In a conversation that Maran Gra"d Lando had at his home with the heads of the Mir Yeshiva - the Gra"i Finkel and the Masgid Gra"b Finkel - who came to thank him for his efforts and trips to raise funds for the yeshiva world abroad, following government budget cuts, the Maran Rosh HaYashiva expressed a strong and unusual stance against elements in the government and the national-religious public who are pushing for the conscription of yeshiva students into the IDF.
Transcript of the conversation:
Maran: What are things supposed to mean?
Rabbi Finkel: We simply came to thank you for your dedication to the world of Torah, and to our yeshiva.
Maran: May God bless you.
Rabbi Finkel: May you be blessed.
Rabbi Finkel: It strengthens us all. It requires…
Maran: I didn't come to strengthen you, I came so that you would have something to pay.
Grand Master Finkel: This is our role, it obligates everyone.
Maran: God help us, so that we won't have to travel again.
Rabbi Finkel: Amen, God will give strength. Throughout the days.
Maran: I'm not getting any younger.
The Grand Master Finkel: This is incomprehensible, what dedication.
Maran: It's true that it's very difficult, but there's no other advice.
Rabbi Finkel: But you see that within all the decrees there is mercy, you see Jews opening their hearts, it strengthens you a little.
Maran: From the United States?
Rabbi Finkel: Yes.
Maran: Why wouldn't it be so? The decrees are from someone else. The wicked here, what can be done? What can be done... There are wicked... and those who wear knitted kippahs, no less.
I'm talking about the knitted kippahs that are required to be worn, if the state... I would ask them, for their system, they have no system at all, for their stupidity, if the state sends people, soldiers, for the sake of the state's honor, and they kill people, is that also permissible? Real murder. So they incite murder, that's what they do. They wage wars not only for the sake of salvation, for the sake of the state's honor.
Rabbi Finkel: Fear.
Maran: Of course. It's not new. So, is it allowed?
Rabbi Finkel: God bless you.
Maran: They do it to honor the country, which is a great position, or something else.
Rabbi Finkel: But what should one pray for? Who will repent?
Maran: I said something side-by-side, but…
Rabbi Finkel: Yes, yes, so should we pray for them to repent or for the informers? What should we direct?
Maran: I don't know. It will be good, I don't know. May God help it be good. We won't give him advice. It will be good. This is a difficult and serious situation. May God help, with prayers. Advice, there are all kinds of things, all kinds of points, all kinds of implications, as they say. I don't know. Situation... We will pray to the Holy One, blessed be He, that everything will pass like a dream, fly like a blowing wind, and like a bridal cloud.
Torah scholars: Amen, amen.
Rabbi Finkel: The yeshiva received the reinforcement of the fast through speech. Thank God, it was a great reinforcement.
Maran: Yes?
The Grand Master Finkel: Yes.
Maran: Miracles of miracles, you are blessed. This is a very big thing.
Grand Master Finkel: May God bless you.
Mr.: And so is Mr.
