HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein on Monday joined the call of the Roshei Yeshivos of Slabodka to begin the winter zman early. In a special letter the Gadol wrote on Monday morning, he stated: “To the dear and precious bnei yeshivos, shalom and bracha. In these days, we are in dire need of much Rachamei Shamayim…as the blood of Yisrael is flowing like water and dozens of Acheinu Bnei Yisrael were murdrred by Bnei Yishmael.” “And Rabban shel Yisrael Rosh Yeshivha HaGaon HaRav Landau already wrote in his letter that we must strengthen the soldiers with limmud Torah during these days and whoever can begin the winter zeman early will earn the bracha of Shamayim.” “You should be zocheh to shefa Bracha from above and you should grow into tremendous talmidei chachamim and you should elevate yourseves in the maalos of Torah and yirah.” HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef also wrote a letter to avreichim and bnei Torah calling for them to increase their limmud Torah and cancel all Bein Zemanin activities. HaRav Yosef wrote: “In these days when Yisrael’s enemies are raising their heads, and alongside the nissim  and wonders we are zocheh to witness daily, they continue to attempt to inflict casualties among Yisrael through acts of terror and war. Unfortunately, many have fallen, rachmana litzlan, and we are in dire need of Siyata Dishmaya and we must fulfill the words of the Navi in Yeshayahu (26:20): ‘Go, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide for a little while until the wrath has passed.'” “”We need to retreat to shuls and Batei Medrashiot, focusing on the tent of Torah and increasing our tefillos for the yeshuas Am Yisrael. Therefore, it’s clear that we shouldn’t go about our usual routines during these days, and must completely cancel any outings that don’t involve limmud Torah or tefillah. “The strength of Yaakov lies only in its mouth, and we must persist and strengthen ourselves in the limmud of the Torah HaKedoshah that protects Am Yisrael and daven for the well-being of our security forces in all locations, for the healing of the wounded and the return of all Israeli hostages.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)