Top Rabbis Send Support to Yeshiva Student Detained by Military

The arrest of yeshiva student Eliyahu Dabbah has sparked anger within the Haredi community and the world of Torah study. Dabbah, who reportedly follows the guidance of leading rabbis regarding interactions with the military, was apprehended by military police at his parents' home shortly before the winter study session was set to begin. In response to his detention, prominent rabbis, including members of the Council of Torah Sages Rabbi Moshe Maya and Rabbi Avraham Salim, along with other yeshiva heads, have sent letters of support to Dabbah and his parents.

A letter from Dabbah's uncle, Rabbi Yaish Dabbah, a renowned scholar, was also shared. In his message, Rabbi Yaish Dabbah draws parallels between the current situation and a Talmudic account of Rabbi Akiva, who continued to study Torah despite Roman decrees against it. He argues that contemporary attempts to undermine Torah study are akin to a "spirit of destruction" and that individuals should strengthen their commitment to learning.

Rabbi Yaish Dabbah also cautioned against engaging with those who try to persuade yeshiva students to enlist in the army by promising benefits. He highlighted the spiritual dangers within the military, citing issues such as forbidden relationships, frivolity, and Shabbat desecration. He suggested that if someone is destined for imprisonment, it is preferable for it to be for the sake of Torah study rather than for trivial matters.

Concluding his letter, Rabbi Yaish Dabbah asserted that yeshiva students and Torah scholars are the true guardians of the Jewish people, and the world exists by their merit. He cited biblical passages to support the idea that divine protection is granted through adherence to Torah. Attorney Shlomo Haddad, representing the organization "Chai Olam," is expected to visit Dabbah in prison to deliver the letters of support from the rabbinic leaders.