Rav Ben Tzion Mutzapi on Draft Crisis: “They Cannot Defeat Us, We Will Never Abandon Torah”

Rav Ben Tzion Mutzapi, one of the leading Sephardic gedolei Torah, has weighed in on the ongoing controversy surrounding Israel’s draft law, the status of bnei yeshivah, and the arrests of Torah students, declaring that efforts to weaken Torah learning will ultimately fail.

In a letter sent to avreichim learning in a kollel in Ofakim, Rav Mutzapi sharply criticized those he believes are targeting the Torah world and expressed confidence that the Torah community will remain steadfast despite mounting pressures.

“My beloved friends, for 70 years the Erev Rav have exerted all their strength and burst with anger when they see Torah-observant Jews sitting and learning Torah. They do not need us in the army at all because they have additional soldiers and even surpluses.”

The senior posek argued that opponents of Torah study have repeatedly attempted to curtail the growth of the Torah world through a variety of measures, yet have consistently failed to achieve their goals.

“What have they not done? Four times every year, corresponding to the seasons of the year, through various regulations, difficulties, decrees, sanctions, temptations, threats, and incitement against Torah learners—and they have accomplished nothing.”

Rav Mutzapi went on to cite promises from Tanach, emphasizing that the Jewish people have been assured that Torah will never be forgotten or abandoned.

“Hashem promised us through Moshe, His faithful servant, ‘For it shall not be forgotten from the mouth of his descendants,’” he wrote. “And through Shmuel Hanovi, ‘For Hashem will not forsake His people, nor abandon His inheritance.’”

Rav Mutzapi stressed that those seeking to diminish Torah observance would not succeed and accused them of attempting to uproot Torah through cultural and social influences.

“They will not overcome us, they will not subdue us, because their goal is to cause Torah to be forgotten. All of the entertainment programs, the permissiveness disguised as freedom, the parades of donkeys, only add to their shame and disgrace.”

Concluding his message, Rav Mutzapi urged Torah students to remain committed to their learning and to draw strength from Hashem’s enduring love for His people.

“We will not abandon the Torah, and it will never abandon us. Remember, my friend, that every night we bless, ‘And Your love shall never depart from us forever.’ Hashem declares, ‘I love you.’”