Protest Concert Outside Israeli Knesset To Open Cultural Events, But What About Torah Study?

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Some 100 members of a number of orchestras around Israel gathered near the Knesset to conduct a unique protest against the continued closure of cultural events in the country, which has left them without any form of income. The orchestra performed Mendelssohn’s Requiem (a requiem for cultural events which are dying out), Swan Lake by Tchaikowsky and Israeli folk songs.

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Swan Lake- Tchaikowsky

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Naomi Shemer “All of these, guard for me, my Good G-d”

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Naomi Shemer: Jerusalem of Gold

Despite the obvious need for general culture, Israel desperately needs the most important culture of all, which is Torah education. At present the only activities forbidden indoors even for 10 people with social distancing are studying Torah and prayer. The government voted Wednesday to raise the fines on indoor prayer and study. The only activity in which many people can participate is a demonstration. It would be appropriate for Talmud Torah’s to open and even to conduct studies near the Knesset (there are many open areas nearby) with placards stating that “Torah is our life, we can’t live without it.” Such demonstrations could arouse public sympathy as people always identify with the need to demonstrate.

In fact the Talmud already describes the first successful demonstration for Torah study: (Taanis 18a)

“Once upon a time there was a decree that Jews should not study Torah or circumcise their sons and should desecrate the Sabbath. What did Yehuda Ben Shamua and his friends do? They took advice from a matron who had influence over all the leaders of Rome. She said to them: Go out and demonstrate!. That night they said: “For heaven’s sake! Aren’t we brothers, the children of one father and mother? Why are we so different from every other nation that you make decrees against us. The decrees were nullified.”