Elad Chief Rabbi Urges Torah Scholars to Stay Strong Amid Arrests, Reveals Secular Nursing Home Director's Envy

During his weekly lesson at the Lekach Tov study hall in Elad, Chief Rabbi Mordechai Malka delivered a passionate speech encouraging Torah scholars facing recent arrests to remain steadfast. He recounted a poignant moment involving the late head of Porat Yosef Yeshiva, Rabbi Ezra Attiya, who broke down in tears during the cornerstone laying ceremony for the yeshiva's new building in Jerusalem's Old City. Rabbi Malka explained that Rabbi Attiya's tears reflected a deep concern that the celebration was primarily for wealthy donors rather than for the Torah scholars themselves, who dedicate their lives to study and sacrifice.

Rabbi Malka emphasized the unique value Torah study imparts, contrasting it with secular society where respect often diminishes with age and retirement. He shared a striking testimony from a secular nursing home director who expressed envy toward the ultra-Orthodox community, noting how secular families sometimes abandon elderly parents in nursing homes, awaiting their death, while the Haredi community cares for their elders with devotion until the end.

Concluding his remarks, Rabbi Malka called on Torah scholars to recognize the profound spiritual strength and eternal honor that Torah study provides, especially during challenging times marked by arrests and societal pressures. He urged them to intensify their commitment to Torah learning as a source of resilience and divine purpose.