(Click HERE to see photos) This morning, thousands of people gathered at Yeshivas Merkas Harav in Yerushalayim for the levayah of the eight kedoshim who where murdered yesterday. (Reported HERE and HERE on YWN) A few Rabbonim, among them Rabbi Amar, gave the hespedim. Tearful sobbing was heard in the plaza as one aron after another was put down in a row.
According to Ynet, which quoted sources in the Jabel Mukaber neighborhood, the shooter was a twenty-year-old driver of the Yeshiva, Alaa Abu Dheim. It is yet unknown if he was connected to any terrorist orginizations.
Two of the bochurim were laid to rest on Har Hazeisim this afternoon.
(Yehuda Bolthsauser)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
46 Responses
ברוך דיין האמת
יום חושך וצער גדול בעם ישראל
שנזכה כולנו להתעורר ולהתחזק לתשובה שלימה – נמצאים אנו בערש”ק חזק בואו וחזק חזק נתחזק ביחד
לחזור אל אבינו שבשמים ונזכה להגאולה השלימה
חודש טוב ובשורות טובות וישועות ונחמות לכל עם ישראל
It is difficult to describe what it is like to be at the levaya of eight
yeshiva bachurim. The Rosh Yeshiva said “How can I yotze the chiyuv of being maspid one of
my talmidim? Two of my talmidim? Three…” At the conclusion of the
hespedim they announced the details of each of the eight levaya
processions. One to Ashdod, one to Har HaMenuchot, one to Efrat, one to
Har Hatzeisim…
The Rabbonim have called on everyone to increase their Torah learning as a
response to this tragedy. And as one of the maspidim noted, even our enemies
realize that at the heart of the Jewish people is limud haTorah.
May we share b’soros tovos and be zoche soon to see Moshiach tzidkeinu.
Rachmonah L’Tzlon!!!! There are no words to describe this horrific tragedy. May Hashem give a Refuah Sheleimah to those that are injured, and the strength to the families that have lossed their young loved ones.
I have but one question. In the photos it seems that the crowd is made up of predominately ‘Hesder’ yidden, with hardly any representation from “black hatters”, be it from Chassidim to Yeshivash (Although I hate using such labels, I am using it here to make this point). Yes, there are some black hatters scattered here and there, but it disturbs me to see this lack of ‘Acheinu KOL Bnei Yisroel”. Why didn’t the black hatters feel the need to attend this monumental Levayah? If Chas Vesholom this were to happen in a ‘black hatted’ Yeshiva, wouldn’t the massive crowd be a vast sea of black, with yes, a large representation from the Hesder community. For your information, I myself am what one would call a “black hatter’, and I am ashamed to see that we are able to differentiate our “Imo Anochi Betzarah” depending on the type of Yid. Please don’t get me wrong, IN NO WAY am I insinuating that we don’t care, or it does not hurt us to see this befall our brethren, but action speaks louder than words. I also want to make the point that probably a good portion of the Zaka and Hatzolah crews on the scene are black hatters, and most ‘black hatted’ yeshivas and shuls publicly said Tehilim today (I hope), but again, why not feel the need to participate in the Levayah and show solidarity with our mourning brothers and sisters? Another point, I would like to stress that I am not advocating that that there be one type of Jew; on the contrary, what made Klal Yisroel beautiful then and makes it beautiful today was that there are 12 Shevatim, each with their own mehelach in Avoidas Hashem. But all of them are our BROTHERS, and we should be there for each other when the time call for it. I daven for Moshiach to bring and end to this bitter Golus, and bring us to the Hakarah that we are all brothers and sisters from the same father above.
A driver of the Yeshiva??? Can that be right? If so, it is another example how any Arab cannot be trusted for anything and they cannot be rehabilitated. The sick animal must be put down! By the way, many of the cabs leaving the kotel are arab drivers. Besides always trying to rip you off, they ARE ALL ANIMALS! Make sure you make sure you are getting an Israeli! You never know with these sick Ishmaelites! Pereh Adam!!!
I’m crying over these pictures. May H’ avenge this massacre. What more can anyone say?
