Rav Henoch Leibowitz Cancels the Yeshiva's Year in Israel
With plans well underway for Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim's year in Eretz Yisrael, Rav Henoch Leibowitz calls it off, since some people would suffer from the trip.
Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zt”l, the Rosh HaYeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, took the entire yeshiva to Eretz Yisrael for a year on two occasions. In the 1990s, he decided to do it again, and the yeshiva was filled with excitement as people began to make various plans. However, one morning, he requested that his shtender be placed on the bima. He cited the above Maayana Shel Torah and explained that despite all the preparations, time, and effort that had been invested, they needed to be ready to abandon the idea if it no longer seemed appropriate.
He acknowledged that there would inevitably be individuals who would suffer if the yeshiva went to Israel for a year, and therefore, the project must be abandoned even at such a late stage.