Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, Israel's Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, visited Yeshiva on Monday, April 30, and after meeting with various roshei yeshiva during his first visit to Yeshiva, he delivered a shiur in the Main Beis Medrash during the Mazer Yeshiva Program's morning seder. Rabbi Lau lectured on the subject of Jewish courts' ability to force the performance of commandments. The visit was catalyzed by an invitation from YU Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Meir Goldwicht, a close friend of the Chief Rabbi.

RIETS Dean Rabbi Zevulun Charlop introduced Lau and apologized on behalf of Rabbi Norman Lamm, who could not attend. Rabbi Lau then spoke in Hebrew to a packed room lined with standing students. He first pointed out that he doesn't speak about political issues during such visits. Rabbi Lau's position differed markedly from that of Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, Israel's Sephardic Chief Rabbi, who, when visiting Yeshiva earlier in the year, overtly integrated his Talmud shiur with commentary on the situation in Israel.

Instead, Rabbi Lau focused to the extent to which a Jewish court can force Jews to observe certain precepts, including an explanation from Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik as to why they may do so: The Rav reasoned, based on a Rambam, that while Jews truly want to perform all the precepts that G-d commanded them, occasionally they'll lapse. Therefore when the Jewish court forces an individual to adhere to the mitzvah and, under duress of lashes, the individual responds, "I want to perform," we believe this to be his true Jewish self responding. Rabbi Lau concluded his remarks with the Talmudic dictum that every Jew is responsible for one another.

Student response to the presentation was overwhelmingly positive. SSSB sophomore Dov Friedman remarked that Rabbi Lau was one of the best Hebrew speakers he had ever heard. Phil Gross, a YC senior, was impressed with the "terrific articulation and strong voice," that allowed the shiur to be followed with ease. Others enjoyed hearing words of Torah untainted by politics or personal views.

Following his shiur, Rabbi Lau told The Commentator that he felt it important to come speak at "Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan," as he consistently referred to Yeshiva, for several reasons. He explained that he came to honor the "gedolei torah at Yeshiva and the community of students willing to listen with an open ear and an open heart." Rabbi Lau further explained that charity applies not only financially, but also spiritually, and if hundreds of people request his presence, "he can't refuse." He also pointed out that he was continuing in the tradition of past great rabbis who spoke at Yeshiva, including Rabbis Kook Shapira. Rabbi Lau observed that he was merely "sitting on their [his illustrious predecessors'] chair." Ultimately, the Chief Rabbi concluded that he hoped he was spanning an "iron bridge between the Diaspora and the Land of Israel."