Amid ongoing legal uncertainty following the expiration of the draft law, the Vaad HaYeshivos has issued an unusual and strongly worded letter to roshei yeshiva and roshei kollel across Eretz Yisroel, warning that most yeshiva students between the ages of 17 and 28 may be barred from leaving Israel during the upcoming Pesach break unless their status is properly arranged.

According to the notice, if no new legislation is passed regulating the status of bnei yeshiva before the Nissan bein hazemanim period, the majority of students in that age bracket will not be permitted to exit the country.

The Vaad clarifies that any student seeking to travel abroad must contact its offices in advance for an individual review of his status, in order to avoid distress or potential complications at border control. However, due to the rapidly changing legal situation, an early check will not remain valid indefinitely. Students are therefore instructed to conduct their status verification no more than two weeks prior to their scheduled departure.

Beyond the issue of travel, the Vaad HaYeshivos emphasizes the heightened personal responsibility of every bochur and avreich during this sensitive period.

The letter stresses that although there is currently no formal legislative framework in place, this does not lessen the binding principles under which the “Toraso umnaso” designation was granted. The Vaad warns that once new legislation is enacted, authorities may review whether students maintained compliance with the established criteria, and future status determinations could depend on that record.

The central focus of the directive is the strict maintenance of uninterrupted study and the avoidance of any outside engagement beyond full-time Torah learning within the yeshiva framework. Any deviation — including extended travel abroad beyond what had previously been permitted — could, according to the attached legal opinion, lead to significant and potentially irreversible complications in the future.

In closing, the Vaad HaYeshivos calls upon institutional leaders to communicate these instructions clearly and precisely to their talmidim and kollel members in order to prevent serious consequences during this particularly delicate period.