Speaking at a dramatic gathering Monday night in his home in Bnei Brak, Hagaon Rav Dov Landau sharply condemned the recent arrests of yeshiva bochurim and delivered a stark warning to the authorities, declaring that “anyone who is a partner to this terrible crime should know—there is a Creator of the world, there is judgment (yeish din), and there is a Judge (v‘yeish Dayan).”
The remarks were delivered alongside Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch during an event marking the completion of Maseches Negaim by Kollel Taharos. Opening his address, Rav Landau praised the growth of Torah learning, saying, “Boruch Hashem, Torah is increasing among the people of Israel. Those who learn Torah are toiling in every place with depth, effort, and devotion, in all areas of Torah.” Turning to the participants, he added words of encouragement: “You are engaged in the study of Seder Taharos, and with siyata d’Shmaya you are completing a masechta learned with true chavrusah dedication. May Hashem help you continue onward and rise higher in Torah learning.”
Immediately afterward, Rav Landau turned to the issue of the arrests. “Unfortunately, there are those who do not understand the greatness and spiritual power of the Torah, and they even pursue those who learn Torah,” he said. “In recent days, Torah learners have once again been arrested. This shakes the heart of every Jew.” He then issued his pointed warning: “Anyone who is a partner to the terrible crime of restricting those who learn Torah should know—there is a Creator of the world, there is judgment, and there is a Judge.”
Rav Landau expressed deep solidarity with those who have been detained and their families. “We all share in the pain of those who have been imprisoned because of their desire to learn Torah, and in the pain of their families, and we pray with all our hearts that this evil decree will pass like dissipating smoke,” he said. He also alluded to ongoing efforts behind the scenes, noting, “Everyone also knows that actions are being taken now to ensure that such cases do not continue.”
At the same time, Rav Landau cautioned that the current situation is dangerous and issued practical guidance to bochurim and yungeleit who fear arrest. “It is clear that we are now in a difficult state in which Torah learners are being pursued and searched for everywhere,” he warned. “Certainly, bochurim and yungeleit who are at risk of arrest must be careful not to come into contact with the authorities. In times of danger, all paths are considered dangerous, until the situation is resolved, with Hashem’s help, in the near future.”
Rav Landau concluded, “May it be His will that we always rejoice with the Torah without any interference, and that this decree be nullified.”
{Matzav.com}
The wife of a yungerman who was arrested for failing to report to the draft office broke down in tears during an emotional phone call with Rosh Yeshiva Rav Avraham Salim, who reached out to offer chizuk, guidance, and reassurance amid the unfolding crisis.
During the conversation, Rav Salim spoke with Esti Ben Dayan, the wife of Reb Avraham Ben Dayan, who was detained after an encounter with civilian police and transferred to military custody. The call was marked by pain, fear, and encouragement, alongside a commitment from the Rosh Yeshiva to remain personally involved and to daven for her husband’s release.
Rav Salim opened the conversation with words of chizuk, acknowledging the severity of the situation. “It’s very hard, but don’t worry, don’t worry. Everyone is davening for him and doing everything possible so that he should truly be released. They only want to frighten. This is a great test. I heard that you were married only recently. But this is a harsh decree on all bnei Torah,” he said.
Esti Ben Dayan then described to the Rosh Yeshiva the chain of events that led to her husband’s arrest and the difficult days that followed. According to her account, her husband was stopped during what appeared to be a routine civilian police check when he stepped out briefly to take care of an errand. “They stopped him just for a regular inspection,” she said. “They told him they wouldn’t do anything to him—and from Motzaei Shabbos I had no contact with him. I didn’t know where he was. Only the next day, at two in the afternoon, did he call me for the first time. They told me they took him to Prison 10.”
She went on to describe how shaken her husband sounded when they finally spoke. “He sounded completely broken, terrified by everything that happened. He was worried that the family shouldn’t find out. There’s no real way to communicate with him. We’re waiting for every phone call. This is a decree that’s impossible to bear. He simply went out and never came back,” she said.
Mrs. Ben Dayan also recounted the deep pain her husband expressed over not being allowed to put on tefillin while in custody. “He said, ‘It’s not enough that I’m arrested—they don’t even let me put on tefillin.’ He was completely broken by that,” she told Rav Salim.
The Rosh Yeshiva responded with further words of chizuk, expressing both personal empathy and a broader sense of responsibility for the tzibbur. “This causes a lot of worry, it brings so much anxiety. I understand—it’s truly cruelty. This is a test; we need to accept everything with love, and everything will pass. This isn’t only about him, it’s not only about you—it’s about everyone. This is what all bnei Torah are going through. And these are our fellow Jews—that’s what hurts. You need patience. Know that everyone truly cares about him. With Hashem’s help, when he is released—all of the Torah world, the entire yeshiva world, is with you,” Rav Salim said.
At the end of the call, Mrs. Ben Dayan asked that the Rosh Yeshiva do whatever he could to help secure her husband’s release and to continue davening on their behalf. Rav Salim promised to speak again with the attorney handling the case and asked for the detainee’s full name for tefillah: Avraham ben Basya Rus.
{Matzav.com}
Senior chareidi figures involved in advancing legislation on the draft and the legal status of yeshiva bochurim are voicing sharp criticism of the legal adviser to the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, accusing her of deliberately stalling the process to prevent the law from passing during the current term.
According to chareidi officials, frustration is mounting over the conduct of the committee’s legal adviser, Miri Frenkel-Shor, whom they claim is intentionally obstructing progress on the draft legislation.
Within the chareidi factions, a decision was made—following guidance from gedolim—not to advance any bill that does not receive the backing of the Knesset’s legal advisers. Lawmakers warned that passing legislation without such support would likely prompt the High Court to issue an interim injunction, causing more harm than benefit.
In recent days, discussions in the Knesset have focused largely on negotiations with the Knesset’s legal advisory bodies, in an effort to reach understandings that would allow the draft law to move forward.
Until recently, there was a sense of optimism that agreements could be reached by the end of the current week. However, chareidi parties now say the gaps remain wide and difficult to bridge.
Anger within the chareidi factions is directed primarily at the committee’s legal adviser, whom senior chareidi figures describe as the main obstacle to reaching agreed-upon language for the draft law.
“She has become Yuli Edelstein 2,” senior chareidi officials said last night. “She is behaving like Edelstein and doing everything she can to ensure the draft law does not pass. She is afraid to have her name attached to the law, and that is the result.”
Despite the tensions, Shas and Degel HaTorah have not given up hope and continue to believe that understandings may still be reached with the Knesset’s legal advisers in the coming days, enabling the draft law to pass its second and third readings. “We will not give up on the final and meaningful attempt before the Knesset is dissolved,” party officials said.
As previously reported, coalition officials assess that the draft law ultimately may not be enacted. Nevertheless, they expect the chareidi parties to support the state budget in its second and third readings toward the end of March 2026, alongside setting a date for early elections, likely in June or September 2026.
{Matzav.com}
