Former Chief Rabbi (Rishon LeZion) Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef addressed the issue of military draft orders being sent to thousands of yeshiva students.
In a talk given to students this week, he called for them to tear up their draft notices and dispose of them, stating: "We need to study Torah. Why did we return to the Land of Israel? To become secular? We're in a very difficult period for the yeshiva world."
In a lecture given at the beginning of this week to yeshiva students in Jerusalem, Rabbi Yosef addressed the students saying: "Thank God you're sitting and studying. You have issues with the army, they sent you draft orders - listen to the Torah leaders. I was the first to declare this, when no one else was talking about it, last Adar when I was still in office. I declared that if they don't let us study here - we'll go abroad. We need to study Torah. Why did we return to the Land of Israel? To become secular?"
Rabbi Yosef shared: "I made clear statements and they filed a petition to the Supreme Court, they gave orders to remove me from my position as a judge in the High Rabbinical Court. They didn't succeed, we stood firm. 'Do not be afraid of any person.' Even the yeshiva heads - especially the Ashkenazi ones - called us and gave support."
He instructed the students: "I said that if a draft order arrives - tear it up. Do you have a toilet at home? There's no house without a bathroom. Tear it up (the draft order), throw it in the toilet and flush. There's nothing to it, don't even consider it."
Rabbi Yosef added a warning to the yeshiva students: "Be careful not to run red lights, don't commit traffic violations. Why am I saying this? There was a student who committed traffic violations, they stopped him - saw he was a draft dodger and took him into custody."
"Don't be afraid, God is with you," Rabbi Yosef continued. "We hope this will pass. This is a very difficult period for the yeshiva world, there are decrees, be strong."
Kikar HaShabbat contributed to this article.
