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"Does anyone really need to be told that this is permitted? Why would <br>
one think otherwise?<br>
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Yitzchok Levine"</div>
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"At the same time, the <EM>roshei yeshiva</EM> and <EM>poskim</EM> of North America’s Largest <EM>yeshiva</EM>, Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, have signed a letter stating that it is permitted according to <EM>halacha</EM> to participate in the census <EM>and there is no concern regarding the prohibition against counting the Jewish people.</EM> (See <EM>Shemos</EM> 30:12 where the source of the <EM>issur</EM> is recorded: “<EM>When you take the count of the Bnei Yisroel to determine their numbers, each man shall give an atonement pledge for his soul to G-d, when you count them. Thus there will be no plague among them when you count them.”</EM>)" </div>
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<div>- the source you provided. </div>
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<div>In the census letter is also states that by law we are obligated to complete the census. <br>
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-Josh S. <br>
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<div style="CLEAR: both"><A href="http://www.aishdas.org/avodah/getindex.cgi?section=B#BMG POSKIM AND ROSHEI YESHIVA RELEASE LETTER"></A> </div>
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