An unusual visit took place today (Wednesday) at 15 Rabbi Sher Street in Bnei Brak: The United States Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, arrived for a special meeting with Maran Grad Lando.
The fascinating meeting lasted about 25 minutes. During the conversation, the Maran Rosh Yeshiva raised the plight of the Torah world, and in particular the concern about the harm to the status of Torah students in the Land of Israel.
Rabbi Landau asked the ambassador to convey a direct message to United States President Donald Trump about the importance of Torah scholars to the Jewish people, and the need to ensure the continued existence and prosperity of the Torah world even in challenging times.
"Please, tell him that the people of Israel live and exist by virtue of the Torah. The Torah students are the protectors, and their status must be preserved and their value sanctified," said the head of the yeshiva.
He added: "It is important for me to tell the Honorable Ambassador that the community of Torah and mitzvot observant people here in the Holy Land is currently in dire straits as the legal system issues arrest warrants against yeshiva students studying Torah for the 'crime' of studying Torah."
The ambassador replied: "I understand and agree that without the Torah and without Torah students, nothing has value."
Rabbi Landau also asked that he convey to US President Donald Trump his gratitude for standing by Israel: "Blessings to the kingdom of grace to President Trump and the ambassador for their behavior that was for honesty and truth to establish peace in the world. They are putting honesty and goodness in the world."
The meeting was translated by the president of the Darsho organization, Rabbi David Hofstadter from Toronto.
A source close to the ambassador said that he listened to the talks with great respect, showed great interest in the Haredi way of life and in particular the yeshiva institution, and even asked several questions on the subject.
At the end of the meeting, the Ambassador thanked Rabbi Landau for his time. Maran wished him success in his mission to bring hearts closer between American Jewry and Israel, and asked him again to work to strengthen support for the Torah world in the Holy Land.
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