HaGaon HaRav Shraga Steinman, Nasi of the Orchos Torah yeshivos network, spoke about the persecution of Lomdei Torah during a question-and-answer session with HaRav Eliav Miller, a renowned mechanech and the head of the Lev Shomea organization, which provides guidance and support hotlines for yeshiva bochurim and Chareidi high-school girls.

HaRav Eliav Miller: “Today there is unprecedented persecution of Torah, with people from within Klal Yisrael persecuting the Torah world. What is the proper perspective? There are bochurim here who are about to reach the age at which they themselves may be persecuted. How should they view this? What should their attitude be? They’re the soldiers of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Are people trying to harm them, or are they really trying to harm Hakadosh Baruch Hu? What should their inner perspective be?”

HaRav Shteinman replied: “The Rambam says at the end of Hilchos Shemittah V’Yovel that because Shevet Levi was set apart to learn Torah and serve Hashem, they are called ‘Hashem’s Army.’ Just as there is an Air Force, Ground Forces, and Navy, there is Hashem’s Army. And it is not only Shevet Levi. Anyone who understands what Torah is, separates himself from this world, and dedicates himself to learning Torah is part of Hashem’s Army.”

“In every generation there has been persecution. There are young people here who think this is something new. I remember that every few years there is another wave of hatred. There was a time when they were searching for a boy named Yossele. A religious child couldn’t walk down the street without being beaten and asked, ‘Tell me where Yossele is!’ Did I hide him? Did I kidnap him? That’s how it was. The harassment resumes every few years. It is the work of the yetzer hara. The same thing happened in Communist Russia—’Your destroyers and those who ruin you will come from among you.'”

“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 troubles, and, with Hashem’s help, we will survive this as well. The Torah—’Hashem will not forsake His people.’ The Torah will always endure. There were periods when it was more difficult and periods when it was easier, but the Torah and those who study it will always remain. They are the pinnacle. They are Hashem’s Army. We have nothing to fear.”

HaRav Miller: “The Rosh Yeshivah compares today’s persecution to the persecution under the Russians and the Bolsheviks…”

HaRav Shteinman: “Under the Bolsheviks, it was Jews who fought against Yiddishkeit! There was a Jewish department called the Yevsektsiya. They informed on people, and because of them Volozhin was closed. They were always the problem. They fought against Yiddishkeit. But we got through it. Every few years these problems arise, and then they pass.”

HaRav Miller: “Thousands of bochurim are sitting here. People call them ‘parasites.’ Are they parasites?”

HaRav Shteinman: “Those who call them that are the real parasites! Upon whom does the world exist? The Gemara says that the entire world was sustained in the merit of Rebbi Chanina ben Dosa, while he himself lived on a measure of carobs. The whole world is sustained by Torah! HaRav Chaim of Volozhin says: ‘Were it not for My covenant day and night, I would not have established the laws of heaven and earth.’ If Limmud Torah were to cease for even one moment, the entire world would return to chaos! Everyone lives because of Limmud Torah! And they call them parasites?! But they simply don’t understand that. Not everyone merits that understanding.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)