Gedolei HaDor Denounce Draft Decrees and National-Religious Leaders

In a historic meeting, HaGaon Rav Dov Landau shlit”a and HaGaon Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlit”a issued a firm call against the army draft of yeshiva students, condemning National-Religious politicians who, they warned, are aiding secular parties in campaigns against bnei Torah.

Introduction

Against the backdrop of intensifying government pressure to draft yeshiva students and recent arrests of bochurim, two of the greatest Torah leaders of our generation, Rav Dov Landau and Rav Moshe Sternbuch, met for a special discussion. The meeting centered on strategies of protest, the spiritual dangers of the decrees, and the need for absolute faith in Hashem. Both Gedolim strongly denounced the role of National-Religious political figures who, they said, align themselves with secular parties to provoke and act against Torah Jews.

The Conversation

Rav Moshe Sternbuch opened by addressing Rav Dov Landau:

“Upon you lies the responsibility for this matter, which is now at the forefront.”

Rav Landau responded:

“This responsibility rests upon all of Klal Yisrael. Regarding the draft decree—we do everything possible to ensure that yeshiva students do not go to the army, that no one goes to the army. We act as much as we can through human effort in various ways, and also through prayer, which is in the hands of Heaven.”

He then warned of the danger posed by those within the government who wear knitted kippot:

“Today we have great enemies and persecutors, and there is another type of persecutors—those who wear knitted kippot. It is frightening.”

Rav Sternbuch advised restraint:

“The less we speak with them, the healthier it is for us. When they see that they make no impression upon us at all, and that we remain steadfast, then they will not harm us.”

Rav Landau added:

“The wicked do whatever they want—wicked people who know nothing of Yiddishkeit and do not want to know. They give everything to the Arabs, and only to bnei Torah they refuse to give.”

Rav Sternbuch emphasized:

“Our enemies want us to feel persecuted by them, but we must show that they do not interest us at all. We will continue along the path of Torah without paying them any attention.”

Turning once again to Rav Landau, Rav Sternbuch concluded:

“Do whatever you can. We must do what is in our hands, and success depends on HaKadosh Baruch Hu. In truth, the very fact that we are doing what we are obligated to do—that itself is success.”

Shared Memories and Mutual Respect

After addressing the urgent issues of the day, the two Gedolim reminisced about their time learning together in Yeshivas Chevron nearly eighty years ago.

An emotional moment occurred at the end of the meeting when Rav Landau noticed that Rav Sternbuch insisted on accompanying him to the doorway. Despite Rav Landau’s request that the Posek HaDor not trouble himself, Rav Sternbuch continued to escort him all the way out, a gesture that visibly reflected the profound mutual respect and admiration between these two towering leaders of the generation.