JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In the wake of a number of tragedies which have occurred during the Bein Hazmanim (recess) period between Tisha B’Av and Elul, the Mir yeshiva in Jerusalem which is currently the largest yeshiva in the world has decided to open the Elul zman on Thursday instead of Sunday. The rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, consulted with a number of prominent rabbis and decided to implement the early zman.
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The yeshiva announced that “due to the horrific tragedies in the last few weeks we must strengthen our prayers and Torah study and therefore by request of the rosh yeshiv and in coordination with the gedolim the yeshiva students are being called to precede the Elul zman and commence their studies on Thursday.”
The yeshiva itself was hit by the tragedies, as Shoshana Glustein and her daughters Chaya Sara and Chana, who died after being hit by a bus which lost control on Shamgar Street, were grandchildren and daughter-in-law of Rabbi Yisrael Glustein, one of the rosh yeshivas in Mir and a son-in-law of rabbi Beinish Finkel.
Moreover there were a number of drownings of yeshiva students, including 18-year-old Mordechai Schlesinger, who studied at the Netivot Hachochma yeshiva in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Gershon Edelstein spoke recently about the terrible tragedies which have occurred in Bein Hazmanim and said that they may be due to the fact that there is less merit of Torah since people are not fully occupied with their Torah studies during this period.
May Hashem give the frum world real Seichel so that they can be able to understand what the Creator wants from them.
I guess this is for those who are already there. Obviously the bachurim who have flights tommorow or Motzei Shabbos, there was no way they could of known this months ago when they made their reservations. May HKB”H continue to watch over and protect all Yidden wherever they may find themselves.
Now all the soldiers can take off for a last weeks of summer break.
There is something wrong with this approach Rabbi Finkel and “ a number of prominent rabbis” Rabbi Finkel consulted with have advocated. Because the Glusteins (who I know to be wonderful people) were accidently killed and a Mir bachur drowned, you increase learning and dovening by 2 days. What about the tragic deaths of other fine Yidden, that has never ceased and probably will never cease (until Moshiach)? For them the Zman was never started early!
Yashar Ko’ach! It should be noted that except for the 15th of Av, this entire month is not a good one for the Jewish People. Legend has it that Ya’akov our father, Peace be upon him, only took 10 months from Eisav, leaving his evil twin with Tammuz and Av: Therefore, we are advised not to engage in litigation with the Gentiles, for the entire month, until the beginning of Elul. This also explains why “Spring Break” is generally safer. Commercial interests of the Sons of Edom should not sway us from the words of our Holy Rabbis, of Blessed Memory.
But are the American Bochrim shortening their well earned vacations?
the USA has 38K fatal accidents every year. that is 104 per day.
so here are the facts (at least till Moshiach comes) as the Frum community grows so too will deaths from accidents and diseases
there will come a time 30-60 years from now when Frum Yidden will count in the multiple millions, then death of young people from accidents and Cancer (Hsh’Y) will be a daily occurrence.
So here’s my question, will we then be in a permenant state of Yom Tefilah? are we going to cancel bein hazamnim completely?
Less merit of Torah caused the tragedies. So more studies keeps traffic accidents from happening. Gevalt…
If learning is so important to them, that they let other Yidden fight in the army, then they have no business taking off for vacation.