The Gerrer chassidus, the largest chassidus in Israel, is holding a protest outside Military Prison 10 on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in response to the recent wave of arrests of lomdei Torah, including a Gerrer chassid who was arrested and sentenced to military prison.

The chassid is well-known to the kehilla as he holds a logistical position in the chassidus, assisting in the management of the main Gerrer Beis Medrash in Jerusalem. He was arrested after he went to a recruitment office to regularize his status. Since he was defined as a deserter, he was arrested on the spot by the military authorities and sentenced to military prison.

Thousands of Gerrer chassidim are on the way to the site to participate in the protest, which has been coordinated with the police. In a rare step, the Gerrer Rebbe is expected to attend the protest along with approximately 15,000 chassidim from across the country.

The demonstration is expected to be one of the largest protest gatherings organized by the Gerrer community in recent years. The program includes Mincha, the recitation of Tehillim, special tefillos, and speeches by senior Gerrer Rabbanim.

The protest was initially planned to be attended by the Gerrer Rebbe’s sons, but organizers reportedly received confirmation at the last minute that the Rebbe himself is expected to attend and lead the gathering.

Organizers stressed that the protest would be conducted peacefully and legally.

“We are not engaging in violence in the streets; we are doing everything with authorization,” individuals involved in organizing the event told Kol Chai.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)