Five of the senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Degel HaTorah have formally joined the call of Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch urging avreichim throughout Eretz Yisroel to undertake a daily taanis dibbur and intensified hasmadah in response to the escalating gezeiros against the olam haTorah.

In a special letter now being distributed to kollelim across the country, the gedolim expressed their wholehearted support for Rav Hirsch’s initiative, calling on avreichim to devote themselves to uninterrupted learning while observing a taanis dibbur during at least the first half-hour of the morning seder through the Yomim Noraim.

The letter states: “We hereby join wholeheartedly in the call of the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, shlita, to establish special siddrei shekidah in all the kollelim throughout Eretz Yisroel, learning with complete continuity and observing a taanis dibbur for at least the first half-hour of the morning seder, until the Yomim Noraim.”

The proclamation bears the signatures of five senior members of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah: Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Aviezer Piltz, Rav Dovid Cohen, and Rav Eliezer Yehudah Finkel.

Concluding the letter, the gedolim offered a heartfelt berachah: “May this merit stand for Klal Yisroel against the severe persecutions and the renewed troubles brought about by those who oppress us.” The appeal comes amid the increasingly difficult situation facing the olam haTorah due to the ongoing gezeiras hagiyus and the continued withholding of funding from yeshivos.

The publication of the letter follows a special gathering held at Rav Hirsch’s home shortly before his departure to the United States on behalf of the Keren Olam HaTorah campaign. Dozens of roshei kollel from across Eretz Hakodesh participated in the meeting.

At that gathering, Rav Hirsch issued an extraordinary spiritual appeal, urging roshei kollel and avreichim to accept upon themselves a daily taanis dibbur during the first half-hour of every learning seder, beginning immediately and continuing through the conclusion of the Yomim Noraim. He emphasized that it is specifically the difficulty of such a commitment that gives it its power.

“This is something very difficult, and precisely because it is difficult and constitutes a form of mesirus nefesh, it will bring tremendous Kevod Shamayim,” Rav Hirsch wrote in his original letter. “As a result, Hakadosh Baruch Hu will draw closer to us, and we will merit special siyata diShmaya from Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Without that special siyata diShmaya, it will not be possible to prevail against those who are fighting against us.”

Organizers also announced that another gathering of leading gedolim is expected to take place at the home of Rav Dov Landau, where an additional call for spiritual strengthening and renewed kabbalos by avreichim and bnei Torah is anticipated.

A similar letter was recently issued by Rav Moshe Sternbuch, Gaavad of the Badatz of the Eidah HaChareidis, urging increased hischazkus as part of the spiritual battle against Amalek. The parallel calls from leading gedolim across different segments of the olam haTorah underscore the profound sense of urgency for heightened avodas Hashem during this challenging period.

{Matzav.com}