During a visit that the Rebbe of Toldos Aharon paid to the home of the senior posek, Rav Moshe Sternbuch, in the Har Nof neighborhood of Yerushalayim, the meeting quickly turned into a weighty and emotional discussion on the looming threat of the Israeli military draft of bnei yeshivah.
The Toldos Aharon Rebbe asked Rav Sternbuch for daas Torah on the issue of the gezeiras hagiyus. In response, Rav Sternbuch said: “This is a calamity that isn’t written in the Torah. They want only one thing: control over us. But when they see that we are strong and refuse to give them that control, in the end, they’ll back off.”
The Rebbe replied with determination: “In the end, we will be victorious. Didan notzach. Hanoi vehanetzach lechai olamim.”
As the visit concluded, a brief l’chaim was held. The Rebbe poured wine into Rav Sternbuch’s cup and said, “One who wants to pour a libation on the mizbe’ach should fill the throats of talmidei chachamim with wine. So let us fulfill yemalei gronam.”
Rav Sternbuch then took the bottle of grape juice and poured into the Rebbe’s cup as well, echoing the same sentiment. The two recited borei pri hagafen and gave each other heartfelt brachos.
Below is a partial transcript of their exchange:
Toldos Aharon Rebbe: What does the Rav say about the draft of bnei yeshivos?
Rav Moshe Sternbuch: This is a tragedy not written in the Torah.
Rebbe: How can we sweeten the gezeirah?
Rav Sternbuch: We try to sweeten it when we can, but if we can’t, we still cannot go against the Torah. The Torah isn’t dependent on whether or not things are sweet. At the core, it’s clear—they just want control over us. But once they realize we’re strong and won’t give them control, eventually they’ll let go.
Rebbe: Lo aleinu!
Rav Sternbuch: For years, their goal has been to uproot emunah. We must hold strong until the final moment, especially after all the suffering we’ve endured in this long galus.
Rebbe: But in the end, with Hashem’s help, we will win.
Rav Sternbuch: My rebbe, the tzaddik Rav Moshe Schneider zt”l, stood with complete mesirus nefesh against the draft decree in London during the war years, defending bnei hayeshivos. He suffered greatly for it, and the government even tried to expel him from England.
Rebbe: But in the end, it was didan notzach. Hanoi vehanetzach lechai olamim.
Rebbe: We need a strong rav to stand guard.
Rav Sternbuch: Halevai. Baruch Hashem, the Ribono Shel Olam gives health. May you have long life, lead your kehillah, bring nachas to Hashem, and never act against His will. May you increase kavod haShechinah, more and more and more.
Rebbe: Orech yamim veshanim asbi’eihu ve’are’eihu bishuasi. Ki bi yirbu yomecha veyosifu lecha shnos chaim.
Rav Sternbuch: Yosifu lecha shnos chaim, much nachas.
Rebbe: May the pasuk be fulfilled: Ufduyei Hashem yeshuvun uva’u Tziyon berinah. May you have bright years, blessed years.

{Matzav.com Israel}