''Instead of asking for forgiveness, the Torah scholars sitting here are making excuses''

December 4, 2020   

This morning (Friday), members of the Council of Torah Scholars of Degel HaTorah gathered in a special tent set up in the yard of Maran HaGaracha Kanievsky's house - for a special gathering of the 'Council'. Just so you know: If you miss this crazy opportunity, you'll be a sucker.  Chat or phone: Why don't 'Maccabi' members have to run to the emergency room for everything?  On the agenda: adding new members to the Council of Torah Scholars, and the issues on the agenda of Haredi Judaism - the draft law, the issue of conversion, the sanctity of the Sabbath and the education of Israel's children. Along with the veteran members, nine yeshiva heads who were appointed as new members of the Council also arrived. The members of the 'Council', Rabbi Schlesinger, Rabbi Scheiner and Rabbi Ades will be absent from the conference, due to their health conditions. The five Knesset members of 'Degel Hatorah' participated in the event, with the chairman of 'Degel Hatorah', MK Moshe Gafni, speaking at the beginning of the meeting. The chairman of 'Degel Hatorah', MK Moshe Gafni, said at the conference: • We will firmly stand by the fact that if the budget law ultimately comes, the conscription law will also come with it. • The incidence of illness in the Haredi public has decreased miraculously, and instead of asking forgiveness from the Torah gurus sitting here who ordered the continuation of studies, they are making various excuses for it. • This week we managed to rally a majority in the Knesset for the Equality Law, and it was removed from the agenda. We will continue to fight - the members of the Knesset of Degel Hatorah and representatives of the local authorities in every city - and fight for the vineyard of the House of Israel and for everything holy and precious to us. [Gallery] Maran Rosh HaYashiva, Rabbi Gershon Edelstein He referred to the conscription law at the gathering: "The representatives must see to it that everyone can continue to sit and study." The special tent was set up tonight on Rashbam Street, with capsules and separate partitions for the well-being of the great men of Israel. Eight new members were appointed 12 years ago - and no new members have been appointed since. Since then, several members have passed away - headed by the president of the council, Maran HaGrai'l Steinman.

Photo: Rabbi Edelstein leaves his home on Rab'd Street and arrives at the convention

Nine new council members have now been appointed, appointed in consultation with the houses of Rabbi Kanievsky and Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Edelstein. Over the past 24 hours, pressure has been exerted by associates of other yeshiva heads to include them in the prestigious body, but without success. The new members are: Rabbi Zvi Darbkin, 87, Rosh Yeshiva Grodna Be'er Ya'akov. Rabbi Yitzchak Hecker, 85, Rosh Yeshiva Grodna Be'er Ya'akov. Rabbi Uri Weisblum, 83, superintendent of the Nachalat Leviim yeshiva in Haifa. Rabbi Aviezer Piltz, 80, Rosh Yeshiva Tifrah. Rabbi Baruch Weisbrock, 80, Rosh Yeshiva Beit Matityahu in Bnei Brak. Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaCohen Kook, 79, Rosh Yeshiva Maor Talmud in Rehovot. Rabbi Aryeh Levi, 77, Rosh Yeshiva Shechar Shekir in the new Negev. Rabbi Shraga Noah Steinman, 71, Rosh Yeshiva Erchot Torah. Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, 55, Rosh Yeshiva Mir. At the end of the conference, the resolutions of the 'Council' on conscription, conversion, studies at the academy, and the sanctity of the Sabbath were read: "The Council of Torah Elders strengthens the tens of thousands of Torah students despite the difficulties. In this, we defend that the business of Torah is the protector. The Council calls on the yeshiva students to strengthen themselves even more strongly and vigorously during the days of Hanukkah. God forbid that they become days between times. "The Council of Torah Scholars strengthens the administrators of Torah Talmud and schools who sacrifice their lives for the sake of learning. "The Council of Torah Scholars demands that the status of yeshiva students be regulated so that they can study. And strengthens our representatives who stand guard for the yeshiva students. "The Council is pained by the attempt to undermine the purity of lineage by recognizing converts. And we call on everyone to stand guard so that no change is made and that they do not succumb to pressure. "The Council of Torah Scholars calls on administrators to stand guard and stand firm on the purity of education without interference, and that they do not succumb to academic studies. "The Council of Torah Scholars calls on our representatives to stand guard on the issue of the sanctity of Shabbat. And to do everything possible to prevent programs that harm Shabbat.".