Rabbi Mordechai Gazit: "Maran Stood Up to Honor the Prisoners and Showered Them with Words of Encouragement and Love"

Rabbi Mordechai Gazit, 64, father of 8 children, is the chairman of the organization "Lighting Up Life - A Helping Hand for Prisoners." Rabbi Gazit says, "Our main activity, beyond delivering lectures and spreading Torah, is instilling Jewish consciousness among the prisoners, bringing them closer to Torah and mitzvot, returning them to our Father in Heaven. This is the most excellent and proven way of rehabilitation for prisoners. Nearly 40 years ago, when we established the organization 'Lighting Up Life - A Helping Hand for Prisoners', creating many study groups throughout prisons in Israel, our goal was to free a prisoner from a physical cell and rehabilitate them through pure Torah waters and not through rehabilitation programs, which many of were attempted by the authorities and failed miserably."

How did you establish the organization A Helping Hand for Prisoners?

"First of all, it is important for me to emphasize that there are now study groups and synagogues in every prison, and sections for observant inmates, thanks to Maran, who encouraged us nearly forty years ago to establish Torah lectures in Israeli prisons.

"It was in the year 5738 (1978). I had the privilege of studying at the kollel of the 'Chazon Ovadia' yeshiva in Jerusalem. Every Tuesday afternoon, I would miss the study sessions at the kollel to deliver Torah lectures in Maasiyahu. Over time, my consistent absence every Tuesday was noticed by Maran, the president and head of the kollel, who asked me why I didn’t seek permission from the directors. So I told Maran that every Tuesday I travel to Ramla to deliver Torah lectures to the prisoners. Suddenly, and I will never forget this moment until this day, Maran stood up, emotionally charged, and told me: Is this the reason? Wonderful, continue to strengthen the many and bring the unfortunate prisoners closer. For long minutes, he expressed interest and went into details about the way the lectures were being conducted and the subjects I cover with the prisoners, encouraging me to continue this holy work, not just once a week, but even every day.

"One Tuesday, I came to the kollel as usual and did not go to deliver lectures in Ramla as is my routine every Tuesday. Maran saw me, called me over, and scolded me for not going or at least sending someone in my place since it is forbidden, heaven forbid, to forfeit even one hour.

"Since then, we have expanded our activities, organizing even a minibus from the 'Chazon Ovadia' yeshiva for scholars to go and deliver lectures, and thus the organization 'A Helping Hand for Prisoners' was established.

"Later, the prisoners had the privilege of a visit from Maran, and each time he was taken to deliver lectures and strengthen the prisoners, the excitement among the prison directors, commanders, guards, and prisoners was enormous. This was the power of Maran.

"Maran devoted himself to strengthening and rehabilitating prisoners in every possible way. Beyond traveling between prisons, I personally took him dozens of times, he would encourage us and the scholars to go out and spread Torah, talk to the prisoners, bolster and encourage them, and bring them closer to Torah and mitzvot".

- How involved was Maran in the organization's activities?

"Maran was the one who established the organization, he was the driving spirit behind 'A Helping Hand for Prisoners' and all its activities. Until his last days, he always inquired about the organization's activities, the spirit of the prisoners, the study groups we set up in the prisons, and more.

"To illustrate how important 'A Helping Hand for Prisoners' was to Maran, I'll tell a small story: In 1984, during the elections when Shas participated for the first time, surprising with four mandates and significantly influencing coalition formation, a day after the elections, former Minister Yitzhak Navon requested a meeting with Maran to ask for Shas' support in forming the government, explaining the great benefits for the religious community and the world of Torah. But on the evening Navon urgently sought to meet Maran, a lesson was scheduled in Maasiyahu prison with dozens of prisoners. Navon asked to postpone the lesson, promising that Maran could deliver it at any time he wanted. Maran firmly replied: Heaven forbid. I will never forfeit even one minute. The prisoners are yearning and waiting to hear a Torah lesson, and they must not be postponed even for a moment. He said, and demanded that I take him to Maasiyahu.

"I had the privilege of a special closeness for many years, even while studying at Chazon Ovadia, witnessing the genuine love and sincere concern for the prisoners firsthand. About four years ago, I brought Maran a group of newly religious prisoners, and before they approached, I told him these were prisoners who became religious as a result of our activities in the prison. Maran rose to his full height in their honor and said: In the place where repentant individuals stand, even complete righteous ones cannot stand. He showered them with words of encouragement and love for long minutes".

 

Reviving the Spiritual Desolation in Prisons

"It is important to know," Rabbi Gazit adds, "before we arrived, not a single Torah lesson took place in prisons. Except in the north, where Rabbi Yitzhak David Grossman was very active, and Chabad activities during holidays. But in other prisons, there was spiritual desolation, literally. Only one synagogue barely operated in the entire prison. Today, there are study groups in all prisons, synagogues, Torah libraries, and extensive activities beyond the sections dedicated for Shem, all thanks to Maran's power, who encouraged and pushed us all these years to spread the light of Torah among the prisoners.

"Apart from Maran's journeys in prisons, I want to note that for decades, from the day the organization was founded, our teacher the great Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef has been tirelessly delivering his lessons in prisons.

"I had the privilege to study with our teacher the Chief Rabbi since my youth at the Porat Yosef yeshiva. Witnessing his immense diligence; the power of perseverance and dedication to Torah is amazing. Day and night, he utilized every moment to study Torah, and remains so. The public is amazed every time a new book by our teacher the Chief Rabbi comes out, with over fifty books already published, each holding a place of respect in every Torah library in Israel and around the world, but few know the effort and toil our teacher the Chief Rabbi invests to produce excellent and corrected works.

"Thanks to his tremendous devotion to Torah, we are blessed with rulings guided by and derived from the power of his father, Maran.

"I had the privilege of joining our teacher the Chief Rabbi on his journeys almost every evening across the country, witnessing the moving sights repeated over decades. Hundreds of Jews gather at every place, yearning to hear his words, and upon sitting in the car, he immediately grabs a book and studies Torah, making the most of every moment.

"While much has been said and will continue to be said about the spreading of Torah by our teacher the Chief Rabbi, the prisoners’ love for Torah is astonishing. On his last visit to one of the prisons, he spoke to hundreds of prisoners for two straight hours. In the midst of his speech, a bell rang for meal time, yet the prisoners refused to leave, desiring to continue listening to the Chief Rabbi’s lesson. The guards signaled but to no avail until the prison commander himself entered and announced that dinner had long ended. The prisoners still asked the Chief Rabbi to continue his lesson. This is our teacher the Chief Rabbi's influence, encouraging us to intensify the spiritual rehabilitation of the prisoners, driving us to expand our initiatives to include family support and establishing workshops and new courses for prisoners and their families."