KOL HAKAVOD TO YESHIVA WORLD ON THEIR INTENSE REPORTING OF THIS TRAGEDY. AS A BOGER (GRADUATE) OF THE YESHIVA I THANK YOU. MAY HASHEM AVENGE THE BLOOD OF THESE INNOCENT YOUNG BOYS AND AS WE SAY ON SHABBOS MORNING “HARNINU GOYIM AMO KI DAM AVODOV YIKOM VNOKOM YOSHIV LTZOROV VCHIPER ADMOSO AMO”, “VNIKASI DOMOM LO NIKASI” MAY THIER FAMILIES AND ALL OF US BE COMFORTED WITHIN THE GATES OF THE MOURNERS OF TZION AND YERUSHALIM
Arutz 7 reports that both a Police source and a Mrkaz Harav Yeshiva source deny that he worked for the Yeshiva (nor was he one of the recently released Palestinians, as claimed by the Arabs).
IN RESPONSE TO THE COMMENT BY PLAIN SIMPLE JEW. I ALSO REVIEWED THE PICTURES I AM NOT ATTACKING YOU BUT MAYBE IN THIS CASE THE KIPOT SERUGOT THE JEWS FROM THE WHITE ULTRA ORTHODOX CAMP JUST OUT NUMBERED THE BLACK HATS I AM SURE THAT THERE WERE MANY BLACK HATS IN THE CROWD. HAVING LEARNED AND GRADUATED FROM MERCAZ I KNOW THAT MANY OF THE BOCHORIM FROM THE ADJACENT NEIGHBORHOOD GIVAT SHAUL COME TO THE YESHIVA TO LEARN AND HEAR SHIRURIM AND TRULY RESPECT THE BOCHORIM OF MERCAZ AS SERIOUS STUDENTS. I HEARD IN THE NAME OF RAV ZVI KUSHELEVSKY THAT HE TOLD HIS BOYS IF YOU WANT TO SEE REAL TALMIDEI CHACHOMIM GO SEE THE BOCHORIM FROM MERCAZ AND SEE HOW THEY ACT.
#3 makes a valid point which unfortunately is prevalent in the “Black Hat” world. The Black Hat world’s intentional insulation from worldly affairs not only extends to its isolation from the goyish world but also to its own Jewish brothers.
The first levaya I ever attended was that of Rav Ahron Kotler, zt’l in 1962. Every Yeshiva in New York was closed and all the students went to the levaya. Rav Aharon, zt’l did not die al kiddush Hashem. These 8 young men died while learning Torah and gave their live al kiddush Hashem. Every Rebbe and Yeshiva bochur in Yerushalayim and Bnei Brak should have been at the levayas. Their Torah learning is not more important than kovod HaTorah itself. It was truly a Chillul Hashem that they were not there.
To PlainSimpleJew
There were many black hats there but the pictures are taken from up front where you have more of the people connected to the yeshiva. I heard this morning that The Belzer Rebbe Shlit’a went all the way to Har Hamenuchos to the levaya.
I heared that the Belzer Rebbe attended the Levaya, so I’m sure that there were many black hats at the Levaya.
Now that we know that the killer was a driver employed by the Yeshiva, I understand–in retrospect–the wisdom of the Gerer Rebbe, SHLIT”A in ordering that all Arab workers in Gerer Yeshiva be fired immediately a few years ago.–ShoChom Adif MiNovi!
Unfortunately, the fervent Zionism of the Dati-LeUmi overseers of the Merkaz harav Yeshiva blinded them to the realities, and they didn’t fire their Arab staff.–This bloodbath could have been carried out only by an insider, who knew the exact layour of the Yeshiva and the exact schedule of the BoChurim.
coachred613,
It is tragic that you feel this is the time to display animosity against groups of Yidden. Since you apparently were not there at the Levayah, your rush to conclusions at such a time is terribly disheartening.
Truly, one should not use a time of mourning for Klal Yisrael as a springboard for venting personal bias. I am sure that in your pain, you did not think through your words.
May we know of no more sorrow.
Klall Yisroel is being reminded once again that we ALL have to do something to change our matzav. It doesn’t matter whether or not these kedoshim were black hatters or not. When a tragedy happens in the world, even to goyim, it is a wake up call to us. First Hashem does it to goyim, then when we don’t seem to get the message, He sends us reminders closer to home. What are we all waiting for? ALL of us Yidden of all colors and stripes must do teshuva now!!! I can’t understand how people here are just going on with their lives as if they don’t have to change anything. They are still building huge mansions here in golus as if we’ll be here forever, still not dressing properly, still attending concerts and circuses (“kashered” of course) etc. Maybe we should all sit down in sackcloth and ashes and try to do some real teshuva for a change.
