Haredi Leaders Convene in Bnei Brak to Champion Torah Study Amidst Persecution
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Leading rabbis and yeshiva heads met in Bnei Brak to advocate for Torah study amidst alleged persecution. Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorotzkin spoke about the current era's unprecedented growth in Torah study, despite challenges. He called for a public declaration of devotion to the Torah, emphasizing its importance in sanctifying God's name. The conference aimed to uplift students and affirm the community's commitment to Jewish learning.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Dozens of leading rabbis convened in Bnei Brak to discuss upholding Judaism and promoting Torah study.
- Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorotzkin highlighted the unprecedented flourishing of Torah study despite perceived persecution.
- Speakers urged attendees to actively promote Torah study and sanctify God's name through public declarations.
- The conference addressed the distress of the Torah world regarding alleged religious persecution.
- Rabbi Sorotzkin emphasized the importance of instilling pride in students during this era of growth.
- The event underscored the influence of great Torah leaders on their communities.
Dozens of leading rabbis and yeshiva heads from across Israel gathered in Bnei Brak yesterday for a conference focused on upholding Judaism. The event featured addresses by prominent figures including Rabbis Dovid Landau, M. Tz. Bergman, and M. H. Hirsh, as well as members of the Council of Torah Sages and other senior yeshiva leaders. The speakers urged attendees to sanctify God's name by actively promoting the study of the Torah.
Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorotzkin, a head of a yeshiva, spoke on behalf of yeshiva students and kollel members, voicing the distress of the Torah world regarding perceived persecution. He called on the assembled leaders to uplift and instill pride in students, emphasizing that the current era, despite challenges, is witnessing an unprecedented flourishing of Torah study in both quantity and quality. He cited the verse "As he answers them, so shall He increase and spread them."
Sorotzkin elaborated that while past struggles were primarily about sanctifying God's name through adherence to commandments, the current challenge is a declaration of absolute devotion to the Torah, asserting "We have no recourse but this Torah." He referenced Maimonides on the levels of sanctifying God's name, distinguishing between individual and public sanctification, and posited that public declarations, especially during elections, represent the highest form of public sanctification.
He acknowledged the current period as one of religious persecution but contrasted it with the "miraculous divine assistance" evident in the significant growth of Torah institutions and the increasing quality of scholars. Sorotzkin suggested this flourishing might be a consequence of the persecution. He also stressed the importance of recognizing and giving thanks for this divine providence, comparing it to the biblical account of Jethro's participation in the joy of receiving the Torah.
Furthermore, Sorotzkin highlighted the role of great Torah leaders in influencing their communities, stating that their mere presence inspires greater piety. He concluded by urging a collective declaration of unwavering commitment to the Torah, invoking the phrase "For God is with us."
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