Leading Torah Authorities Strengthen Yeshiva Camp Amid Draft Controversy
In response to the ongoing public debate over yeshiva students' military conscription in Israel, hundreds of top yeshiva and high school students gathered recently for the "Birkat Mordechai" camp organized by the Bnei Torah movement. Founded 65 years ago by Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi, with encouragement from his father-in-law Rabbi Meir Hadash, the camp has long served as a center for Torah study and clear ideological guidance. Over the decades, prominent Torah leaders such as Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman and Rabbi Aharon Yehuda Leib Shach supported and personally visited the camp, helping to establish its reputation as a place for deepening Torah knowledge and outlook.
This year, amid heightened challenges facing the Torah world, the camp attracted unprecedented demand from yeshiva students nationwide, alongside hundreds of high school students paired with yeshiva mentors. The program included open forums discussing the meaning of Torah life, the role of yeshiva students, and confronting contemporary challenges, including the contentious issue of military service. These candid discussions fostered a vibrant and spiritually charged atmosphere, complemented by enriching activities such as competitions and trips.
The camp’s approach emphasizes that teaching Torah to others strengthens the teachers themselves, sharpening their commitment and understanding. Esteemed Torah leaders attending included Rabbi Ben Zion Ezrachi, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, Rabbi Shraga Steinman, Rabbi David Cohen, Rabbi Yehuda Amit, and Rabbi David Lau, who all encouraged the participants and highlighted the special responsibility of Torah scholars in these times.
A highlight was a late-night "V’higita" Talmudic study competition following Rabbi Ezrachi’s methodology, focusing on deep textual analysis from the base text through commentaries to inner layers of meaning. A parallel halacha contest on blessings was also held. The camp concluded with a screening of a passionate speech by Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi’s father, Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Ezrachi, whose call for total dedication to Torah study resonated deeply with attendees, reinforcing a profound love and commitment to Torah as the essence of life.
