Top Rabbis Send Letters of Support to Yeshiva Student Jailed for Torah Study
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Top rabbis from Israel's Council of Torah Sages have sent letters of support to yeshiva student Eliyahu Debdah, who was sentenced to 20 days in military prison for studying Torah. The rabbis encouraged him to continue his studies and prayed for his release, emphasizing the importance of Torah study even in difficult circumstances. The letters express solidarity from the wider Torah community and highlight the spiritual significance of Debdah's situation.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Top rabbis sent letters of support to yeshiva student Eliyahu Debdah imprisoned for studying Torah.
- Debdah was sentenced to 20 days in military prison for his Torah studies.
- The rabbis encouraged Debdah to continue his studies in prison and prayed for his release.
- Letters emphasized the importance of Torah study and the solidarity of the Torah world.
- Prominent rabbis included Abraham Sellem, Yehuda Cohen, Moshe Maya, and Shlomo Machfud.
Prominent members of the Council of Torah Sages have sent letters of encouragement and support to Eliyahu Debdah, a yeshiva student from Jerusalem's "Orachot Meir" Yeshiva. Debdah was sentenced to 20 days in military prison for the "offense" of studying Torah. The letters, facilitated by the organization 'Am Kadosh,' urged Debdah to continue his studies even while incarcerated and prayed for his swift release.
Rabbi Abraham Sellem, head of the yeshiva, wrote a personal letter to Debdah, titled "For I have seen You, Righteous One." He expressed sorrow over Debdah's imprisonment by the Israeli government for being a Torah scholar, stating, "Woe are we for our many sins." Sellem invoked Psalm 23, assuring Debdah that "the Divine Presence is with you and watches over you," and praised him for being arrested "for the sake of words of Torah to sanctify God's name." He concluded by affirming the solidarity of the entire Torah world, "All the world of Torah stands with you with pride... and we await God's salvation."
Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, a member of the Council of Torah Sages and head of the "Yekirei Yerushalayim" Yeshiva, highlighted the spiritual potential of studying in prison, suggesting that Debdah's Torah study could help elevate souls within the prison walls. The elder of the Council of Torah Sages, Rabbi Moshe Maya, also wrote to Debdah, stating, "The people of Israel are proud of you... May you merit all the acquisitions of Torah and ascend higher and higher."
Rabbi Shlomo Machfud, another member of the Council, opened his letter with "The Lord is with you, mighty warrior," and encouraged Debdah not to lose spirit. He acknowledged the difficulty of his situation, calling it a test for those dedicated to Torah study. Machfud assured Debdah that "even from within the walls of the prison, the light of Torah continues to shine," and that God hears his prayers. He concluded with a prayer for Debdah's return to his studies in peace and joy, signing off with "Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened."
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