The wife of Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, the young avreich who was arrested eight months after his wedding, returned from a prison visit deeply shaken and is leveling serious accusations against military authorities. Speaking to Kikar HaShabbat, she said that her husband has faced mistreatment during his detention, including restrictions on religious observance and inadequate access to kosher food.
Reb Ben Dayan, a graduate of Yeshivas Maor HaTalmud who married approximately eight months ago, was arrested on Motzaei Shabbos and remains incarcerated in Military Prison 10. His family accuses the military of severe harassment and says he has been sentenced to ten days in detention beginning last Motzoei Shabbos.
As previously reported, Ben Dayan had spent Shabbos in Ofakim and was stopped by a traffic officer in the community of Tifrach on suspicion of a traffic violation. During the stop, the officer discovered that he had been classified as a draft “deserter” due to his failure to report to the enlistment office. He was transferred to a local police station and subsequently handed over to military police authorities.
In a phone call with family members shortly before sunset on the day of his arrest, Ben Dayan reportedly said that he had requested several times to put on tefillin but that his requests were denied. His family expressed shock at what they described as the denial of a basic religious mitzvah in the State of Israel and voiced serious concerns about kashrus standards and his ability to maintain a religious lifestyle while in custody.
According to the family, contact with Ben Dayan ceased about twenty minutes before sunset, leaving uncertainty as to whether he was ultimately able to put on tefillin in those final moments.
Responding to the military’s clarification regarding the tefillin incident, Ben Dayan’s wife said, “The IDF spokesperson is lying and trying to claim that the detainee did not request to put on tefillin until two in the morning. It is important for us to say that this is false and untrue, and they did not allow him to put on tefillin until the very last moment.”
She also alleged deficiencies in the food provided to him. “Until yesterday, they did not bring him mehadrin kosher food as is customary. Only yesterday, for the first time, did he eat normal and kosher food. Until now, he mainly lived on fruits and vegetables. This abuse is incomprehensible.”
According to her, he has also been restricted from studying Torah. “He does not have the ability to go and learn in the shul. Avraham, who is a precious avreich, wanted to use the time to sit and learn, but the military authorities, in inexplicable cruelty, are not allowing it. They do not allow him to go to the shul except during davening times.”
She further claimed that authorities are seeking to humiliate him. “They want to degrade him. When they transferred him from the Bahadim base to Prison 10 to meet with me, they decided to shackle him in both hands and feet. It is unclear what they wanted from him and why they needed to humiliate him to that extent. Why are they not placing him with other chareidim? He has no chareidi environment at all. It is absurd that the prison rabbi came to ask him questions from Chumash to determine whether he is chareidi or not.”
Regarding his communication rights, she added, “On the advice of his commander — they did not even assign him a proper commander — he signed a prisoner’s rights form, and they were obligated to give him a phone call on Motzaei Shabbos. From Motzaei Shabbos at eight o’clock until the next day, he was not given the right to speak with his wife. The chaos and search efforts happened only because they did not grant him the legal right to call me.”
In response to the tefillin claims, the IDF spokesperson said, “The detainee was arrested on Motzaei Shabbos by the Israel Police and transferred to the Military Police. He remained in custody overnight until late morning. During his detention, he prayed, and upon arriving in the afternoon at the military prison, he requested to put on tefillin and was told he would be given the opportunity upon arrival at his detention unit. However, due to an unexpected delay in his processing and according to a report received afterward, he ultimately did not manage to put on tefillin.”
The statement continued: “It should be clarified that this is an extremely unusual case that does not align with IDF procedures. The IDF regrets the distress caused. Procedures at the prison have been sharpened for immediate implementation, and the matter will be thoroughly investigated by commanders to prevent similar cases in the future. The detainee is currently being held in a facility that contains all the necessary equipment in accordance with his lifestyle.”
Approximately two hours after publication of the initial report, the IDF spokesperson issued an additional statement: “Contrary to what has been claimed, the detainee is receiving the conditions and rights to which he is entitled, including davening times in a shul, mehadrin kosher food, and phone calls. During the intake interview, the detainee was informed that he is entitled to receive mehadrin kosher food if he requests it, but he did not request it. In the military prison, there is no gap between meat and vegetarian meals in Badatz-level kashrus.”
The statement added, “The detainee is in direct contact with the prison rabbi. The IDF detention system continuously makes adjustments in accordance with detention conditions and the number of detainees and ensures the provision of mehadrin kosher food to allow detainees to maintain their religious lifestyle.”
A military source further stated, “The detainee claims that he did not understand from whom he needed to request Badatz-level kosher food, despite being instructed by his commanders how to do so. In addition, he exercised his right to a phone call on Motzaei Shabbos and is being held in a unit designated for detainees with charges similar to those attributed to him. Every detainee has the option to request gender-specific supervision in the military prison, as was explained to him during the intake process. The detainee was shackled during transfers between detention facilities in accordance with standard procedures.”
