By: Fern Sidman

In a heartfelt and deeply personal appeal, Attorney Itzik Bonzel, father of the late IDF team commander Amit Bonzel, issued a public letter on Monday addressed to the leaders of Israel’s charedi yeshiva world. As reported by VIN News on Tuesday, Bonzel’s letter calls on the heads of yeshivot to cancel the upcoming bein hazmanim—the traditional three-week vacation period taken by yeshiva students between study terms—arguing that the ongoing war and national crisis demand a heightened commitment to Torah study rather than a break.

Bonzel’s plea comes against the backdrop of Israel’s protracted war in Gaza, where IDF units have been engaged in continuous combat since the October 7th Hamas-led massacre. The father, whose son Amit served as a team commander in the elite Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit and fell in battle in Gaza, urged the charedi leadership to recognize that “this is not a time for vacations and trips.”

The bereaved father specifically addressed his appeal to the prominent roshei yeshiva, stating: “My dear brothers, you say that the Torah world and Torah learning are supreme values, and that it is only thanks to the prayers and learning of Torah that IDF soldiers are winning the war. If so, then the ‘Torah brigade’—which is an inseparable unit of the IDF—cannot, at this time, go on a three-week vacation.”

The VIN News report noted that Bonzel framed his argument within the broader concept of mutual responsibility, a cornerstone of Jewish tradition. Drawing on the reality of the IDF’s current operational tempo, Bonzel emphasized, “All military brigades are in emergency mode. Hundreds of thousands of reservists have left their families and are serving in repeated combat rotations for over 400 days. 883 brave soldiers have fallen defending Israel, and over 7,000 have been wounded — some of them severely.”

Bonzel wrote of his son Amit’s dedication both to his country and to Torah. “Amit led his soldiers from the morning of October 7th until he fell in battle. Torah values were central to him. He used every free moment to learn — to purify his soul from the horrors of war and to remind himself where he came from and where he was going.”

With these words, Bonzel implored the charedi leadership to view the spiritual front as inseparable from the military front. He called for the cancellation of bein hazmanim, urging that yeshiva students be required to remain in their study halls, intensifying both Torah study and prayer on behalf of the soldiers, the wounded, and the hostages still held captive in Gaza.

As VIN News reported, Bonzel’s letter carries a potent reminder of the sense of national unity felt across Israel since the start of the war. “The Torah world is part of the battlefield,” he stressed. “This is not the time for the Torah brigade to go on break and leave the other brigades alone at the front. Torah learning and prayer are vital, and stopping them endangers our soldiers and harms efforts to return the hostages.”

Bonzel’s candid words also addressed the often-contentious issue of charedi military enlistment, though he made clear that his letter was not meant to wade into that debate. Nevertheless, he offered his perspective with candor: “In this letter I do not address the enlistment law — yes or no. I will note, in my humble opinion, that the mitzvah of Torah study does not override the mitzvah of military service to save Israel from its enemies. As the Sages said (Sotah 44b): ‘In a mandatory war, everyone goes out — even a groom from his wedding room and a bride from her chuppah.’”

In a country where the intersection of faith, military service, and national identity is a constant source of debate, Bonzel’s letter resonates as a call for shared sacrifice and unity. His words reflect a belief that the power of Torah learning should be harnessed now more than ever, not paused for a seasonal break.

He concluded his appeal with a direct and emotional request: “Please accept my urgent request and publicly announce the cancellation of bein hazmanim. Require the students of the Torah brigade — the yeshiva students — to report to the yeshivot and intensify their Torah study and prayers for the success of our soldiers, the healing of the wounded, and the safe return of the hostages. The Torah world cannot go on vacation at a time like this!”

As reported by VIN News, Bonzel’s appeal did not end with a call to action for institutional leaders alone. He reached out to every member of the broader community: “Even those who are not fighting can pray for the soldiers with all their heart — whether it’s for a son, a brother, a husband, or a fellow Jew they don’t even know. All Israel is responsible for one another — we must pray for the fighters, the hostages, and the wounded — with all our heart and soul.”

In his closing words, Bonzel drew upon a familiar verse from the Torah itself, emphasizing constancy in both study and commitment: “Please decide now: bein hazmanim is cancelled, and yeshiva students must remain in yeshiva even during this time, as it is written: ‘This book of Torah shall not depart from your mouth…’”

The publication of Bonzel’s letter adds a poignant dimension to the national conversation in Israel, especially within the charedi community. Whether or not the yeshiva heads will heed this call remains to be seen. However, as the report at VIN News indicated, the letter stresses a profound message—that in times of national crisis, every sector of Israeli society, whether on the battlefield or in the beit midrash, must rise to meet the challenge with unwavering dedication.