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Brutal Arrest of Chareidi Mom


shak.jpgWith the story appearing on the front page of Thursday’s HaMevaser, the chareidi daily refers to the “Brutal arrest of the mother”, rejecting any and all allegations of any wrongdoing on her part, including the theory that she suffers from Munchausen Syndrome and therefore contributed to her son’s dire medical condition as she sought attention for herself.

HaMevaser speaks of a dedicated mother who did not leave her ill child’s side until askanim recently persuaded her to take a break to preserve her own good health, convincing her to spend a few days away from his bedside. It was during that period last week that she was summoned to come urgently, unknowingly walking into a trap as HaMevaser reports. The child was admitted to the oncology ward of Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital. 

When the woman walked into the social workers office in the Meah Shearim area, she was unaware that police were waiting to slap handcuffs on her.

On 17 Tammuz, askanim turned to Deputy Minister R’ Meir Porush, seeking his intervention on the woman’s behalf. Jerusalem Police Chief Ilan Franco was contacted as they rejected the fashion in which the woman, “a dedicated mother” was treated, sending her to the women’s prison in Ramle. R’ Porush explained it is simply unacceptable to keep the mother in detention, away from her small children, leading to a promise that she would be released. It is explained that Wednesday’s unprecedented violence was the result of police breaking its word, not releasing the mother.

HaMevaser points out that the Yassam tactical unit was deployed on Wednesday, and they used unnecessary and unjustifiable brutality against unarmed protestors, in some case striking passers-by who were simply making their way through the chareidi areas. “Police escalated hostilities when they entered the Toldos Aaron beis medresh” the report adds, with police seeking to make a number of arrests. Police are accused of ignoring the kedusha of the beis medresh and shul, leading to yet a harsher response from Meah Shearim locals.

Rabbonim ordered men to attend a protest at Kikar Shabbos, while women took part in a more modest event in Meah Shearim. Tehillim were recited for the mother and son, while the tzibur decried the actions of police, void of any respect for religious sensibilities of residents or apparent concern for the family of the incarcerated woman.

Chareidi askanim condemned the decision of Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, to halt municipal services to chareidi areas, as well as the actions of police and the reports from the mainstream media, “which intend to paint the entire chareidi community in a bad light”.

HaMevaser reports that in addition to protests in Yerushalayim and Bet Shemesh, protests were also reported in Bnei Brak.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)



51 Responses

  1. The charedi community is painting themselves in a bad light. If this was the first time they had rioted like animals, one could make an attempt to justify – that the mishandling of the case against this woman is so egregious and so offensive. But there is a pattern here – this is what the community does – burn garbage cans, throw rocks, throw dirty diapers – when something happens it doesn’t agree with.
    If you want to know why non religious have a bad view of religious – this is it. Every time something like this happens I, as a frum person, get emails forwarded to me showing me how ‘my people’ act.
    It is sad – even if it is just a few people – where is the harsh condemnation? Why aren’t the Rebeiim speaking out? Instead of teaching people to act appropriately, everyone spends time trying to rationalize, say why it isn’t the rioters fault.

  2. I spoke to family member of mine who is a volunteer assisting the family for the past 7 months, by being at the child’s bedside and this is the info:
    The child was receiving chemotherapy in the oncology ward. The hospital staff instructed not to give the child food by mouth whilst the child all the time begging for food. The mother is very devoted not leaving her child’s bedside all this time just for short breaks.

  3. “…rioted like animals…”

    WITH THOSE LOADED WORDS, YOU HAVE REVEALED YOUR DEEP-SEATED CONTEMPT FOR THE HAREIDI COMMUNITY.

    Perhaps, you don’t even realize it yourself, influenced as you are by the constant barrage of slander against Hareidim from the secular media, here and in Israel.

    The Hareidi community in Israel is fighting a daily battle for its right to exist.

    As the Chazon Ish, ZT”L, said, when Ben Grion declared the fou ding of the State of israel:
    “Till now, they (the secularists) have attacked us with words. Now they will attack us with guns.”

    Sadly, we see how true this is, on a daily basis.

