JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Rabbi Dovid Leibel, the head of the Achvas Torah organization and the Rabbi Akiva Eiger kollelim, published a letter in which he clarifies the proper meaning of the Talmudic term ‘Torah Magna U’Matzla’ [Torah protects and saves].
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Rabbi Leibel says that this statement was said regarding an individual and not the community, meaning that it is not a blanket protection for all of Am Yisrael, but rather helps the person learning himself be saved from suffering and from the Yetzer Hara. (He proves this from the gemara’s question on Doeg Haedomi and Achitofel, both individuals who were not saved by their Torah). In the same way, a Mitzvah also protects an individual, and therefore if a person visits a sick soldier or participates in a funeral he is also protected in the same way.
However one cannot interpret this to mean that a person studying is protected from danger and need not take precautions. Thus, if there is a warning siren he must leave his studies and go to the safe room or find other protection. Moreover, Torah Magna U’Matzla cannot be used to evade communal responsibilities.
In a startling conclusion to his letter, Rabbi Leibel adds that those who interpret this statement to imply that they are the true defenders of the community with their studies, thus absolving themselves from communal responsibility, must of necessity take personal responsibility for the Simchas Torah massacre as well as for the soldiers who are unfortunately falling in battle almost daily.
Letter from Rabbi Lebel
very logical arguments, i wish he were more known.
Then why does the Gemara say that those who learn are patur from paying for a city watchman
What is his proof? The simple explanation is that Torah is Magna U’Matzla from everything
Excellent, thank you, Rabbi Leibel. Slowly, rabbis are saying similar drashos and upending the establishment.
The greatest proof of the correct Torah perspective is success.
The way to verify the correct Torah outlook about this issue is to verify the outlook of those who lead succesful functional frum communities.
Running from reality along a way which has a poor track record harms the frum community.
It so happens that Rav Yisrael Elya Weintraub did indeed write, and the Brisker Rav said the same, that the salvation of Jews comes from the bnei Torah, not the Zionists and their army. The maskilim don’t have to like it, and this rabbi could disagree if he has someone of their stature to back him up on that, but that’s what the Torah holds.