As previously reported, Ben Dayan has received strong backing from leading gedolim, including Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch and Rav Dov Landau.
Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch personally called to be mechazeik and encourage Ben Dayan’s wife after he was handed over to military police months after his wedding. During the call, the rosh yeshiva said, “With Hashem’s help, they will do the maximum that can be done. In a few days he will be released, with Hashem’s help,” assuring her, “No more than ten days.”
Rav Dov Landau also sent a handwritten letter of support. Immediately after writing the letter, Rav Landau requested that it be delivered to the avreich without delay, and his attorney conveyed it to him shortly thereafter.
In the letter, Rav Landau wrote, “To the dear avreich, Rabbi Avraham Ben Dayan, may he live long and well, the distressing news about the shocking injustice done to you — that you were imprisoned ‘for the sin’ of Torah study — has caused me great anguish.”
He continued, “I hereby strengthen you and your family. They did not intend this action against you personally, but against all the sons of Torah, whose learning is a thorn in their eyes. It pains them to see the blessed growth of the Torah world, and you have merited to be a representative of Torah learners in order for them to strike at them through their schemes.”
He concluded, “We hope to Hashem that you will merit to be released swiftly and return to your studies, sanctify Heaven in all your ways and conduct, and sit once again in the tent of Torah as before. Seeking your peace and the peace of your Torah, Dov Landau.”
{Matzav.com}
Senior officials in the Degel HaTorah faction clarified Thursday morning that no instruction has been issued by leading gedolim to oppose the draft legislation currently under discussion. On the contrary, they said they have been directed to continue working vigorously toward an agreed-upon law that would regulate the status of yeshiva students and bring an end to their arrests.
According to senior figures in the party, “There is no directive from the leading rabbinic authorities to oppose the law being discussed at this time. On the contrary, they have instructed us to proceed with negotiations with the Knesset’s legal advisers in an effort to reach legislation that will be acceptable to them and withstand scrutiny by the High Court of Justice.”
They added that other political factions are attempting to derail the process. “There are elements in other parties trying to do everything possible to halt the legislation. They are the ones briefing and speaking in the name of Litvishe rabbonim despite having no connection to them, and they are working forcefully to sabotage the bill’s passage.”
Sources close to Hagaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch emphasized Wednesday night that the fundamental position remains unchanged. “Nothing has shifted in the principled stance that the draft law must be legislated and that the status of yeshiva students must be regulated. The instruction to Degel HaTorah’s Knesset members is to continue advancing the legislation.”
Similarly, associates of Hagaon Rav Dov Landau said Thursday morning, “We are continuing efforts to reach a law that will stop the arrest of yeshiva students. This is the most urgent issue for the rosh yeshiva. Sanctions are a secondary matter in importance.”
Despite ongoing talks, senior chareidi lawmakers acknowledged overnight that negotiations with the Knesset’s legal advisory team are not progressing smoothly. “Although we are trying to be flexible with the legal advisers and have agreed that sanctions would take effect immediately, there are still gaps and disagreements,” one senior figure said. “The primary sticking point concerns the question of oversight over Torah learners. It is unclear whether, at the end of the process, we will reach a bill that can pass second and third readings.”
The debate comes amid heightened tensions following the arrest of yeshiva students in recent days. At a special gathering held at Yeshivas Maor HaTalmud after the arrest of Reb Avraham Ben Dayan several months after his wedding, Rav Landau issued a forceful declaration that no yeshiva student would enlist in the army under any framework.
“The entire Jewish world is shocked by the criminal act in which wicked authorities imprisoned in a military jail an outstanding Torah scholar who has nothing in his world but the four cubits of halacha, and this solely because of his desire to learn Torah,” Rav Landau said. “But the dear scholar has merited that, through him, there is such a great awakening to Torah study in public. Merit is brought about through the meritorious — apparently he has great merits.”
“While he sits behind walls and bars, bound in iron chains, the voice of Torah that grows stronger as a result of his imprisonment echoes from one end of the world to the other, shattering walls of falsehood, breaking chains of wickedness, reaching the Heavenly Throne and giving voice to the cry of the Bnei Yisroel from the distress of their oppressors and pursuers.”
“The Torah world is now undergoing severe persecution from misguided brothers. The fears are heavy and widely shared. Their schemes are no longer hidden but carried out openly, and their entire aim is to eradicate the Torah world, God forbid.”
“To those who plot evil and scheme wickedness, who seek to break our spirit and steal the treasure of our world, we say clearly: Do not imagine that you will succeed! In complete contrast to you, we are people of noble spirit. Our hands will not do harm, and we do not wish to use your tools of strife. But know that standing against Torah learners is a war against the eternity of Israel.”
