history. Zionism is not a neutral ideology — it has a long and painful record, including acts of violence and betrayal against religious Jews. This is not speculation; it is documented history. The disdain many Zionist leaders have shown toward Torah observance and those who uphold it is real and ongoing. Now is the time to stand strong.. To remember who we are and what we represent. We will not… Read more »
The Rebbe knew to oppose them on many issues. Alas, now we want to be like them, to be accepted by them. Gevalt, gevalt! Even at the expense of participating in the greatest Hillul Hashem and betrayal of the nation since probably the Eigel Hazohav. I, as a Lubavicher, am embarrassed and enraged by their feeble-minded support for the wicked rally at the time when the earth is still fresh on the graves of the holy fallen soldiers and the current soldiers committing suicide at unheard of rate because there are not enough men to fight.
We must be able to hold both of your sentiments– Educated and Chabad is not Haredim. This rally (unlike past protests as I understand) is intended to demonstrate a unified unwavering dedication to Torah values. Yet Haredim must bear the criticism directed at them for what seems to be a pervasive insensitivity to our holy fallen soldiers and their grief-stricken families.
Moshiach Now!!
Furthermore, the next time you go to Israel remember that you are able to go BECAUSE those IDF soldiers keep the land in our hands, and keep it as safe as they can – for you, American, selfish and opinion judging tourists. Those IDF soldiers are super holy – they are ready to give their life for their fellow jew and their country.
i was nearby at the gathering for soldiers and families that have lost relatives .
The “sacred gathering “( there was nothing sacred about it ) that you refer to was a Huge CHILLUL HASHEM.
.I was ashamed to hear the screaming of Selichot and Avinu Malkenu and shofar blowing when soldiers have given up their lives for a Kiddush Hashem and thousands of families have been shattered during the war .
I am shocked that the Bet Din of Chabad told the yeshiva Bochurim to participate . I think they were very wrong !!
The Rebbe always supported Isarel the army and its soldiers who sacrfice for Eretz Hakodesh. Yet at the same time the secular aspects of Israel were totaly rejected by the Rebbe. If going to army means lessening your connection with Torah and Hashem then it was a problem. All has to be done to elevate the level of observance among those in the army and surely they are moser nefesh..not to serve in the “Medina Tzava” but to defend Yidden and Eretz Hakodesh. So in short the Rebbe supported fully Yidden who are moser nefesh in Israel to protect Yidden… Read more »
If anyone has the time to spare, it would be most wisely used to increase in Torah study. And from a public relations perspective, pictures of hundreds of Chabad chasidim Sitting in study halls, classrooms and Shuls Stunning with one another or attending a class would be much more effective than being roaming in the streets. It is not relative to understand the politics of Israel, I like to think that Our lobbying efforts need to be directed to God.