A yeshiva bochur from Eretz Yisrael realized he must raise money before his chasunah and he headed to Belgium in the hope of doing just that. A number of askanim planned to assist him in his mission.
According to the Chadrei Chareidim report, he arrived in the airport on Wednesday, 25 Tammuz. Officials questioned him to determine if he has €45 for each day he planned to remain in the country. He was unaware of the regulation and unfortunately, he did not have the required sum on him. Hence, authorities would not permit him to clear customs and enter the country.
He was not permitted to make calls and held by police on the side. Askanim who awaited his arrival tried to intervene on his behalf, but they were not permitted contact with him.
After askan Shmulik Markowitz from Antwerp became involved, the bochur was permitted to get onto a flight back to Israel, sparing him a night in police lockup in the airport. The young man was unaware of the law requiring one to carry a minimum amount of money.
Askanim explain one must have cash or a credit card when arriving in the country.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
I’m curious – roughly how much money was this bochur planning to collect? $1000? $10,000? $50,000? If it’s really just for the chasunah itself, in this sad situation where he has no money (and I guess his family cannot help much), why not make a modest event? Worst worst case scenario, they can invite 20~30 friends, make the chuppah and a simple seudas mitzvah for little more than the cost of the ticket to Belgium, plus the donations of the askanim that could have just as well wired him a few hundred dollars.
Didn’t he explain that he is a beggar and that beggars don’t have anything. Typical European anti semitism. Why is YWN even publishing this story?
Sima Batsheva – do you support Belgium allowing all people to come visit, regardless of their wealth? This sounds very respectable. Do you also support the US and Israel also allowing anyone to come visit? If so, certainly the US and Israel should accept all refugees from Syria, who are in worse off situations than a “typical” beggar who has no money but might be otherwise safe. If you are nervous that refugees might overstay their welcome and bring terror, then can’t Belgium also be concerned about letting in everyone for similar reasons without you calling them antisemites?