Top Rabbi Warns Against Secularism, Military Draft at Jerusalem Sermon

Thousands of Haredi Jews, including prominent rabbis and community leaders, gathered in Jerusalem on Saturday for the annual Shabbat Shuva sermon delivered by Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch, a leading Halachic authority. Rabbi Sternbuch urged the community to maintain strict separation from secular influences, warning that "the wicked are plotting to completely destroy us, to demolish the fortresses of Torah and the holy yeshivas, and to turn us into a nation like all nations."

He specifically addressed the contentious issue of the military draft for yeshiva students, condemning the imprisonment of eighty students during Rosh Hashanah for refusing to enlist. "The blood of our brethren is not spilled in vain!" he declared, equating the draft order to a death sentence for Torah study and the Jewish people's existence. He prayed for the decree's annulment, attributing potential salvation to the self-sacrifice of Torah scholars.

Rabbi Sternbuch also issued a stern warning against new military tracks presented as religiously observant, which he claimed lure students with promises of short work hours and high pay. He asserted that the army's foundation is built on heresy and its goal is to assimilate religious Jews. Furthermore, he cautioned against the dangers of the internet, calling it the generation's most difficult trial and the root of all impurity, advising complete avoidance even of filtered versions.

Reflecting on the past Rosh Hashanah holiday, which fell on Shabbat this year, Rabbi Sternbuch emphasized the critical importance of Shabbat observance as a means to sweeten divine judgment. He stressed that proper observance could serve as a powerful advocate before God, while neglect could lead to divine condemnation. The sermon concluded with Rabbi Sternbuch distributing over $100,000 from his holy fund, "Kupat Tamchein De'Oraita," to support rabbis, yeshiva deans, and Torah scholars, a continuation of his year-round financial assistance.