Always remember the words of the the ראי”ה:
the first Rosh yeshiva of Mercaz
הצדיקים הטהורים אינם קובלים על הרשעה
אלא מוסיפים צדק;
הצדיקים הטהורים אינם קובלים על הכפירה
אלא מוסיפים אמונה;
הצדיקים הטהורים אינם קובלים על הבערות
אלא מוסיפים חכמה.
The Purely Righteous:
Do not complain about wickedness
They increase righteousness;
Do not complain about heresy
They increase faith;
Do not complain about ignorance
They increase wisdom
deepthinker
it is a sorry thing that you chose to attack the Yeshiva and the Jews that learn Torah, it is sad that you have taken the place of HaKadosh Barochu to point fingers and say that that is the reason for the attack. What would you have said if this happened in the Mir or in Belz chas vshalom
Some of the reactions on this post are disgusting and should be removed altz kavod for the yidden who were killed yesterday. A post like this should be a forum for people to pour out their grief over this tragedy. Looking at these pictures should make you cry, no matter what the people in them look like or what kind of yamaka or hat they are wearing. They are yidden and that is what matters-more yiddishe blood has been spilled. We need to daven to Hashem over the matzav in Eretz Yisrael. That is the only real solution.
I think the comments made by deepthinker – #12 were absolutely disgusting and offensive. How dare you say those boys were killed because the yeshiva is “blinded by Zionism”?! Are you God? Do you personally know why He decided to take these wonderful boys? Don’t use this tragedy for your own agenda of attacking Zionism. Your issues with Zionism blind you to your hatred for your fellow Jews.
Deepthinker, we must be watching a different program.
The one I saw showed 8 yeshiva bochurim murdered in their seats with sifrei kodesh in their hands; a sight we haven’t seen in eretz yisroel since the 1929 massacre in Chevron which included 23 yeshiva bochurim, eight of them Americans. Most of us are wondering how we will have a simchas shabbos. I’m glad you have gotten over it.
NeveAliza,
“that’s just the way it is and always will be”?!? What is that supposed to mean? Does that make it right? This is exactly what I am talking about. I am humbly proposing that we improve this in “OURSELVES” (I’m including myself). You and I know that all this talk of “improvement in ourselves” and “Tshuvah” after hearing about a tragedy, often unfortunately does not last. We go back to our old ways. However, making a tangible effort to participate in YENUM’s Tzarah, is probably a more practical and reachable goal in improving OURSELVES. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that you may feel that this may not be the appropriate time to bring this up, but unfortunately it is times like this that such contrasts among our differing communities’ manifests itself. I wish there was a Chasunah that I can use to make this point, but you and I know that would not be a practical example. It is unfortunately such tragedies that transcends across Klal Yisroel that brings us all together. Let Moshiach come very soon and bring us all together under circumstances of simcha. I appreciate your comment.
nevealiza
Did you ever consider that there were “black hats” at the leviah but they stood back allowing the people that had a stonger connection to Mercaz to get closer. This is exactly the opposite of what we are taught in Mercaz, a Jew is a Jew, Black hat white hat frum and not yet frum we are taught Ahavas Yisroel not just Ahavas Eretz Yisroel but also Am Yisroel. The descendents of Amalak have attack US all of Us, Jews again during the month of Adar agian we are waiting for a Yeshua and a new Mordechai and Esther
A possible message
Am Yisroel in this dark time of tragedy must see through the outer veneer of each yid, see the chailek of Hashem in each other and daven for siyata deshmaya to be matzliach in this Avodah.
Let Hashem see our Noseh Beol Chavero and Ahavas Yisroel for one another and let this create an Eis Ratzon for Klal Yisroel and herald in Moshiach Tzidkeinu Bemheira Veyameinu Amen…
PlainSimpleJew; I am not sure if the facts are the way you say they are, however NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE POINTING IT OUT. THERE IS A TIME A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING.
In response to #3 I think its time if your belly itches keep it to yourself you are the one that creates this rift between Acheinu Bnei Yisroel, because maybe the whole country should come to the levaya, and maybe that do the hesder merkaz harav join all the Black hatter levayos or gatherings? and thats not any implication that there isn’t any yid out there who is not torn to pieces by this momentous tragedy. but there is no need to go down your path in a time of tragedy.
Hamakom Yinachem Acheinu Bnei yisroel
I was at R’ Avraham Schor’s assifa last night. His words are still ringing in my ears-
“These are not Yenem’s children, these are our children, MY children, Hashem’s children”. In addition, he added that if WE don’t do something to change our ways, then these boys’ deaths will have been in vain, ch”v. We must say Tehillim after davening every day and be mekabel something on ourselves as well.
