A Breslover chassid, 23, a talmid at HaRav Shalom Arush’s Chut Shel Chessed yeshiva, was arrested on Tuesday night at Ben Gurion Airport while on his way to Uman ahead of Rosh Hashanah.
According to reports, he tried to leave the country using his American passport. Following his arrest, he was transferred to a military prison.
Additionally, a talmid at a Chabad yeshiva who was on his way to 770 in Brooklyn for the Yamim Tovim was arrested at Ben Gurion and sentenced to 20 days in military prison.
UTJ MK Meir Porush condemned the violation of Israelis’ religious rights, saying, “The Iron Curtain of the State of Israel against chassidim who want to travel to their Rebbe has begun to operate. Under the guidance of the Attorney General, an unprecedented operation began today, according to which Jews should be prevented from celebrating Rosh Hashanah as they do every year.
“It is unbelievable that such a thing is happening in a country with a government of Jews. This is an international disgrace.”
On Tuesday, a chasan was arrested in Holon during the week of his Shevos Brachos and transferred to military prison. He will be unable to attend his last Sheva Brachos, scheduled for Wednesday evening.
According to the Ezram U’Meginim and Notnim Gav organizations, his arrest is a grave escalation in the persecution of the Olam HaTorah, as he appeared at the police station to give testimony—at the request of the police.
“If the Israeli police are laying traps for bnei yeshivos, it is encouraging crime within the Chareidi sector, and the consequences for the police could be disastrous,” a statement said.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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15 Responses
Will all due respect to Rabbi Porush; Is this really the right time to insist on flying abroad to be by the Rebbe? How many of our brothers are fighting, being wounded and r’l killed (doing 6 and 7 rounds of reserve duty) to help protect us from the terrorists and you want to choose this time to fly away to go to the Rebbe? Is going to Uman or Springfield Gardens a chiyuv?? And why use such strong language? “Iron Curtain”?? With this type of tone-deaf action and rhetoric, is it any wonder that the secular government is against the Oilam HaTorah???
Do something illegal = get arrested.
If a Jewish citizen of Israel doesn’t report to the army after being summoned, they will be arrested at the airport. Doesn’t matter if you are Charedi, Dati, or Chiloni.
Why should there be preferential treatment?
And Israel is crying wolf why the whole world are against them – מדה כנגד מדה
To arrest a chatan during sheva brachot is disgusting. Let the guy finish celebrating then deal with him. The other two are idiots and I have zero sympathy. I say that as a Chabadnik. Our sons and daughters are dying so you can go on your jaunts and feel so holy. Cowards who probably spend more time avoiding their moral duty to serve than shteiging.
An Israeli using an American passport does not appreciate the intelligence of the State of Israel. For that alone, he deserves to be imprisoned.
A Chabad hasid who prefers 770 over Eretz HaKodesh, should be jailed
Not that I agree with this antagonizing Jews and appeasing Arabs strategy but if you know you’re out for an arrest you don’t go to the airport
Why do the Zionists prevent Yidden from fulfilling their religous obligations.
Ovdei avoda Zara better the jail than avoda Zara
@lakewoodbt
With all due respect to every chassidus, this is NOT a religious obligation. There are thousands of Breslover and Chabad chassidim who remain in EY for Rosh Hashana. They can stay and have full access to packed shuls with their nusach and minhagim.
I didn’t know it’s a religious obligation to go to Uman. I don’t believe anyone learning should be disturbed but let’s not make a joke out of this and say this pilgrimage is something the Torah recommends
@Lakewood BT
Why do the non-Zionists prevent Yidden from fulfilling their religous obligations. (sharing the burden of military service) and encourage them to instead engage in shtussim like Uman (two weeks before Rosh Hashana, no less) and leaving EY to fly to the grave of a Rebbi?
> Why do the Zionists prevent Yidden from fulfilling their religous obligations.
to the opposite, they help them fulfil the parsha – “ki tetze l’milchama”
it’s porush who is the disgrace: there is only one place that bnei torah are obligated to be for rosh hashanah, or any other chag, and that’s in yerushalayim, not uman, or 770, or uganda. he should know better.
Truthwpower, so when they eventually make bris Mila illegal, you’ll also advocate for arrest of every parent?
There are three reasons given as to when it is Mutar to leave Eretz Yisrael – to marry, to learn Torah, or to earn a living. Visiting Uman or 770 are not included in the list – so kudos to the Israeli police for preventing these draft-dodgers from sinning further.
an Israeli Yid