An 21-year-old avreich, the father of a small child and a 17-year-old Tzfat resident were taken into custody in Munich Airport, apparently on suspicion of smuggling drugs.
This story begins last year, when the young man arrived in Germany, where he bought a vehicle even though he does not have a driver’s license. According to a Kikar Shabbat report, he traveled in his new car from Germany to Ukraine on Route E 40 during a time the super highway was being hit with a snowstorm. German police learned of the young man’s trip, but he was in the Ukraine when his actions were detected.
About ten days ago, when the young man and his friend the avreich, who was in Uman for Rosh Hashanah returned to Munich, making an interim stop on the way back to Ben-Gurion Airport. Police were waiting for them however, taking them to a police station for questioning. Since being arrested, the two have not been in touch with their families and friends, and it appears that no one is quite sure what is going on.
Regarding the avreich there are a number of stories, including that he was released and he is still in Munich, trying to help the young man. It remains unclear however why he has not contacted his family if he is no longer incarcerated, giving credibility to the other version, that he too remains in custody.
The story came to light this morning, 12 Tishrei, after another friend who was on the flight to Tel Aviv via Munich contacted others, explaining police were waiting and when they exited the plane, the two were taken into custody, facing charges of reckless endangerment pertaining to the driving without a license. The friend also spoke of “a number of packages” which police appear to suspect contain drugs.
The friend [who was on the flight from Munich to Tel Aviv] explains that he received a message from Munich that a Tzfat resident was arrested and he asked police in Ben-Gurion upon his arrival from Munich what happened, and subsequently learned the two are in custody, apparently for being involved in an act of violence and for carrying an illegal package.
The Foreign Ministry has been contacted in the hope of gaining a measure of clarity as to the events that transpired and the current situation.
There are many questions, uncertainties and strange components to this story, but this is the information that is available at this time.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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14 Responses
I hope they’re all right, but I also hope no one knee-jerks to say “anti-semitism” if these are legitimate charges.
I have no problem breaking German laws. Of course, getting caught could be a bummer.
I understand that some of the facts are not yet clear but I nominate this story for the 2011 award of journalistic butchery.
popa-
Why do have no problem breaking German laws…?
#2 popa bar Amhaarets why dont u believe in chazal that its assur,ur smarter then them ???
#4
Because 60 years ago they passed laws that we should all be killed.
Because they will not have repaid their debt to me if they give us everything they have for the next 1000 years.
They and their laws have no meaning to me. I do not recognize them, their laws, their country, anything. I feel on moral obligation to not break their laws.
#5
Which chazal? Dina d’malchusa dina?
How about the gemara with dama ben nesina that we were allowed to take all the money from mitzrayim because they owed it to us?
By which I mean, the story of gevihah ben pesisa.
Where did they dream these names up anyway? What’s wrong with a simple name like popa?
popa, good point.
To those (PBA et. al) who say that they don’t recognize the legitimacy of German law, please go there and violate those laws and spend the rest of your lives eating wienershnitzel in a nice German prison outside of Dusseldorf.
#I didn’t say it was wise to violate them. I said it was not immoral.
#3: I am wondering if “An (sic) 21-year-old avreich, the father of a small child and a 17-year-old Tzfat resident” are all the same person.
When the Gedolei Yisrael pasken that Dina de Malchusa doesn’t apply to modern day Germany then fine, but, until then, you go to Germany you follow their laws – Period. Of secondary but stilll vital importance, if the people mentioned here are proven to have knowingly taken part in the illegal narcotics trade then IMHO they probably deserve whatever they get.
Popa, that is absurd. Germany 2011 is not Germany 1939. It is a civil country with laws that are just and apply equally to all. I can certainly understand the emotional side of your argument, but to advocate this in practice is really ridiculous and wrong.
As gadolhadorah says, you’re perfectly free to break all their laws as you desire, and languish in prison for a while as a consequence. I bet they’ll even treat you as a prisoner as they treat every other criminal, despite the fact you’re Jewish…