Unfortunately, the fervent Zionism of the Dati-LeUmi overseers of the Merkaz harav Yeshiva blinded them to the realities, and they didn’t fire their Arab staff.–This bloodbath could have been carried out only by an insider, who knew the exact layour of the Yeshiva and the exact schedule of the BoChurim.
DEAR NON-THINKER,
Guess you have to rethink your thinking, now that it has been verified that he was not the Yeshiva driver. The dati-leumi (the label obsessed syndrome) have been the first to fire Arab workers in Efrat, BetEl and Karnei Shomron, even before Ger did. The Geulah Mikveh had an article in Hamodia last year, about the tzedakah stolen from the Mikveh’s pushka by, what do you know? the ARAB cleaning man. Are they also blinded by ZIONISM also?
ttoe, you are probably correct that all should come to this levaya.
Maybe, just maybe, what #3 is saying does have a touch of validity – can we use it as mussar and refine our sensitivities.
#12 “deepthinker” should be banned from commenting on this website. How a frum Jew can react in this way boggles the mind. His/her (wrong) opinion aside, to come into this thread at a time like this and make these ridiculous, divisive assertions is beyond the pale. Instead of trying to blame the victims with your (wrong) “facts”, how about sitting down and crying for them? I know I will never read a comment by him/her again.
What a shame !! There are barely any black hatters or chardim who attended thier funerals. This is why Moshiach is not here, there is no Achdus and no Misaskus Bezorchie tzibur Beemunah?? We all have to learn for this tragedy, this is a wake up call for all of klal Yisroel. They were the korbon for our Aveiros.
How can anyone with any Shemetz of Ahavas Yisroel, and with one iota of sense in their pea-brains, use this forum as a means to cause Klall Yisroel to be Mefuzar U’Meforad…
This tragedy is a tragedy to ALL of Klall Yisroel, regardless of one’s Frumkeit Stripe.
Every human being must weep after viewing the photos of pure Kadosh blood pooling on a Beis Medrash floor!!!!
Those of you who choose this moment and this forum to question the Achdus of Klall Yisroel and to spark rifts amongst Yidden should count yourselves among the purpotrators of this tragedy!!!
You are holding Moshiach back, and are prolonging the Ikvisah D’Mashicha!! And you are guilty.
All those making snap judgements about who or who wasn’t at the levaya are the ones who are truly divisive. These pictures are obviously taken front and center. Mekaz HaRav is the main yeshiva of the Dati LeUmi. Do you expect all the charedim to push their way to get in front? I’ve just gone through close to 200 AP photos of the levayos and it’s plain to see there were hundreds of black-hatters there. I heard the Belzer Rebbe was there as well. So please stop creating more rifts in Klal Yisrael. I don’t think it’s what is needed at a time like this.
To PlainSimpleJew and Rachel S.#30: First, i would like to know if you checked you assumptions out or are you just making comments based on the pictures? When you made your comments, did you know that the Belzer Rebbe went to the Har Hamenuchos to the levaya? If not, before you cause plain Sinas Chinam, why didn’t you check it out first? And even if you are correct, is this the place and time to stir Sinas Chinam? Mashiach can’t come with the comments that you posting.
Eliezer,
bottom line, this issue cannot be ignored. YOU are choosing to ignore this. WAKE UP. the Bais Hamiksash was destroyed b/c Jews were divided, and they still are today ESPECIALLY in E’Y. so dont turn a blind eye, and dont give excuses, my heart is very broken and how dear you say that i did not weep, you bet I did, and I know the family of one of the Kedoshim from Shiloh so this is hitting close to home!!
It is heartwarming to hear of the unifying words and tears and tefilos of gedolim and great rabbonim in the privacy of their homes & shuls. But as a black hatter, I too feel compelled to voice my agreement with PLAIN SIMPLE JEW that Yerushalayim needed to turn into a virtual “sea of black” at the levaya. What an opportunity for Achdus! To show “Imo Anochi B’tzara”! To fulfill the Mitzva and pay last respects for Kdoshim V’tehorim who died over their gemoros!!! Should not a Kol Koreh signed by the Gedolei E.Y. been issued to make this happen? The Tefila of “V’lo Lidei Nisayon” applies to the Mitzva of Emunas Chachomim as well. So if this sentiment is in any way not “daas Torah”, I humbly and tearfully beg the Roshei Yeshiva and Gedolei Yisroel to explain to us why.