“History is filled with those who sought to make Torah forgotten from Yisroel. They passed and vanished from the world, their names forgotten and their rule gone like a fleeting shadow. But the Torah stands forever. You cannot break those whose lives are spirit alone. Your time and your rule will pass, but we will continue to cling to our eternal Torah, the Torah of Hashem. There is no one who can stand against the Torah of Hashem, against Torah learners, or against the halls of Torah. Jailers may imprison the body, but there is no power in the world that can imprison the spirit.”
“We hereby declare in a loud voice: Whether the authorities agree or not, not even one married scholar, not even one yeshiva student, will go to the army — not in this way and not in any other way,” Rav Landau emphasized. “The place of Torah learners is exclusively within the halls of the yeshivos and kollelim. Let everyone know — whether they understand it or not — this is the reality. So it was, and so it will be.”
He concluded, “May it be the will of Hashem that the emissaries of the Torah world who have been imprisoned be released swiftly from darkness to light, and may we all merit every good, to learn Torah in quiet and tranquility.”
{Matzav.com}
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At a special gathering held at Yeshivas Maor HaTalmud following the arrest of kollel yungerman Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, Hagaon Rav Dov Landau delivered a forceful and unequivocal declaration that no yeshiva bochur will enlist in the army under any framework.
The event was convened in response to the arrest, which took place months after the young avreich’s chasunah. Addressing the crowd, Rav Landau spoke in sharp terms about the situation and the broader implications for the Torah world.
“The entire Jewish world is shaken by the criminal act in which wicked authorities arrested and imprisoned in a military jail an elevated avreich who has nothing in his world except the four cubits of halachah, and this solely because of his desire to learn Torah,” Rav Landau said. “But the precious avreich has merited that through him there has been such a great awakening to Torah study among the public, and merit is brought about through one who is meritorious — apparently he has great merits.”
“While he sits behind walls and bars, bound in chains of iron, the voice of Torah that grows stronger as a result of his imprisonment echoes from one end of the world to the other, shattering walls of falsehood, breaking chains of wickedness, and piercing until the Heavenly Throne, giving voice to the groans of the Bnei Yisroel from the distress of their oppressors and pursuers.”
Rav Landau continued by describing what he called an intense campaign against the Torah community. “The Torah world is now undergoing a terrible persecution by misguided brothers. The fears are heavy and widely shared. Their schemes are no longer hidden but out in the open, and their entire aim is to uproot the Torah world, Heaven forbid.”
He then addressed those he accused of seeking to undermine the yeshiva world. “To those evildoers and schemers of wickedness who seek to break our spirit and steal the treasure of our world, we say in clear language: Do not imagine that you will succeed! In complete contrast to you, we are people of noble spirit. Our hands will not do evil, and we do not wish to use your tools of strife. But know that standing against Torah learners is a war against the eternity of Israel.”
“History is filled with those who sought to make Torah forgotten from Yisroel. They disappeared from the world, their names forgotten and their rule passing like a fleeting shadow. But the Torah stands forever. You cannot break those whose lives are spirit alone. Your time will pass and your rule will sink away, but we will continue to cling to our eternal Torah, which is the Torah of Hashem. There is none who can stand against the Torah of Hashem, against those who learn it, and against the halls of Torah. Jailers may imprison the body, but there is no power in the world that can imprison the spirit.”
Rav Landau concluded with a sweeping declaration: “We hereby proclaim in a loud voice: Whether the authorities agree to this or not, not even one avreich, not even one yeshiva bochur, will go to the army — not in this form and not in any other form,” he emphasized. “The place of Torah learners is solely within the halls of the yeshivos and kollelim. Let everyone know, whether they understand this or not, this is the reality. So it was and so it will be.”
He ended with a tefillah: “May it be the will of Hashem that the emissaries of the Torah world who were imprisoned emerge quickly from darkness to light, and may we all merit every good, to learn Torah in quiet and tranquility.”
{Matzav.com}
Tensions within the chareidi political camp escalated Wednesday night after a senior Shas official sharply criticized what he called the circulation of “inaccurate quotes” attributed to leading rabbanim regarding the proposed draft law.
The controversy followed a report on Channel 12 News claiming that the Slabodka Rosh Yeshiva HaGaon Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch said about the bill being advanced by Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth, “This is not the law that was promised to us — we will have to vote against it.”
In response, a very senior figure in Shas lashed out at Litvishe political activists, accusing them of irresponsibly publicizing selective statements in the name of gedolei rabbanim. “Litvishe activists without responsibility are putting out quotes every few days from leading rabbanim against the draft law. It is a disgrace and a shame. The rabbanim have clarified time and again that they stand behind the law,” the Shas official said.
According to the Shas source, the publication of such statements appears aimed at creating political pressure and destabilizing the chareidi camp at a particularly sensitive stage of negotiations.
At the same time, those close to Rav Hirsch sought to calm the situation, emphasizing that there has been no change in his fundamental position that a draft law must be enacted to formally regulate the status of yeshiva students.
They added that the directive to Degel HaTorah Knesset members remains to continue advancing the legislation, while safeguarding the core principles that were agreed upon at the outset.
{Matzav.com}