Thousands of talmidim and alumni of Yeshivas Be’er HaTalmud gathered Thursday evening outside Military Prison 10 in Beit Lid to protest the imprisonment of yeshiva alumnus and avreich, Rav Ariel Cohen.

The demonstration was attended by HaGaon HaRav Yehuda Cohen, a member of the Shas Moetzes Chachmei HaTorah and rosh yeshiva, who arrived together with his son, HaGaon HaRav Chanoch Cohen, the yeshiva’s rosh yeshiva. The protest was organized by the Chayei Olam organization, which has been assisting the avreich since his arrest.

Also participating were MK Michael Malchieli, a graduate of the yeshiva, and MK Yonatan Mashriki.

Selichos were recited with great emotion, and Rav Chanoch Cohen delivered remarks decrying the imprisonment of bnei yeshiva and what he described as their persecution by the authorities.

During the gathering, participants received word from Chayei Olam that Rav Ariel Cohen is expected to be released before Shabbos, prompting spontaneous dancing and singing among the crowd.

Shas initially announced that the release had come through the efforts of party chairman Aryeh Deri, and that Labor Minister Yoav Ben-Tzur had informed the family of the development.

The party later clarified that the efforts leading to the avreich’s release were carried out by Chayei Olam, which has been working on behalf of arrested bnei yeshiva throughout the recent wave of detentions.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)