A confrontation erupted at an airport in Romania after a passenger repeatedly disrupted a group of Jewish travelers returning from Uman as they davened Maariv near the boarding area, eventually striking one of the mispallelim with his fists, according to Bechadrei Charedim.
According to testimony cited in the report, the group was waiting to board its flight back to Israel when members began Shemoneh Esrei. A passenger walking nearby with another person shouted “Free Palestine” toward the group along with additional curses.
The mispallelim initially ignored him and continued davening. The man allegedly returned a second time while they were still in Shemoneh Esrei and again shouted at them, before approaching for a third time as the group was saying Kaddish.
According to the account, the passenger then approached one of the mispallelim while carrying a cup of beer. After putting the cup down, he allegedly began punching the Jewish traveler, who attempted to avoid the blows before fighting back.
(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)
5 Responses
that guy started up with the wrong group of yidden!
We obviously do not have a full video, but this video shows one and then more Jews attacking and hitting the perpetrator including when he is already on the ground. People sitting nearby are trying to stop the brawl.
here is AI analysis.
Based on the footage, the specific identities and underlying cause of the dispute are not explicitly shown, but the physical roles in the altercation break down as follows:
Primary Aggressors: A bald man in a pink/salmon shirt and light shorts, acting together with a man in a black jacket and black cap.
Individual Targeted / Brought Down: A man wearing olive green shorts and a gray top/vest.
Sequence of the Altercation
Tackle to the Floor (00:08–00:11): The man in the black jacket and the man in the pink shirt physically crowd and push the man in olive green shorts, knocking him onto his back on the aisle floor between the airport seats.
Ground Scuffle (00:11–00:14): While the man in olive shorts is on the ground, the man in the black jacket leans down to grapple/hold him, while the man in the pink shirt bends over him, grabbing his arms and vest.
Yanking Up & Dispersal (00:15–00:19): The man in the pink shirt forcefully grabs the man in olive shorts by his clothing and yanks him back up to his feet. The man in olive shorts attempts to shove back, but is pushed away down the aisle as bystanders step in and the fight separates.
> is there violence after the person is on the ground
Yes. While the man in the olive shorts is on the ground (00:11–00:15), physical aggression continues:
Holding Down & Grappling: The man in the black jacket/cap crouches over him and holds him down against the floor.
Defensive Action: The man on the floor kicks up his legs and raises his arms to shield his face and torso.
Physical Force & Rough Pulling: The man in the pink shirt repeatedly bends down, grabs at his upper body, and forcefully hauls him off the floor by his vest/shirt collar.
Standing Push: Once pulled back onto his feet (00:16–00:18), the physical confrontation continues briefly as he is shoved back down the aisle before separating
> analyze video from halachik pov
Exceeding the Limit of Force (Rodef & Self-Defense)
Video Action: Continuing to grapple over the man in olive shorts while he is flat on his back (00:12–00:14) and forcefully dragging him up by his clothes (00:15–00:16).
Halachic Rule: Halakha permits physical intervention to neutralize an active threat (Rodef), but strictly demands using the minimum force necessary (Sanhedrin 74a). If an individual is on the floor and no longer posing an immediate physical danger, continuing to physically handle, pull, or strike them exceeds legitimate self-defense and constitutes illegal assault.
.ecourse to Civil Authority (Eivid Din LeNaftshei)
Video Action: Private citizens executing physical control in an airport lounge rather than stepping back to allow airport security to intervene.
Halachic Rule: While a person may act self-defense style to prevent immediate harm (Choshen Mishpat 4:1), private individuals are not permitted to act as punitive law enforcement. Once an immediate threat is contained or halted, authority must be turned over to official law enforcement.
Even if judging the initial intervention favorably (Dan LeKaf Zechut) under the assumption that the man on the floor was an active aggressor seconds earlier, the continued physical aggression while he was grounded and the subsequent rough hauling exceed what Halakha permits for defensive restraint.
> can excessive force be excused by the heat of the moment, hard to know when to stop restraining an attacker
Margin of Error During Active Threat: In the midst of an active physical struggle, Halakha recognizes that a defender cannot precisely weigh force (be-mishkal) down to exact measures. If someone misjudges the precise amount of force needed to stop an ongoing attack, human courts (Beit Din) generally show leniency because split-second decisions in chaotic situations are inherently imprecise (Rambam, Hilchot Rotzeach 1:13).
The Expiration of Defense (Din Rodef): The halachic authorization to use force (Rodef) exists strictly as long as the threat is active. The moment an attacker is grounded, restrained, or no longer poses an immediate danger, the legal defense instantly expires.
