Mashgichim employed by Badatz R’ Yosef Efrati and Badatz Eida Chareidis were almost victims of an assault in Jordan as a result of a monetary dispute.

The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon 29 Sivan, as the workers were demanding their salaries from the mashgichim. Five mashgichim were facing off with Jordanian laborers at 17:00, as the workers were already holding clubs, signaling an inevitable escalation of events.

It is reported the workers got into a work dispute with the factory owners and later in the day they turned their wrath at the mashgichim. One of the mashgichim who feared the worst ran for the door. This led to workers blocking the door. The mashgichim feared the situation was soon going to turn physically violent. Two of the mashgichim immediately informed their respective offices in Yerushalayim of the situation.

At the Eida Chareidis office they were quick to inform police who are maintain constant contact with them regarding mashgichim working in Jordan. The Eida informed their mashgichim to stay put after rabbonim decided they cannot leave the area unattended since it requires a constant rabbinical presence. It is pointed out that at this stage it was clear to the rabbonim that the situation was tense but far from life-threatening.

The mashgichim employed by Rav Efrati decided to head back to Israel and they did just that later in the evening. B’chasdei Hashem Jordanian police arrived at the scene and calmed down the workers. Jordanian police are also maintaining an undercover presence to protect the mashgichim in the area in question.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)