Responsa of Achiezer

With the Help of the Almighty

[ . . . ] During the Middle Ages and the decrees of the year 5408 [1648], when our brethren the children of Israel believed with real faith in the Almighty and in His Torah, and that the God of Israel would not cast off or abandon His people, their faith gave them strength and fortitude to endure the terror of the tyrants, and they still built great centers of Torah. [ . . . ] But now, because of our many sins, faith has weakened, and in the countries of the West, the Reform movement has already struck roots for several generations, and many have arrived at a state of real assimilation and intermingling with gentiles as a result. And from there have emanated the current evil decrees—to persecute them with wrath, to destroy them, and to drive them out of the land. [ . . . ]

It is our duty to repent wholeheartedly, as it is written [in the Torah]: “When you are in distress, and all these things befall you . . . etc., you shall return unto the Lord your God.” We are obliged to exert ourselves, to encourage ourselves and strengthen ourselves, and to fortify our brethren with actions and deeds, appeal to the emotions of those who are crushed, who are exiled and who are persecuted, and strengthen them with words of comfort, and give encouragement to their afflicted spirit. [ . . . ] The root of the disease lies in the disgraceful education that the younger generation receives in secular schools lacking in Torah and faith, and it is as a result of this that boorishness and ignorance, mockery and licentiousness have become prevalent.

In particular, it is our duty to take care to strengthen the Torah academies—both large and small—the fortress of Judaism, the ancient institutions throughout every generation, from where Torah and light issued forth throughout the Jewish diaspora and illuminated the darkness of the exile.