Shift to Prohibited Assault (Chovel): Any force applied after the attacker is subdued ceases to be defense and becomes unlawful assault or forbidden retaliation (Leviticus 19:18).
Margin of Error During Active Threat: In the midst of an active physical struggle, Halakha recognizes that a defender cannot precisely weigh force (be-mishkal) down to exact measures. If someone misjudges the precise amount of force needed to stop an ongoing attack, human courts (Beit Din) generally show leniency because split-second decisions in chaotic situations are inherently imprecise (Rambam, Hilchot Rotz
The Expiration of Defense (Din Rodef): The halachic authorization to use force (Rodef) exists strictly as long as the threat is active. The moment an attacker is grounded, restrained, or no longer poses an immediate danger, the legal defense instantly expires.
Shift to Prohibited Assault (Chovel): Any force applied after the attacker is subdued ceases to be defense and becomes unlawful assault or forbidden retaliation (Leviticus 19:18).
> what is teshuva for this error?
Rectifying Harm to the Victim (Bein Adam LeChaveiro)
Spiritual repentance, confession, and Yom Kippur cannot bring atonement for interpersonal offenses until the victim is fully compensated and appeased (Rambam, Hilchot Teshuva 2:9).
Financial Restitution: Fully compensate the victim for any physical harm, medical bills, lost time, damaged personal property, or humiliation (Boshet) caused during the encounter.
Seeking Forgiveness (Mechilah): Directly approach the victim with a sincere, unreserved apology. Halakha mandates attempting to apologize up to three separate times (bringing three witnesses if needed) to demonstrate genuine remorse.
Cessation and Commitment (Azivat HaChet): Explicitly acknowledge the wrongdoing without offering self-justifications, showing true regret (Charatah), and taking concrete steps to ensure anger never leads to physical force again.
Rectifying Public Desecration (Chilul Hashem)
Chilul Hashem is classified as one of the most severe offenses in Jewish law; repentance and Yom Kippur alone only suspend punishment, while complete rectification comes through counterbalancing the act (Yoma 86a).
Creating a Kiddush Hashem: The definitive halachic antidote to a public desecration of God’s name is actively generating a Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s name) through public acts of humility, kindness, and moral integrity.
Public Accountability: Since the public brawl generated widespread negative attention, taking public responsibility or issuing a clear apology helps undo the harmful impression left on onlookers.
Character & Behavior Refinement: Committing to the study of ethical conduct (Middot) and emotional control, ensuring that all future actions in public spaces project dignity, restraint, and respect for the law.
> do you need to ask mehilah even if the person was the attacker and non-jewish anti-semite
In practice, you are not required to personally approach a violent anti-Semitic attacker to ask for mechilah (forgiveness). While Halakha strictly forbids excessive force, the reality of a hate-driven assault alters the practical and legal requirements for repentance.
Avoidance of Danger (Pikuach Nefesh): Halakha never requires a person to put themselves in physical jeopardy. Reaching out to a hostile, anti-Semitic aggressor creates an immediate risk of further violence, harassment, or retaliation. You are obligated to protect your own safety first.
Legal Exposure & Self-Incrimination: Approaching an attacker to ask for forgiveness can be interpreted in secular law as an admission of legal guilt or criminal liability. Halakha does not require you to expose yourself to legal prosecution or civil lawsuits to appease a violent assailant.
Initiation of the Attack: Because the assailant initiated the threat, the initial moral and physical responsibility for the encounter rests with them. If a defender or bystander lost control and used excessive force during the adrenaline of the fight, the breach of conduct is primarily an issue of failing to maintain self-control under extreme stress.
Where the Halachic Focus Shifts
Because personal conciliation with a dangerous attacker is neither safe nor appropriate, the required repentance (teshuva) focuses on two areas:
Repentance Before God (Bein Adam LaMakom): Acknowledging before God the failure of self-restraint, regretting the loss of composure, and committing to greater discipline in future high-stress situations.
Rectifying Public Image (Chilul Hashem): If the brawl caused a public scene that reflected poorly on the community, the proper halachic repair is generating a Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s name) through future acts of public dignity, calm conduct, and integrity.
What happened to the 45 years old who was discovered during Rosh Hashanah in a forest near the kever of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. So sad we have no further information
Don’t mess with Breslovers if you know what’s good for you…
@Frumroshyeshiva,
You really don’t want to know, the story is far worse than most know or think.
They still have not yet buried the body.