Speaking during a question-and-answer session with Rav Eliav Miller, Rav Shteinman compared yeshiva students to a vital branch of the military, describing them as “Hashem’s army” and emphasizing the indispensable role of Torah learning in sustaining the Jewish people.

Rav Miller opened the discussion by asking about what he described as the growing persecution of the Torah world.

“Today there is an unprecedented persecution of Torah, with people from within Klal Yisroel attacking the Torah world,” Rav Miller said. “Some of the bochurim here are approaching the age where they themselves may become targets. How should they view this? Are they soldiers of Hashem? Are those attacking them really attacking Hakadosh Baruch Hu? What should their inner perspective be?”

Rav Shteinman responded by citing the Rambam’s comments at the end of Hilchos Shemittah V’Yovel.

“The Rambam says that Shevet Levi, because they were set aside to learn Torah and serve Hashem, are called ‘Hashem’s army.’ Just as there is an Air Force, a Ground Force, and a Navy, there is also ‘Hashem’s army.’ And it is not only Shevet Levi. Anyone who understands the value of Torah, separates himself from worldly pursuits, and dedicates himself to learning becomes part of Hashem’s army.”

Rav Shteinman noted that hostility toward Torah observance is nothing new.

“There have always been periods of persecution,” he said. “Young people think this is something unique to our generation, but I remember that every few years there is another wave of hatred.”

He recalled the atmosphere during the famous Yossele Schumacher affair, when religious Jews were harassed over the disappearance of the young boy.

“There was a time when they were searching for a child named Yossele. A religious child couldn’t walk down the street without being beaten. They would ask, ‘Tell me where Yossele is!’ Did I hide him? Did I kidnap him? That’s how it was. Every few years there is another atmosphere like this. It is the work of the yetzer hara. The same thing happened in Communist Russia. ‘Your destroyers and those who lay you waste shall come from among you.'”

He expressed confidence that the current tensions would eventually pass.

“That is the way of the world. We are not frightened by it. ‘A decree is destined to be annulled.’ This too will pass. We have survived many hardships and many tragedies, and with Hashem’s help we will survive this as well. Torah will always endure. ‘Hashem will not forsake His people.’ There have been times when learning Torah was more difficult and times when it was easier, but the Torah and those who learn it will always remain. They are the pinnacle. They are Hashem’s army. We have nothing to fear.”

When Rav Miller compared today’s hostility toward the Torah world to the persecution of religious Jews under the Bolsheviks, Rav Shteinman agreed.

“Under the Bolsheviks, it was Jews who fought against Judaism,” he said. “There was a Jewish division called the Yevsektsiya. They informed on religious Jews and because of them Volozhin was closed. The problems always came from them. They fought against Judaism. But we survived it. Every few years there are challenges like these, and they pass.”

Rav Miller then asked about those who label yeshiva bochurim as “parasites.”

“Thousands of bochurim are sitting here,” he said. “People call them parasites. Are they parasites?”

“The ones calling them that—they are the parasites!” Rav Shteinman replied. “What does the world exist on? The Gemara says that the entire world was sustained in the merit of Rabi Chanina ben Dosa, even though he himself lived on a measure of carobs. The whole world is sustained by Torah. Rav Chaim of Volozhin explains the verse, ‘If not for My covenant day and night, I would not have established the laws of heaven and earth.’ If Torah learning were to stop for even a single moment, the entire world would return to chaos. Everyone exists because of Torah learning. And they are parasites? People simply do not understand that. Not everyone is privileged to understand it.”

At the conclusion of the session, Rav Miller thanked Rav Shteinman for addressing the students throughout the year and asked him to bless those preparing to enter the larger yeshivos.

Rav Shteinman responded with a bracha that the bochurim continue growing in Torah and yiras Shamayim.

“Hashem should help that everyone continue to toil in Torah and fear of Heaven, becoming great talmidei chachamim who are complete both in Torah and in good middos,” he said. “As we approach bein hazmanim, everyone should be especially careful and remain connected to Torah. The haftarah of Tishah B’Av says, ‘To cut off child from outside, young men from the streets.’ The commentators explain that troubles begin when people are out in the streets. Even today, those attacking Torah learners encounter them in the streets. So far, at least, they have not entered the batei medrash. Those who are learning Torah have not been harmed. One must remain connected to Torah. Perhaps there is a little less learning and a little less supervision during bein hazmanim, but anyone who stays connected to Torah will not suffer harm.”22

{Matzav.com}