Just two weeks before the start of zman Elul, Yeshivas Ner Zerach in Moshav Otzem is facing an unprecedented crisis after Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority issued a closure order for the campus over alleged fire safety deficiencies, throwing the yeshiva’s opening for the new zman into serious doubt.

The order has raised major concerns about whether the yeshiva will be able to welcome its incoming first-year talmidim and begin the new academic term on schedule.

Kikar HaShabbos has learned that a critical meeting is scheduled for today between yeshiva representatives and officials from the Fire and Rescue Authority in an urgent effort to reach an agreement that would postpone the closure order and allow the yeshiva to continue operating while preparing for the upcoming zman.

In response to the unfolding situation, the yeshiva’s Roshei Yeshiva, together with current talmidim and alumni, gathered on Motzoei Shabbos for a special atzeres tefillah at the kever of Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman zt”l.

During the emotional gathering, participants recited Tehillim, Avinu Malkeinu, and additional tefillos, davening that the decree be rescinded and that efforts to resolve the crisis prove successful.

Yeshivas Ner Zerach operates under the umbrella of Yeshivas Orchos Torah and is headed by Rav Yaakov Virzhbinski. The yeshiva remains hopeful that a solution can be reached within the next 24 hours that will delay the closure order and enable zman Elul to begin as planned.

“This is a genuine gezeirah,” members of the yeshiva said. “It is impossible to open a new school year and receive the incoming first-year talmidim under these circumstances. If the order takes effect, it will deal a severe blow to our ability to open zman Elul in the normal manner.”

A source within the Fire and Rescue Authority said that if a closure order was issued, it was likely because inspectors identified deficiencies that could place lives at risk.

“If a closure order was issued for the building, there are apparently deficiencies there that could endanger human life.”

Despite the seriousness of the situation, yeshiva officials remain optimistic that today’s meeting will produce an arrangement allowing the required safety issues to be addressed while the yeshiva continues functioning uninterrupted.

{Matzav.com}