The Roshei Yeshiva's Trip to Washington DC

A update from the Agudah CEO who accompanied the Roshei Yeshiva to visit the Israeli Ambassador to the US in DC.

Dear Friends,

Last night, a picture began to circulate, one that tells a story. There were many questions surrounding it. When? Why? For what?

Some people treasure pictures they have taken in front of Buckingham Palace or the White House: I will cherish this one, my encounter with malchus. Som tasim alecha melech, a mitzvah in this week’s parsha to live with a king guiding us. Man malki rabbanan, Chazal tell us (Gittin 62a )- our example of royalty is talmidei chachamim.

The aristocracy, the strength and the independence of the king is found in the talmid chacham, and it is a privilege to see it up close.

It started with a request from the great talmidei chachamim in Eretz Yisroel, princes of our people, who asked the American Roshei Yeshivah to meet with the Israeli Ambassador to the United States, on behalf the beleaguered olam haTorah in Eretz Yisroel. They wanted us to convey the message that the American Torah world also shares the conviction that our yeshivah bachurim and kollel yungeleit sustain, protect and safeguard the Holy Land and the entire world. I had the zechus of accompanying Rav Ahron Feldman, Rav Elya Brudny and Rav Malkiel Kotler to our nation’s capital, where we met with Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, a man of extraordinary graciousness, insight and respect- the sort of person who can have a productive conversation with others even if they don’t see eye-to-eye on every issue. And for me, it was a chance to observe malchus, to see the selflessness and nobility of our leaders up close.

At one point, the ambassador mentioned the fact that his son, Moshe Yedidya, fell in Gaza, a father of six beautiful children. Hashem yinkom damo. The Rosh Yeshivah of Ner Yisrael, an ideological opponent of conscripting bnei yeshivah into the Israeli military, heard this and he immediately burst into tears, as if hearing about the loss of a beloved family member. His tears conveyed a message that words cannot: even if we disagree on method and tactic, we are one family, bound heart and soul.

It was the second day of a new zman at the largest yeshivah in North America, and the Rosh Yeshivah, Rav Malkiel wanted so much to be there, with his talmidim.

Rav Elya Brudny mentioned to me that this was his very first time in Washington DC. He never had the time to go touring, every moment sacred: but both Roshei Yeshivah tore themselves away from the beis medrash because the gedolim in Eretz Yisroel had asked.

The altruism of royalty.

The day in DC was one focused on communicating with human agents of government. As the Sfas Emes says (Shoftim 5664), the mitzvah of appointing a king is because “without the fear of governmental authority, each person would swallow his friend”. The mission is to work via the institution of earthly government, but along with that, we recognize where true malchus resides.

Malchus is in Shamayim, and our talmidei chachamim, saturated with Torah and Yiras Shamayim, reflect that glory.

This picture, to me, is precious because it represents a special day in my life. I look at it and repeat the words we said this morning after Krias HaTorah, a request that Hashem sustain and protect chachmei Yisroel, wherever they are.

May the efforts of our devoted leaders prove successful, and may we merit seeing true malchus, the Kingship of Hashem, fill the world.

B’yedidus,

Shloime