101-year-old Rabbi Aaron Yehuda Leib Steinman told French Jews not to worry about terrorism. Just increase your Torah study because "the Torah protects and saves."
Don’t Worry, Top Haredi Rabbi Tells French Jews, The Torah Will Protect You And Save You From Terrorism
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A leading haredi rabbi from France, Yitzchak Katz, went to Israel this week and visited with supreme non-hasidic haredi leader, 101-year-old Rabbi Aaron Yehuda Leib Steinman.
According to a report in Yeshiva World, Katz told Steinman about the security concerns the haredi community of France has and asked Steinman for a blessing.
Steinman responded, “the Torah protects and saves,” and said French Jews should strengthen their Torah study. Yeshiva students, Steinman added, should increase the hours they study in yeshiva, as well.
Steinman and other haredi leaders have taken the same position in Israel. But in times of war or increased terror, they have acted as if the Torah provides no protection at all.
For example, during the 2014 Gaza War, Hamas and other Islamic terror groups fired hundreds of missiles into southern Israel, most landed harmlessly in the desert or were shot down by the US-funded Iron Dome missile defense system. Despite this, almost every haredi yeshiva in southern Israel closed and its students and teachers fled to central or northern Israel.
In contrast, Zionist Orthodox yeshivas in the south stayed open.
While Zionist Orthodox yeshiva students serve in the IDF, many in elite combat units, almost all haredi yeshiva students dodge the draft and do not serve in the IDF. Haredi yeshiva students also refuse to serve in Israel’s National Civilian Service. The stated logic for refusing to serve in either capacity is the exact same logic Steinman used in responding to Katz: the Torah protects and saves. Therefore, haredi leaders say, our Torah study is what actually protects Israel for harm.