  4. #1 I could not agree with you more.
    The sad thing is that a large percentage of these hooligans are just looking for action. It was reported on Radio Kol Hai last night that a lot of the protesters don’t really know what they are protesting about. Agin this begs the question as to where are the Rabbanim and where are the parents.
    This whole incident is creating a big Hillul Hashem. The example of Pinchas was an exceptional circumstance and not to be followed every time we disagree with the authorities. I am not sure why throwing stones at buses , destroying public property or attacking municipal workers is going to help nor why this is mutar by the Torah. And then they have the Chutzpa to complain that the municipality is not providing services as the workers fear for their lives
    The saddest thing is that the people who are really suffering from all of this are the yidden who live in these thugs area and have to contend with these riots on their doorstep. Additionally their health is be affected by the smoke. I have heard of several cases of elderly people having to call medical help due to breathing difficulties caused by all this smoke. I ask again is this derech hatorah.
    I once gave a guy a ride in RBS after a night of rioting and their was rubbish sprawled all over the neighbourhood including diapers. This guy was very proud that he and his chevra had showed the mayor who is boss. My response to him was first that he was creating a huge Hillul Hashem and second that he had no sechel whatsoever. What is the point of turning your own neighbourhood into a pigsty and a health risk . Who are you harming but yourselves. Bekitzur we need the wisdom of the gedolim NOW to intercede and prevent a disaster

  5. I cannot agree more with deep thinker about comment # 1. I can only say to that commenter perhaps u should distance yourself from those “friends ” of yours. Dont try to justify your exsistence to a world that would rather see us non-exsistent.

  6. The boy’s name is Chaim Yehuda Leib ben Yenta and the feeding tube incidents have been going on for at least the last 11 months.

    The doctors and nurses at Har Hatzofim were aware, but unable to prove their suspicions or document that the incidents were not all accidents. The “dedicated mother” is as “Dedicated” as the father with the dead shaken baby.

    R’ Meir Porush was involved defending that “dedicated father and husband” despite knowledge of physical abuse against the wife and child. Baruch Hashem the Gerrer Rebbe instructed to vote against him. The abused is more important than the “dedicated” abuser.

  7. To comment 1
    It is very sad to protest in such a manner, but when it hurts, one can not keep calm and besides this Israeli Administration does not understand any other language, you are not dealing here with a normal USA democracy, but with a country created by russian maffia. Remember how they snatched up babies from the innocent religious Yemenites? and they were told the their children died, and instead they sold them for huge amount of $ to childless couples. Those were they same doctors and hospitals the “well meaning devoted doctors” who should be locked up for such terrible crimes to humanity.

  8. Why did we need a medina? Was it to export Kristalnacht on a regular basis to the makom Mikdash? Is this why the shuls where I refuse to daven recite a tefillah for this treife stronghold of Ivrit speaking anti-Semites?

  9. The truth is, a much more mentchlich protest would be parking yourself on the mayor’s doorstep and sitting and saying tehillim orlearning.. riots only create sinaah..

  10. I wish I could know what is true in this story. I have read accounts by people who supposedly “really know” the people involved and the facts, and they tell conflicting “truths”. In any case, even assuming this woman IS totally innocent, and that this IS an anti-chareidi attack by the powers that be, THERE IS STILL NO JUSTIFICATION FOR SETTING FIRES, STONING BUSES AND CARS (OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUE AT ALL) AND IN GENERAL ACTING IN A WILD WAY THAT CREATES A CHILUL HASHEM! There ARE ways to protest like b’nai Torah!

  11. The Brisker Rav would not take part in protests because he was afraid the city’s police might hurt or kill him.

    He accused the people who did protest of having faith that the city police wouldn’t kill them, and that was a huge mistake.

    It’s the same today. This mayor is attacking the charedim head-on. His hatred for them is obvious in how he speaks and how he acts.

    I wonder–how much longer can all the charedi members of the city council support such a mayor by staying in his coalition? Shabbos, toeva, arresting this woman who is either sick or innocent even according to police.

  12. 1. The picture is inflamatory, especially as the article is about a woman. Being chained with arms above one’s head suggests torture and sexual abuse. The news accounts suggest only the usual brutality, bigotry and disregard of civil rights by the Israel police. There is no need to exaggerate.

