Ponevezh Mashgiach Decries Street Posters and Protests Against Gedolei Hador

Amid a series of painful tragedies that have recently struck the chareidi community, the mashgiach of Ponevezh Yeshiva, Rav Ezra Rothschild, delivered a forceful and emotional address in which he sharply condemned street posters and public demonstrations held against the rulings of the Gedolei HaDor. He warned that public ביזוי of Torah leadership is a grave matter, declaring that “the Torah demands redress,” and blaming such conduct for the calamities befalling the community.

Speaking with visible anguish, Rav Rothschild described the recent period as one of extraordinary pain. “In the past two weeks, terrible things have happened to Klal Yisroel—horrific tragedies, involving young people, both in the way they occurred and in their timing. Even today, the father of a yeshiva student passed away,” he said. “Without question, Hakadosh Baruch Hu is speaking to us. He has taken pure souls who merited to be a communal offering. We may not know exactly what Hashem wants from us, but the first thing a person must recognize is that Hashem is speaking to us. These are frightening events, not according to the natural order, and yet they share a similar pattern.”

Rav Rothschild then turned his focus to what he described as a deep and dangerous confusion within the public regarding kavod haTorah and the honor due to the Gedolei Yisroel. Quoting what he said he had heard in the name of a leading Torah authority, he stated that the recent tragedies were linked to the public disparagement of Torah leadership. “There has been, recently, a ביזוי of Gedolei Yisroel,” he said. “There were demonstrations—official demonstrations—by thousands of Jews against Gedolei Yisroel. This was not about the draft decree itself, but explicitly against the deferment law from military service. That is what was written.”

He expressed astonishment that public protests were staged against a matter already decided by the Gedolim. “What does it mean, a law of deferment from the draft? Gedolei Yisroel deliberated, ruled, and decided—and people demonstrate against that? Such a thing never existed. Tens of thousands of people participated. Most of them are innocent, simple people who were drawn in and are not to blame. But something terrible happened here. These demonstrations are against Daas Torah, completely against the way of the Torah.”

In particularly sharp terms, Rav Rothschild criticized attempts to undermine the authority of Rav Dov Landau, warning against the growing influence of “the street” and political activists. “This situation, where demonstrations are held against Gedolei Yisroel whom all of Klal Yisroel follows—Maran Rosh HaYeshiva Rav Dov Landau is greater than the entire generation, without question wiser, more G-d-fearing, and older,” he said. “Even if you think it doesn’t suit you or you don’t understand, you are obligated to listen.”

The mashgiach also issued a stark warning regarding street posters attacking gedolei Yisroel. “People become confused by the posters in the streets. Perhaps one should not read them at all. Perhaps they fall under the prohibition of bringing an abomination into one’s home—this is heresy. There are posters that publicly disgrace Gedolei Yisroel. These are the work of bad people,” he said emphatically. “Know this: all the street posters are from bad people. One must learn not to read them. Do not read them.”

Rav Rothschild concluded by reiterating the obligation of absolute obedience to Torah leadership and recalling the approach of Rav Aharon Leib Steinman. He related that when people once questioned Rav Steinman regarding the draft deferment law, Rav Steinman replied, “Everything you are saying, I also know. But there are things I know that you do not know.”

Summing up his message, Rav Rothschild said: “The Torah demands redress. Many have felt this deeply. Gedolei Yisroel see matters that others cannot see.”

{Matzav.com}