At a Special Session of the Executive of the “Ichud HaRabbanim LeMa’an Eretz Israel”, presided over by HaGaon HaRav Avraham Shapiro, Rosh Yeshivath Mercaz HaRav, in agreement with HaGaon HaRav Aharon Solevetchik, it was resolved that:Previous Gilui Da'at on Hebron
The Agreement on Hebron (Excerpts from remarks made in Hebron, by HaRav Avraham Shapiro, Rosh Yeshivath Mercaz HaRav.)
At a Special Session of the Executive of the “Ichud HaRabbanim LeMa’an Eretz Israel”, presided over by HaGaon HaRav Avraham Shapiro, Rosh Yeshivath Mercaz HaRav, in agreement with HaGaon HaRav Aharon Solevetchik, it was resolved that:
In accordance with previous piskei din given out by the "Ichud HaRabbanim LeMa’an Eretz Israel in Eretz Israel" and abroad, and in accordance with the piskei din of the former Council of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel we wish to reaffirm and state:
A. It is forbidden to withdraw Israeli Army forces from the areas which come under the jurisdiction of the autonomous authority in the city of Hebron, and in so doing to abrogate the mitzvath aseh (positive command) of the Yishuv (Settlement) of Eretz Israel. Vide the Ramban in Sefer HaMitzvoth, where he sets down that it is a mitzvah to conquer the Land of Israel and to hold it.
B. Moreover, the withdrawal of Israeli Army forces could, in addition, G-d forbid, create a situation in which the lives of the Jewish residents of Hebron, of those who come to the Ma’arath HaMachpelah to pray, and of Israeli soldiers in the city, are endangered. Such a case - in which Jews are placed in a situation of sikkun nefesh (the endangering of life) is a transgression of the gravest sort, which falls under the category of the law of pikuah nefesh (the saving of a life) as was established in the halakha concerning border-towns.
C. WITHAL, WE WISH TO CAUTION AND ADMONISH ALL PERSONS TO REFRAIN ABSOLUTELY FROM ANY WORDS - AND CERTAINLY ANY DEEDS - OF VIOLENCE, AGAINST ANYONE WHOSOEVER. PARTICULAR CARE MUST BE TAKEN IN THE SITUATION OF NERVOUS STRAIN AND TENSION AT PRESENT PREVAILING IN OUR COUNTRY. IN ADDITION TO THE PERSONAL SIN - ACCORDING TO THE HALAKHA - OF WHICH A PERSON WOULD BE GUILTY, SUCH WORDS OR ACTS WOULD DAMAGE - BOTH DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY - THE UNITY OF OUR PEOPLE WHICH IS A SUPREME VALUE CONTRIBUTING TO THE EXISTENCE OF OUR NATION. A SOLEMN DUTY LIES UPON ALL RABBANIM AND ALL WHO ARE ACTIVE IN THE FIELD OF EDUCATION TO CAUTION AND FOREWARN THE PUBLIC TO GUARD THEMSELVES STRICTLY AGAINST TRANSGRESSING IN THIS MANNER IN ANY WAY.
Previous Gilui Da'at on Hebron
The Agreement on Hebron (Excerpts from remarks made in Hebron, by HaRav Avraham Shapiro, Rosh Yeshivath Mercaz HaRav.)
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