A remarkable story from approximately 75 years ago has been revealed for the first time, detailing how Rebbetzin Sarah Yisraelson a”h, a daughter of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l and granddaughter of Rav Aryeh Levin zt”l, was arrested at her home amid efforts at the time to conscript religious women into the Israeli military.
The previously unknown episode was related by her brother, Rav Binyomin Dovid Elyashiv, during a nichum aveilim visit following Rebbetzin Yisraelson’s petirah late last week.
Rav Dovid Cohen, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Chevron, came to be menachem avel, and during their conversation, Rav Elyashiv shared the extraordinary story about his sister, describing her as the first person to be arrested for draft evasion during that period.
According to Rav Elyashiv, the incident occurred approximately 75 years ago, when the newly established State of Israel was attempting to impose military service on young women, a move that was met with fierce opposition from leading gedolei Yisroel.
Rebbetzin Yisraelson was arrested at her home and taken into custody. Rav Elyashiv recalled that during the episode, she drank coffee and remained under arrest for approximately half a day.
Efforts quickly began to secure her release.
Rav Elyashiv explained that his family had close ties with then-Chief Rabbi Rav Yitzchok Isaac Herzog, who had learned in the same kollel as his father, Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
Those connections, together with the intervention of the family’s grandfather, Rav Aryeh Levin, the legendary “father of the prisoners,” ultimately helped secure Rebbetzin Yisraelson’s release and return home.
Rav Aryeh Levin was renowned for his tireless work on behalf of Jewish prisoners and for the extraordinary personal devotion he showed to those who were incarcerated, making his involvement in his granddaughter’s case particularly significant.
The story had apparently remained largely unknown for decades and emerged only during the shivah for Rebbetzin Yisraelson, providing a striking historical glimpse into the early battles surrounding the proposed conscription of religious women.
After recounting how his sister had become the first person arrested over the issue, Rav Elyashiv concluded with a pointed hope particularly resonant amid the current battles surrounding military conscription.
“Be’ezras Hashem, she will also be the last,” he said.
{Matzav.com}
