The head of the Labor party faction in Knesset, MK Merav Michaeli has caused a storm with her statements over the weekend pertaining to MK (Likud) Oren Chazon in Bulgaria. The MK is accused of profiting from illegal and immoral activities in Bulgaria. She then turned her remarks to the tens of thousands of mispallalim traveling to Uman to the tziyun of Rav Nachman for Rosh Hashanah, accusing Uman city officials for permitting the event since “difficult and harsh events occur during that time”. Needless to say her remarks have outraged many, particularly Breslov Chassidim.
Michaeli was quick to clarify, explaining to the press “I obviously was not referring to the tens of thousands of mispallalim traveling to daven at the site, but there are those who travel to unload their burden (לפרוק עול)”.
MK (Bayit Yehudi) Betzalel Smotrich sent a letter to Labor party leader MK Yitzchak Herzog condemning her statements.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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10 Responses
I am not a Breslover, nor do I think that going to Uman is worth much (except for the feeling of being in a big crowd) but this idiotic statement by MK Merav Michaeli is beyond acceptance. An apology is in store before she should be allow to speak again.
Not intending to defend her but..Why is her statement any different than Lapid’s were vis-a-vis ALL Chareidim? And not Lapid!! Too many have made equally blasphemous comments and suggestions!
Ummmmmmmmmm…
Was this a Saturday night comedy spot if not why isn’t she siuspended for anti semantic statements
Truth hurts!
Better that Israeli’s go to Uman, than going to Thailand (znus) or Nepal (avoda zara).
קבל האמת ממי שאמרה”
While there may be some well-intentioned Breslover chassidim who go to Uman for spiritual reasons, the entire Rosh Hashanah scene at Rav Nachman’s kever has become a new age circus and wastes hundreds of millions of NIS each year. Her comments were not framed diplomatically but were truthful.
The Gedolim have warned us for close to two centuries to stay away from Breslov. Their Chillul Hashem gets worse every year.
Even if one doesn’t feel it’s worth the expense and effort to travel to Uman, when an MK such as Merav Michaeli, whose notorious attitude toward Judaism is fairly well-known in Israel, opens her mouth and spews such drivel, we cannot let it pass without protest. At least one subtle message being proffered by Michaeli is “nu, so what if Oren Hazan is accused of whatever immoral activities while abroad? The frum Jews also engage in monkey business while abroad . . . ” Sorry ma’am, the frum tzibur cannot be compared in any way to the disgusting antics of Oren Hazan. Even if not every visitor to Uman is a tzadik, there is no comparison. Nothing that transpires in Uman over Rosh Hashana or Shavuos is remotely comparable to the exploits of which Oren Hazan is accused. An MK cannot be allowed to get away with such remarks, especially when spoken in a public forum.