In order to understand the story behind the incarceration of an avreich from Betar Illit, Binyomin Kluger, who is also active with Yad L’Achim, one must go back almost 20 years to France where a budding young 19-year-old was working as a teacher and missionary. He left the church where he spent the best years of his adolescence with tears in his eyes and a heavy heart, Chadrei Chareidim reports. The senior religious leader of the church threw him out because “satan took hold of him”.
The young man, Benjamin Lessing, was pained to his core and he began doubting the roots of his faith. He began seeing holes in the religion he once served but was told there were no problems and “he” was the problem. Fearing that his doubts would spread to others the church made the decision to rid themselves of the problem and he was ousted.
Just when he thought all was lost he began learning and seeing a new vision, and eventually he converted via Chabad, learning in Yeshivat Ohr Gavriel in Eretz Yisrael. He also became active in Yad L’Achim. Today, the 39-year-old avreich, Binyamin Kluger and Chabad chossid is a resident of Betar Illit. He is known as a major player in Yad L’Achim, working to save others from the clutches of avoda zara, especially young women who are being held in Arab villages.
When Binyamin returned from the Yad L’Achim office in Bnei Brak to his home last week, three detectives were waiting for him. The detectives searched his home all the while he stood by wondering just what was taking place. The detectives did not offer any explanation but they were armed with a search warrant.
He was then taken by police to the Moriah Station in the capital and questioned through the night. Towards evening the following day he was told he may return home. It appears Kluger stands accused of damaging a vehicle belonging to a missionary, painting ‘price tag’ graffiti on at least two churches and damage to other vehicles in addition to harassment of missionaries.
Kluger explains police haven’t a shred of evidence tying him to the attacks since he is innocent. He states there are no fingerprints or DNA and no recorded conversations since he has nothing to do with the attacks. He insists he is a law-abiding citizen and not a law-breaker and that he works for a legal organization.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
Israel is not a democratic state. Politicians are routinely accused of “crimes” when they threaten the power structure there. The Supreme Court routinely overrules the Knesset and elected mayors when they don’t agree with something they are doing.
In short, it’s a “hefker veldt” there. If you are in a position of authority, you can pretty much get away with anything.
Since there is officially a legal structure, this young man has a chance to be freed. However, it will cost a great deal of money to fight the establishment, and, when he does win, he will not be compensated for his losses of money and freedom.
Welcome to Israel.
When Moshiach comes he’ll most likely be arrested too for spreading Judaism.
Now we can see with our own eyes what The Satmar Rebbe and The Munkatcher Rebbe saw 70 years ago
#2, what are you talking about?
#2 What did they see?
Perhaps they should come again, and see the abundance of yeshivos, kollelim, beis yaakovs, the swarms at the Kosel and the special mitzvohs of Eretz Yisroel being observed. How shocked, surprised and delighted they would be?
#3 & #4: Nobody is denying the abundance of mosdos hatorah, kein yirbu, but they are by and large not there thanks to, but in spite of the, Israeli government. Any financial support they do get is purely a political act, received through arm-twisting of the frum parties. The government tries to undermine all the time anything to do with yiddishkeit. Behaviours which are allowed, and encouraged, for university students are considered punishable if done by the frum crowd. The Satmar rebbe zl etc wasn’t against living and learning Torah in EY. They opposed the Zioni government because they foresaw what their ultimate aim is. If you can’t see that and still try to defend “the State” I guess that it is useless trying to explain it to you. And no, I’m not a Satmar chossid.
#1 and #2, you are guilty of hotzaat shem ra on everyone involved with the State of Israel. Israel has a stable, thriving democracy with checks and balances. There are problems but they can be solved. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
# 6 Avi – The judicial system in Israel is not what it should be. They prosecute anybody which whom they want for political reasons. Lock people up without any evidence. It’s a sad joke!
#5: of course all support for mosdos come from frum political arm-twisting. In what world does one hand out free money to people who do not serve in the military and live off the backs of working people without arm-twisting?
If the mosdos want to establish a “right” to some support, they can start by encouraging people to contribute to the economic health of the country.