Rabbi Shmuel Zeafrani at the yeshiva cornerstone ceremony in Beit Shemesh: 'No draft can override a draft'
In an uplifting ceremony attended by leading rabbis of Israel and yeshiva heads, the cornerstone event for the new large yeshiva, "Atteret Mordechai," headed by Rabbi Yitzchak Biton, was held in Beit Shemesh. The new yeshiva is built around outstanding students from leading yeshivas, including Hebron, Ponevezh, Sorotzkin, Ohr Yisrael, Mir Brachfeld, Yesodot, and others, alongside leading alumni of the youth yeshiva in Beit Shemesh, which Rabbi Yitzchak Biton heads.
The event was attended by senior rabbis, including Rabbi Shmuel Zeafrani, Rabbi Nosson Alon, head of Mir Brachfeld Yeshiva; Rabbi Tzvi Peretzovich, head of Mir Yeshiva; Rabbi Avraham Afghin, head of Beit Levi Yeshiva; Rabbi Avraham Wizman, head of Yesodot Yeshiva; as well as members of the yeshiva staff, Rabbi Avraham Yazdi, Rabbi Oren Chava, and Rabbi Yitzchak Cohen. The ceremony opened with words of blessing from Rabbi Shmuel Ben Chaim, president of Shaarei Chochma Yeshiva and the father-in-law of the rosh yeshiva, who spoke of the immense importance of a new place of Torah that has opened.
The main address was delivered by the yeshiva president, Rabbi Shmuel Zeafrani, who encouraged the yeshiva students in light of the draft decree and said, "No draft can override a draft. Whoever accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah, the yoke of government and the yoke of worldly concerns are removed from him." Rabbi Zeafrani added that yeshiva students are the true soldiers of the Jewish people, protecting the generation through their Torah study, and at the conclusion of his remarks he blessed the rosh yeshiva with great success in shaping the students for distinction and glory.
A special blessing was conveyed on behalf of the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Meir Hirsch. His son, Rabbi Aaron Hirsch, brought his father's blessing to the ceremony and recalled his words at the opening event of the yeshiva at his home, according to which the establishment of the yeshiva is a decisive response to those who seek to impose decrees on the Torah world and narrow the path of Torah learners. At the close of the event, the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchak Biton, spoke and expressed his emotions at standing at this elevated occasion.
