It would appear that the Three Weeks and the lessons that should be learned from the tragedies that have befallen Am Yisrael during this time period should remain in the forefront of our conscious state, but for some, even Avreichim, this is not always the case.
Security cameras have captured an attack against Rav Mordechai Asher, the Rav of the Chabad Shul in the Kiryat Yovel area of Yerushalayim. It appears for some, the conflict between the chareidim and the secularists is not enough, and on Sunday, four Avreichim decided they are compelled to act and they attacked the rav.
Rav Asher explains that he began his minyan in the community about 8 years ago, open to all, explaining that during the early years, the number of mispallalim was limited. The rav explains that over time, his efforts began to yield results more and more mispallalim would be seen making their way to the shul on Brazil Street.
He explained to Ladaat.net that about 2.5 years ago, a number of people decided to attempt to take over the shul, resulting in an ongoing legal action. The opponents he explained damaged locks and at one point, event chained doors closed to prevent anyone from davening in the shul.
He went on to explain that a beis din of rabbonim in the area suggested a compromise solution last week, but the solution is not acceptable to him and his followers. Others however decided to act, and security cameras captured them in the act, breaking into the shul on Friday, prompting the rav to file a complaint with police.
This apparently angered some, resulting in the attack on Sunday, during which four Avreichim dragged the rav into the shul, bound his hands, beat him and then rolled him down the stairs.
The rav was transported to a hospital for an exam. Unfortunately for the attackers, their actions were also captured on security cameras and two are already in custody.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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11 Responses
I saw the video on colive.com. I was shocked to see such hate and violence coming from chareidim. They should be put in jail, and they should pay for the pain and suffering they caused the Rav. Shame on them.
Boruch Hashem this vile act was caught on the security cameras. Now it is time to get clear-cut rulings from Gedolim to make it well understood to all hooligans and potential future hooligans that their “frummer chesbonos” will be prosecuted the same as any other criminal act. Included in these rulings should be specific guidelines what action to take not only against those who physically attack people they don’t agree with but only against personal property (burning cars and trash bins etc.) If a compromise was attempted, we know that the attackers were not chilonim or nochrim.
Frankly, I don’t care if the Rav was right or wrong in not accepting Bais Din’s compromise.
These so-called “Avreichim” should be locked up for their actions.
What is the reason for this dispute?
i think that part of the lesson of the 3 weeks is also to be ‘dan lekaf zechus’. we don’t know all the facts, and there may be a reason why this happened. and, even if the avreichim did what is claimed, they may have been following the da’as torah they received. as such, we should not be jumping to conclusions or judging our frum brothers during the 3 weeks.
The likeliness of catching the others is pretty good according to sources.
Avreich: av b’shanim, rach b’moach.
Wat a massive chillul Hashem. they should rot in jail
Zalmy, I would love to know which da’as Torah told them to beat up the rabbi. To paraphrase Rabbi Yerachmial Milstein: They all are frum ungateen but that is as far as it goes.
If we all don’t act like brothers and sisters and not like some kind of disfunctional family, challila Our Fatheer will send a common enemy so we will have to join together. Unfortunatally it does seem to happen when ever there is in-fighting in Israel.
#5 you make a mockery out of “l’kaf zechus”
the acrynom of frum in yiddish is feel rishus, veinig mitzvos
adage accorded to the kotzker rebbe