    2. This may be a “watershed” event in Israeli history.

    3. We also should learn about civil disobedience. Violence doesn’t help us since if push comes to shove, we lose. Burning trash cans and throwing rocks will never accomplish anything if the other guys have automatic weapons, artillery and an air force capable of being in the same league as the superpowers.

  13. Zionflag

    We may know the truth soon enough. There is a picture of the child published today in the press. The pictire is of a chold who is jyuste is skin and bones.

    The doctore say that the child is gaining weight now that the mother is not with him and predict that in a couple of months he will be normal in weight for his age. That is a good enough prrof for me.

  14. As a resident of Israel I spoke to family members of this woman.

    they clearly told me that the woman had filed complains against three doctors of Hadasa hospital for diagnosing the child with the wrong sickness and that’s when the doctors decided to get back the mother.

    I asked what about the video footage of the mother pulling out the tube, they responded that anyone that knows about IV knows that the tube falls out many times especially on a child, there is no evidence that she was not putting it back in that is because they cut the video

  15. mkarpas #17 – That the child may be “skin and bones” doesn’t prove anything. There were reports that the child has cancer. There were reports that the child was misdiagnosed and given the wrong treatment. Either of these reasons, or both, or others, could be why he is “skin and bones”. Don’t jump to conclusions.

  16. According to the secular media the Israeli police are expressing concern the mother if released will take the child from the country. They also said the child’s father is from England, meaning the boy is probably a British subject and wouldn’t need special permission to be taken to the UK. If a British hospital determined that he had been given chemotherapy and that he didn’t have cancer, it would largely disprove the government’s claims (and also explain why she might have been removing an IV), and also explain why increased attention (ending wrongful mistreatment) resulted in weight gain. If the hilonim are right, they should be offering to pay for an air ambulance to take the boy to the UK. If the hilonim are wrong, they need to prevent any independent examination.

  17. i am so unclear – those of you who write about the ‘zionist state’ wanting to get rid of the charedim. Please tell me where all the welfare money is coming from that many in the community are living off of? How many in Meah shearim and Geula are on welfare / don’t have jobs? who is supporting these people. Let me get it straight – ti is ok to take welfare money, municipal services to take the garbage away and clean the streets, but not have to live under the laws of the land?
    I am also confused – in the same breath that people are saying that these people had no other choice but to protest violently (like animals – I still add because anyone who throws rocks and dirty diapers, bothers innocent tourists on busses, burns garbage cans is behaving like an animal) they are saying that it is just a bunch of hooligans – not representative of the community. Well, which is it – you can’t have it both ways.

  18. TO YESHIVA WORLD EDITOR:

    Please understand shackles puts an image of Abu Ghraib, Bergen Belsen, and Spanish Inquisition on to the Israeli prison system. This is as inaccurate and offensive as a “objective” UN observer’s observations of Israeli actions.

    Also “brutal arrest” places an image of Rodney King or a Holocaust aktzion. This was not a “brutal arrest”, it was public and a spectacle, but not brutal.

    These inflamtory images and headlines weakens the feelings people have towards the Japan Three. PLEASE REMOVE THE PICTURE AND CHANGE THE HEADLINE.

  19. “The doctore say that the child is gaining weight now that the mother is not with him”

    The doctors REFUSED to allow the mother to feed anything to the child by mouth. The child is now gaining because they have changed their orders, after the mother’s arrest, to allow food by mouth.

    This is a mammoth cover up, and the hospital is doing everything possible to portray mental illness to save their skins. They made a horrific misdiagnosis, and when confronted by the ill child’s mother, did what they did to prevent heads from rolling.

    They now deny giving chemo for so long. Would I be surprised to hear that they are now destroying documentation of their botched handling of this case?

    All those on this thread and elsewhere who are contributing to the retzicha of not the child, who has been damaged tremendously by the hospital and medical staff, but of the mother, will do well to engage in some contemplation and recognize the horror of their glib words that can so readily destroy a selfless, dedicated and innocent mother.

  20. I don’t believe anyone or anything i didn’t witness. But it stands very well with the Israeli Govenment to make up such cases. They have a long record of libels plotted against their own brothers. Starting with Joel Brand story etc.

