Colonel (Res.) Rabbi Eliezer Shenvald, Rosh Yeshiva at the Meir Harel Hesder Yeshiva in Modi’in, spoke with Channel 7 at the 6th “Asufot” Conference. In his remarks, he addressed the war’s impact on Hesder Yeshivot and Yeshivot Gvohot.
He stated that “In this war, we witness the results of the great foundation we've established over the past decades — the Torah that fosters courage, particularly the Torah of the Beit Midrash.” He also mentioned that Torah shapes students’ spiritual growth and boosts their fighting spirit, which is tested on the battlefield.
Rabbi Shenvald said that in the current war, the Beit Midrash’s contribution stands out especially: “We see the tremendous strength that emerges from the Beit Midrash, how it connects with the strengths within the people of Israel, how it reinforces them, and how it integrates with them.”
He went on to discuss the challenges Yeshiva students faced during combat. According to him, these include tremendous emotional and inner resilience when confronting hardship, casualties, and wounded soldiers, as well as halachic questions arising from complex battlefield situations.
“We observe the Yeshiva students at their peak, fully empowered,” he said. “The Torah studied in the Beit Midrash extends beyond the study hall, reaching into the field and real-world situations, forging a genuinely unique bond.”
The Rabbi noted that Israeli society acknowledges and values this contribution. He said that although some politicians and media figures on the fringes attempt to minimize and obscure it, the Israeli public experiences the soldiers directly and learns about them firsthand.
He observed that members of the Religious Zionist community, including graduates of Yeshivot and pre-military academies (Mechinot), shoulder a significant share of the responsibilities in both reserve and regular military service. He emphasized that “this should be closely linked to the Beit Midrash, the Land of Israel-centered Beit Midrash, which embodies a redemptive Torah and a Torah that fosters courage.”
Photo courtesy of Channel 7.
