Shas Council of Sages: "Remain in the Midrash until Tu B'Av""

July 30, 2014   

After the Agudat Yisrael Council of Torah Sages decided yesterday to cancel summer time, and in parallel with the decision of the Grail Steinman to extend summer time until Shabbat Nechamo, this evening the Shas Council of Torah Sages is publishing a call to the heads of yeshiva and students of Sephardic yeshiva "to remain in the synagogues at least until Tu B'Av." The letter, written by the president of the Council of Torah Sages and the head of the Porat Yosef Yeshiva, Chacham Shalom Cohen, and members of the "council" the Gaon Rabbi Shimon Adani, the Gaon Rabbi Moshe Maya, and the Gaon Rabbi David Yosef, states: "I hereby address the heads of yeshiva and the Torah scholars in every location, as, due to our many sins, the people of Israel find themselves in difficult times and are subject to enemy attacks, and unfortunately, there is no day that does not have a greater curse than its companion and many who fall on the front and in the rear. And we, the children of the Torah, have nothing left but the Holy Torah, and in these difficult days, we all have the duty not to stand aside and to multiply Torah and good deeds when the existence of the Jewish people depends on it. And here we are, approaching the days of interregnum, as the custom of the yeshiva students and as the great men of the generations have taught us since time immemorial, in the sense of "the lines of the Lord will replace strength." There is no doubt that in these days, as usual, these days are necessary for refreshment and the accumulation of new strength, especially in preparation for the terrible days and the days of ascension that are coming upon us for good. But unfortunately, "it is a time of trouble for Jacob," when many of our brothers, the Jewish people, are losing their lives in the war against the enemies of Israel who are standing against us to destroy us, and how can we stand aside? Therefore, if the current situation continues, we all have the duty in the coming interregnum to remain in the study halls at least until the 15th of Av, which is a day on which miracles were performed for the Jewish people, and until then, may God pray that the days of wrath will pass.".