JERUSALEM (VINnews) —  In light of the worrying wave of arrests of yeshiva students, and after a yeshiva student who was detained by the military authorities was ultimately released last week, a dramatic and strongly worded letter from the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, addressed to the thousands of students of the yeshiva, was published on Thursday.

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The Rosh Yeshiva opens his letter with an emotional address to the students:”To the yeshiva students, mighty in strength, who toil in Torah, may you live long.”

He continues by describing the difficult circumstances: “In light of the terrible situation prevailing in the Holy Land, as our precious Torah students are subject to severe persecution and face the danger of immediate arrest, we wish to announce publicly that the yeshiva will endeavor to assist each and every individual through every means at our disposal.”

The letter reveals that a special committee has been established within the yeshiva, consisting of rabbis, educators, and professionals, to provide assistance, guidance, and individualized support to every student and avrech regarding matters involving the military authorities. The Rosh Yeshiva emphasizes that all assistance must be provided exclusively through this committee.

He goes on to issue a sharp warning against independent activists who attempt to intervene and, in his view, place students at risk:”Since there are those acting on their own initiative, or through various activists, seeking different ways to obtain an exemption from military service, thereby placing themselves in the lion’s den and exposing themselves to the danger of conscription or immediate arrest, I therefore wish to make the following announcement and warning.”

The emergency instructions and explicit warnings contained in the letter are as follows:

A. Under no circumstances should anyone report to a military recruitment office without prior approval from the committee, including those who personally believe they qualify for an exemption.

B. Under no circumstances should anyone cross any border crossing without first obtaining explicit approval from the special committee.

The Rosh Yeshiva makes clear that adherence to these instructions is mandatory: “Any student who acts contrary to the yeshiva’s directives removes himself from the community and may bear personal responsibility for the consequences of his actions.”

The letter also provides practical guidance in the event of an arrest:”If, G-d forbid, an arrest occurs, the committee’s representative should be contacted immediately using the telephone number that will be published, and the yeshiva will, G-d willing, use all of its strength and available means to assist, in consultation with attorneys and other professionals.”

The Rosh Yeshiva also instructs students on how to conduct themselves when dealing with law enforcement authorities: “You should exercise your right to remain silent and provide no information other than your name and identification number. To every question you should answer: ‘My lawyer will respond on my behalf.'”

The letter concludes with a spiritual appeal, urging the students to strengthen themselves through prayer and Torah study: “The yeshiva students are called upon to increase their prayers and heartfelt cries for the redemption of Israel and the exaltation of the Torah, with peace of mind. They should strengthen themselves by accepting the yoke of Torah study continuously, for whoever accepts upon himself the yoke of Torah is relieved of the yoke of government and the burdens of worldly affairs.”