Yeshivat Tzidkat Yosef, the Yeshiva of the Pittsburgher Rebbe, Shlit”a, is a vibrant Yeshiva that not only serves the Ashdod community, but has students who have come from as far away as Los Angeles to learn in a warm Chassidic environment that enhances their advancement in Torah and Fear of Heaven.

Due to the recent war in Gaza in which the city of Ashdod was under attack, the Yeshiva temporarily relocated to Jerusalem. A guest entering the Beit Medrash would be likely to recall the verse quoted above. The precious students were deeply immersed in their studies, as the rockets and missiles were falling near the Yeshiva in Ashdod. Nonetheless, the Torah was not abandoned, the learning continued with its usual intensity, and the sound of Torah went on, uninterrupted.

The Yeshiva schedule continued as if there were no war in Israel, as if peace and tranquility reigned. The students were deeply involved with the study of Torah, learning on the same schedule maintained in Ashdod. “The voice is the voice of Yaakov.” This is the voice of Torah in whose merit the hands of the enemy were rendered powerless.

All of the Yeshiva classes, including the in-depth morning session, the afternoon Bekius session, and the lessons in Chassidus and Mussar, took place in Jerusalem, as they had in Ashdod. In fact, the Mashgiach of the Yeshiva added a daily talk at the beginning of each day, stressing the importance of learning Torah in protecting the Jewish people from its enemies, especially in these mad days. In response, many of the students added extra hours to their already arduous schedule.

The entire staff of the Yeshiva gathered on a daily basis, each from his own place of refuge, arriving in the Yeshiva in Jerusalem to instill the students with the values of Torah and the Fear of Heaven, ensuring that the pace of learning would not slacken. The staff added extra incentive programs to strengthen the will of the students and guarantee the successful continuation of the Yeshiva studies.

During the Yeshiva’s displacement to Jerusalem, we merited being visited by the Rebbe, Shlit”a, who graced us with his presence at some of the lessons and Tefillos, occasionally speaking to the boys, both as a group and individually, providing them with the additional strength needed to carry on in these difficult times. The Rebbe’s visits infused the students with vitality and a holy enthusiasm. It was clear that the spiritual and physical wellbeing of the students was uppermost on the Rebbe’s mind and in his heart. In addition, the overseas students enjoyed spending each of the Shabbosim with the Rebbe, Shlit”a, who invited them for the Shabbos meals.

May it be the will of Hashem that just as we continued learning under difficult circumstances, sanctifying His name by growing in Torah and Fear of Heaven in these days, so we should merit to uphold the Torah in tranquility and comfort, and that no longer shall we hear the sounds of pain and sorrow in the Holy Land, until the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days.