The former Jewish spy who was held in the USA and released to Israel, Yonatan Pollard, arrived at the 'Or and Salvation' yeshiva yeshiva in Haifa and talked with the students and faculty of the yeshiva about the importance of Torah students in Israel, the importance of the national project of the hesder yeshivas that prepare their students for military service and the goals of the IDF which were there until the war and the need to change them.
Yonathan Pollard with the students of the yeshiva, photo: Yeshiva Haseder Or and Yeshua
"The army must undergo a reform and a fundamental change from within. The change must be carried out in two ways: from the top down, and from the bottom up. In other words," explained Pollard, "a change must be made at the top of the military system by replacing the Chief of Staff and changing the face of the entire General Staff so that the spirit The new one will change first at the top of the system and will trickle down to the last of the soldiers as well.
But even more important is the change that needs to come from below, from the junior echelon that is gradually occupying the key positions in the system.
This is the right thing to do in order to transform the IDF into an army that fights according to the tradition of Jewish values, for the sake of the Jewish people living in Israel."
IDF fighters in the heart of the Khan Yunis area, photo: IDF spokesman
"This is where the importance of Torah students comes in because you are the ones who will create the Jewish army, who will fight for the sanctification of God," he said.
"Everyone is fighting now, the secular, the traditional, the religious and the ultra-Orthodox side by side in a wonderful way and that is blessed. But we want to make sure that the army is united around the goal of protecting the Jewish state and the Jewish identity of the state."
In his words, he also referred to the hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza and said: "Captivity is unbearable, but only a crushing victory over Hamas will bring the captives home to us.
It is forbidden to agree to deals with Hamas under any circumstances.
The main goal of the war is the complete victory over Hamas and its complete destruction.
Regarding the abductees, we will do everything so that they return at the same time.
That's the only way we can bring them home, all of them." He added: "We have 8 million "kidnapped" if we agree to deals with Hamas.
8 million more Jews who live in the country and the duty is to protect them too at all costs.
We do not have the authority to pay too heavy a price."
"Cease fire now".
The rally of the families of the abductees in Tel Aviv, photo: None
Rabbi Yedidia Zaini, head of the Beit Midrash at the yeshiva, noted that Jonathan Pollard's talk strengthened and elevated the learning at the yeshiva, this after many of its rabbis and students were recruited for the war effort, and some of them are still in the various sectors.
"In Pollard's conversation, we learned how someone who was far from the Torah and Mitzvot, when he gave his whole life for the people of Israel and the Land of Israel, emphasizes the importance of Torah scholars to the people of Israel and their influence on the people. It was his dedication to the people of Israel that led him to become stronger within the walls of the prison," he said The rabbi
"As someone who was imprisoned himself, under difficult conditions, it is clear that he cannot be attributed with disdain for the abductees. His opinion and conduct stem from a genuine and deep concern for all of Israel. We heard how a man abandoned by the State of Israel did not turn his back on it, immigrated to Israel at the first opportunity he had, and since then devotes his life".
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