    They are the root of the world’s problems. It’s hard to admit but the Grand Rabbi of Satmar must have been right!

  21. The “Diagnosis” of this mother as being “Mental unstabile” is a fake and a fraud.

    The field of Psychiatry has always been a “soft science.” Unlike MD’s,psychiatrists cannot prove their “Diagnoses” by presenting physical evidence, like a blood test.

    For that reason, insurance companies, initially, refused to pay for psychiatric work.

    The psychiatrists finally won by creating the “DSM-IV” Manual, which purports to categorize various forms of mental disease. This manual gets bigger each year, as psychitrists invent new “illnesses.”

    It’s the easiest thing in the world to declare some mentally insane. Like their Soviet heroes, who routinely relegated “Dissidents” to mental asylums, without even a show trial, these Hadassah doctors have imprisoned this wonderful mother, without a trial to punish her for accusing them of malpractice.

    To paraphrase the famous head of the Soviet NKVD, Laverentia Beria: “Show me the man, and I’ll show you the Mental Disease.”

    Personally, I think these Hadassah doctors are suffering from MCS–Malpractice Coverup Syndrome!

  22. I think those of you who try justify the absolutely despicable behaviour of a bunch of so-called “charedim” in this situation miss out one very simple fact. This behaviour is the best proof of what all of us have known for ages but did not want to admit: despite all their claims to the contrary, Israeli “charedim” DO NOT LIVE IN THE GALUT. For only people who are comfortable in the environment they live in would do such a thing. There have NEVER been violent demonstrations of this sort when Jews lived in Yemen, Latvia or Poland, when an individual Jew did something wrong, the community tried to hush things up, not to incite the non-Jews any further. in galut a Jews tried to keep a low profile no matter what. So by continuously engaging in demonstrations that result in fistfights with policemen or in damages to city and individual property these people actually expose themselves as who they really that.

  23. This calls for ongoing protests and violence on both sides, but the HAREDIM were nowhere in sight three summers ago when their fellow Jews were being pulled form there home in GAZA?? Teiku!

  24. It seems to me there are really 2 seperate issues here.

    1. The treatment of this woman who may or may not be gulity depending upon whom you ask; and

    2. Whether rioting in the streets is an appropriate response.

    It seems to me that you can answer an unequivocal NO to question 2, while at the same time not knowing and debating the answer to question 1. Whether or not this woman is guilty, and whether or not she was mistreated, frum yidden rioting in the streets should not be acceptable and should be condemned by all responsible people. Besides that it is a chilul Hashem and not menchlich, it is also not the way to gain the empathy and consideration of other people. If a person does not act like a mentch he should not expect a chiloni police officer to see him as one.

  25. I am more likely to believe the woman’s story than the doctor’s. They’ll try to cover up their mistakes so they won’t be sued. I don’t think rioting is the solution though. Maybe peaceful sit ins, but, not violence.

  26. In 1968, race riots broke out in Detroit. The Michigan militia response was to place tanks at every exit of the Lodge Freeway, essentially creating a blockade of the areas affected by the riots, locking the rioters into their own neighborhoods. The rioters continued rioting, destroying their homes, businesses and decimating the neighborhood economies. Once they calmed down and stopped the destruction, the troops moved in, restored order and the clean up began. Most people were utterly wiped out. Businesses refused to go back to those areas, and relocated to the Northwest suburbs, and much of Detroit became a slum. I think the IDF and Israeli police should do the same in Meah Shearim, Geulah and in all other neighborhoods where the chareidim are rioting. Let them be contained to wreak havoc on their own homes, but not threaten the rest of society with their violence. The rest of us will simply get on with our lives.

  27. For arguments sake, let’s just say that she in fact had a disorder/syndrome of sort, would the proper reaction be to put her in jail, away from her family?

    Wouldn’t the proper protocol be to keep her at home with her children and provide a counselor to help her fight or deal with her problem?

    As far as the Chareidi reaction goes, I find it hard to listen to the criticism that emanate from people living in a sheltered, secure and sane society who are finding it hard to understand the manifestation of generations-long mistrust and insecurity in the well documented biased government body and judicial system.

