Arad Hesder Yeshiva Reacts – Submits its Resignation from Hesder
Explaining that he is willing to pay the price, the loss of the lucrative Defense Ministry funding, Rabbi Yinon Ilani, the rosh yeshiva of the Arad Hesder Yeshiva has sent a letter to hesder leaders, formally resigning from the hesder family. He explained that he cannot live with the decision reached by the over 50 hesder roshei yeshiva who met in urgent session on Sunday, because he simply does not agree that political protest in the IDF is forbidden, at least during these times.
Like some of the other hawks among the roshei yeshiva, Rav Ilani did not attend Sunday’s session. One prominent rosh yeshiva who absented himself was Rabbi Elyakim Levanon Shlita, of Elon Moreh, who explained earlier in the week that he knew the outcome before the meeting began, therefore deciding his attendance was not warranted.
The forum on Sunday released a statement opposing political protest in the IDF, with hesder leaders hoping their unified message will ultimately lead to Defense Minister Ehud Barak reversing his decision and permitting Yeshivat Har Bracha to rejoin the other hesder yeshivot.
Following the urgent session, Rabbi David Stav, a hesder rosh yeshiva as well as the organization’s spokesman released a statement confirming the loyalty of hesder to Torah and state law. Rav Ilani questioned just how soldiers are expected to know how to (re)act when their rabbonim release such an ambiguous statement, since at present, Torah Law and state law are not complimenting one another, but in contradiction to one another. It appears that this statement was a major contributory factor to the rabbi deciding to resign from the hesder family.
YWN-Israel reported earlier that the talmidim in the Har Bracha yeshiva have been informed they have 60 days to join another hesder program, or alternatively, enter the army as regular soldiers, serving three years.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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