An estimated 25,000 Gerrer chassidim gathered Monday evening outside Israel’s Military Prison 10 for a massive tefillah and protest rally following the arrest of a bochur from Yeshivas Sfas Emes over the ongoing draft controversy.
The rally was led by the Gerrer Rebbe and attended by the Machnovka-Belz Rebbe, along with United Torah Judaism chairman MK Yitzchok Goldknopf.
The gathering lasted several hours and included isolated confrontations between protesters and police and military personnel. Video from the scene showed a small number of demonstrators shaking the prison’s perimeter fence while chanting, “Break it down, break it down.”
Organizers in Gur described the rally as a major success.
“We expected about 15,000 participants, but around 25,000 came,” organizers said. “The goal was for the public to express its pain over the arrest of yeshiva bochurim, and for us, that was the most important message.”
Following the rally, a group of protesters traveled to Tel Aviv to demonstrate outside the home of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
5 Responses
Can the esteemed assembly show some empathy and, for example, recite tefilah for safety of chayalim?
@Always_Ask_Questions
Can they show empathy and, for example, recite prayers for the safety of Jewish soldiers enlisted in armies all around the world? Why didn’t you think of that one? Because it’s not idolatrous?
Do the “Hesder” idolatrous institutions also pray for all of our brethren whom their idol has taken, including the subject of this story, R”L?
It is admirable that the Rebbe shlita demonstrated solidarity with the plight of his chassidim by attending this peaceful yet meaningful protest. Unfortunately, this is not the case with the yeshivish-litvish velt.
Glad to see so many of klal yisroel’s spiritual defenders spent their time davening, learning, and engaged in the ruchniyusdik responsibilities which they have taken on rather than the gashmiyusdik responsibilities others have taken….Oh, wait…
gdg