  28. Rav Shternbuch said that reporting this woman was the right thing to do and that the protests shouls stop. Clearly these people have no respect for Daas Torah and are only out there for their own egos. Mayor Barkat should have all of these thugs that are violently prtesting arrested and their government benefits should be cut off. Afterall how could they matir taking money from the evil zionists?

  29. Too many chareidem in Eretz Yisroel live in an unhealthy never never world.

    They are substantially unemployed and substantially unemployable, they’re restricted in the educational opportunities their rabbanum permit, they don’t learn full time, they loudly villify the state at all levels (including the police) – all the while acting as if substantial government subsidies are their Hashem given right, having temper tantrums if anything doesn’t go their way, and treating anyone not of their immediate ilk as if they were the enemy.

    I’m disgusted with the lot of them, and wonder how long I can go around trying to explain them to my more modern frum, frei and goyishe associates.

  30. Re # 18 – getzel1, after you are through believing the woman I have a bridge to sell you. I work in a law enforcement environment – and every (and I mean EVERY) inmate I have ever talked with about his or her case spins a tale about their innocence.

  31. #8- These doctors were not around when the “Yemenite tragedy” took place. I find it so ridiculous that people keep citing that as if it is something that would happen today.

    and

    #27- perhaps you should relax on my couch and tell me what is bothering you? (As you demonstrate that you can clearly benefit from an education about mental illness)

  32. To #34 honestlyfrum

    You are a sample of a “sona yisrul”, may be this is what you wish Rav Shternbuch shall say, but in fact he supports the protesters fully and will join tonight the protest together with the Gavad ,

    and the money you are talking, this pepole refuse it anyway,

    I think you shall change your name from “honestlyfrum” to “Sona Yisuel #1”

  33. What most of the commenters brimming with righteous indignation against those awful people of Meah Shearim don’t realize is that in those circles, most people do NOT take any money from the government, like welfare etc. Since the family in question is reputedly part of Toldos Aharon, I would assume that to be true for them as well. And in the Israeli Chassidic world, most men DO work. The “Kollel or Die” mentality doesn’t exist there.

  34. to Wolffman
    Self Hating Jew is a terrible disorder-Refua Sheleima

    To Israeli Yid:

    The child has a feeding tube- aka. gastro, peg, which is different than an IV or NG tube aka zonda

    A gastro feeding tube is a button that is surgically embedded in the stomach/intestine and bypasses the esophagus and or stomach in order for the nutrients to get absorbed in the intestines.
    The food (liquidized, blenderized) is then administered through a tube that is connected to a drip machine or syringe. It is not permanently connected as that would restrict the person. Disconnecting the tube occurs many times throughout the day.
    I hope this clarifies some misconceptions.

  35. It is clear the hospital is a lying. I think it’s time for a real takana – we should simply boycott Hadasah Ein Kerem hospital altogether. Let’s boycott it – we’ll make it Haredi free and then we’ll see who’s happy, us or the hospital! In fact, I hear that that’s what the askanim are working on as I write. The frum tzibbur should stay away from these anti-semites at Hadassah. The doctors there can’t be trusted. When they make a mistake they lie and cover it up. I and other choshuver askanim are crying out – Boycott Hadassah!!!

  36. #42

    Come on now.

    If you and your fellow askanim want to do something, do it right.

    Boycott ALL hospitals, social workers and doctors. Just go to the rebbe or rosh yeshiva, he’ll give you a bracha and all will be well.

    By the way the “Modern Orthodox” posek of the Eidah, Rav Shternbuch shlit”a said the hospital did the right thing in this case.

  37. To # 40: Here is what is being reported on another of the “Frum” websites:

    Exclusive: In response to a request for clarification of the views of Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Rosh Av Bais Din of the Eidah Hachareidis, on the current rioting connected with the arrest of a mother suspected of abusing her child, Rabbi Daniel Eidensohn has shared with ____ that he was authorized to report the following in Rav Shternbuch’s name. We thank Rabbi Eidensohn for clarifying this matter for us.

    Rav Shternbuch maintains that the rioting is wrong and he has condemned the demonstrators as being “mushugoyim.” He said that it was, in fact, the duty of the hospital to report their findings to the authorities and thus they acted appropriately. He criticized the talk about boycotting the hospital in retaliation. He said it makes no sense and, is, in fact, “very self-damaging.”

