Rav Dov Lando: "Don't Participate in Anti-Draft Protests"

Rabbi Dov Lando, one of the leading rabbis and heads of yeshiva in the haredi community, addressed the issue of protests against military conscription with decisive words: "There are also troublemakers protesting and other nonsense - do not participate in protests! Tell them that we care very much about them, the elders of the generation care very much, and are making every effort."

Ahead of the fifth annual education conference of the Hazinu Center, scheduled for this Thursday, Rabbi Lando answered questions from the organization on several pressing issues related to conscription.

When asked how educators and supervisors can calm students who are disturbed and confused by discussions about authorities wanting to draft yeshiva students, Rabbi Lando responded: "The harsh decrees, the conscription decree, this is something very serious, and we are making every effort for there to be a good situation."

The questioner followed up: "And how can a student strengthen himself not to worry?"

Rabbi Lando replied: "Be careful, be cautious, and we are making maximum efforts. He should know that we are doing everything possible. And there are those who go against us, and they do protests, and they are great troublemakers. Do not participate in protests! We must give them a good feeling that we care about them very much, we care very, very much."

When the questioner suggested that supervisors and educators tell students there are people handling the situation, Rabbi Lando emphasized: "We care. This occupies the elders of the generation, it occupies us very much, and we are making every effort. And there are also troublemakers doing protests and other nonsense - do not participate in protests! Tell them that we care about them very much, the elders of the generation care very much, and are making every effort. And there are those who cause damage, protests and other things. Be careful and guard yourselves, and we hope with God's help that the actions the elders of the generation are taking will succeed. Everything is in the hands of Heaven."

Rabbi Lando's message to the Haredi community was clear: trust in the leadership's efforts to address the conscription issue through proper channels, avoid participation in protests that he characterized as harmful, and maintain focus on Torah study. He emphasized that the senior rabbinical leadership is fully engaged with the matter and working to find solutions.