    Rav Shternbuch asserted that the real point of contention is not whether this woman is guilty or innocent, but rather the way the police have dealt with her, chaining her hands and feet. If, in fact, it is true – as the police have claimed – that this woman is mentally ill, she should not have been placed in a cell together with dangerous criminals.

    The reason that Rav Shterbuch hasn’t issued a statement for the street or put up wall posters is simply because he knows that he has very little influence on the people who are rioting. They don’t accept his authority. There are other people who wield more influence, but they have yet to be convinced that the police have justification for what they have done. Rav Shternbuch is doing what he can behind the scenes to end the confrontation.

  38. did anyone ever think that maybe the child had an eating disorder because none of the other kids were bieng starved. maybe everyone should not be so quick to judge another.

  39. #11, and Editor,
    Kristalnacht; First they looted the shuls and burned R”L the sifrei torah in the street. Then they made us wear jewish stars to further the suffering, then they pulled off the beards, disrobed the women, and gassed them all. Some were used in “experiments” such as letting a hand freeze to see if it rots off.
    This was perpetrated by people who murdered my grandparents, aunts and uncles and probably yours (unless you’re Yurushalmi).
    WATCH WHAT YOU SAY.
    EDITORS; I believe your picture is yellow journalism and is not reflective of the truth. Do you say it is?

  40. To #38 and 41,

    You need to grow up and stop calling people bad names like a little child.

    Haven’t you ever noticed that nobody takes you seriously when you do this? It also reduces the possibility of reconciliation between the two sides, which is what we should all be hoping for, even if this seems unlikely.

    I read both secular papers such as Haaretz and chareidi papers such as HaMevaser. Why is it that The chareidi papers are full of inflammatory rhetoric and vitriol, but Haaretz’s perspective seems professional and more believable? This is because they engage in less name-calling, which, as i said, reduces your credibility.

    By the way, those of you who compare israelis/zionists to nazis are really sick. You have crossed all red lines and lost all credibility.

  41. I have never read such utter rubbish before Where has everyone`s logic and understanding gone to We are all Yidden there is no THEM and US By rioting and throwing stones we just debase ourselves and become like any other holigan that we so dispise As for boycotting Hadasah Ein kerem voice of a fool is really showing his own stupidity Thousands of lives are saved every year by the wonderful medical staff that work there it is so easy to critise the medical staff but maybe if more frum boys and girls were encouraged to enter the medical field people would not be able to feel this way Voice of a fool what are your children giving back to Klal Yisroel stones and rocks!
    We need to have all the facts from both sides and only then will we have any comment to make the safety and wellbeing of the children being our primary concern

  42. It’s all bubba maises. The child is in danger and the hospital saved it from the mentally mother.

    What kind of behavious is this? Pikuach nefesh doche kol hatorh? A true chillul hashem. We have much fasting to do for this one.

  43. 42- yes, better use chareidi-run hospitals. All those chareidi doctors who studied at the finest Talmudic Health Academies will surely cure you of your ills. I hear they’re having a great sale on mandrakes for infertility problems, btw.

  44. Nothing is clear.
    Except that a child is sick,
    and a community who claim to be an Ohr Lagoyim is acting like behaimos in the 3 weeks.
    Oy Meh Hayah Lanu.

    Golus is not just a location.
    It is a reality in which we find ourselves since the Bais Hamikdosh was destroyed.

    In that generation too, every group blamed the other.
    Ultimately, it didn’t matter who was to blame.
    We are a nation in exile.
    Whether we are ruled by goyim or yiddin, we do not have the clarity that was in the world when aveiros were admitted, and people knew when they had achieved teshuva.

    Hashiva Shofteinu K’varishona, V’yoatzeinu K’vatchila, V’hasser mimmenu yagon v’anacha….

    U’neshalma Parim Sefaseinu.

  45. # 51 is right! why does every act ( even the correct ones) that the israeli govt. does haev to be attacked by the frum jews all over? face it! sometimes they are right! this lady is sick and youre all trying to defend her! why is e/t always so warped?!

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