Maybe I can act as mediator of this forum:
I am sure we are all crying. I know many people a of all Yiddish denominations that cried.
All of our bothers no matter what the title (mizrachi chasidish litvish and sfardish misnagdish)cried.
Yes we all cried. However I think the point that Plain simple Jew makes is valid.
Even if you cried, even if you davened, even if you learned more Torah l’eilu nishmas the kedoshim HYD. what PlainSimpleJew cannot understand is: If you were in Yerushalyim, why did you not go to the levayeyeh?
Why are we so splintered as a group of Yidden? IMHO There is nothing wrong in him asking this question NOW.
While we cry maybe we should cry that we should work on our Ahavas Yisrael.
Atuh Eh’chod Vshim’chu Echod Umi Ke’Amcha Yisrael Goi ECHOD.
Rabbosai WE ARE ONE!!!!!
I heard this news first on the radio. Sure I wondered which yeshiva. Because, naturally a persons mind jumps to those he knows. But my heart tore FIRST. Same with the reaction to the car accident R”L this morning in Eretz Yisrael.
Please do not bring up sinas chinam here. Al tiftach peh l’soton.
OF COURSE there were yidden of all stripes at this levaya. And last night thousands said tehillim all around the world for Jews. All Jews. Millions of Yiddishe tears have been shed. Tears have no labels.
Isn’t it obvious that relatives, friends, and the communities closest in life to the eight innocent kedoshim would be most VISIBLE at the CENTER of their levaya? There would be something terribly wrong if they were not. Who should be standing right outside of their own yeshiva, if not the talmidim and rebbeim pouring out of that yeshiva? Most of them probably were there all night.
Please do not use tzaros to push an agenda. The soton does not need your help.
כ”ק אדמו”ר מבעלז ג”כ הגיע להלויה ביחד עם הרבה חסידים, יה”ר שלא ישמע עוד שוד ושבר בגבולינו
#3
I live in chevron, as a lubavitcher “settler” of 5 years I went to the levaya as a yid mourning jewish blood that flowed like water.
I sent text messeges to everyone at 7am about the levaya, many texted showed up and 5 of which are lubavitch.
We stood in the scorching sun for 2 hours.. we cried.. who didnt cry as 8 jewish families staggerd by with 8 jewish body’s!!!
I can assure you that the malachim were crying with us..
There were many chasidim, litvish and mizrachi yeshiva jews there..
As the masa levaya moved down to hertzel blvd.. I saw hundreds of chasidim walking.. as we walked down binyanei hauma.. I saw 20 cars filled with chasidim and 1 car with tinted windows and a siren on top, I asked a chasid “velche rebbe iz da ?” and he told me belzer rebbe..
There was AT LEAST 10,000 people at the levaya…maybe 20,000
I did not know hakadosh niryeh cohen.. but his uncle lives in chevron and I went with him to har hazeitim.
At the kevura stood eli yishai of shas.. deep in me I wanted to scream “ad masai?!?!? when are you going to leave this government?!?!?”
But it was not my levaya and I had no business making a storm.
#12 deepthinker,
8 holy yidden were butcherd in cold blood, a mikdash meat was desecrated by a goy yemach shemo.. the shechina was attacked..
And you tell us that it has to do with zionism?!?!?
Have you no kavod for the kedoshim?!?!?
I stood by hakadosh niryeh cohen h’yd kever and watched his family shed tears as the chazan recited kel maleh rachamim..
I shed tears as the father said kadish for his 15 year old’s heilige neshama.. and you had to throw zionism in?!?!?!
I didn’t read all the comments… but what’s this about black hats being there or not? My husband was there, beard, peyos, kollel, black hat. Our boys were killed while sitting and learning in their yeshiva, why would you even accuse someone of not coming to the levaya because of the color of the kippah???
R’ Ezrachi, one of the RY of Mir, was standing right near my husband. There were LOADS of chareidim… rather, loads of EVERYONE – it was packed.
WHy aren’t they in the pictures? Simple, the photos always target those closest to the front and the heart of the gathering. In this case, that’s the other talmidim of the yeshiva as well as the brothers/fathers/etc of the murdered.
If the Belzer Rebbe was there – note that his oldest grandchild (and he only has one son) was in middle of his bar mitzva festivities this week, with thousnads of chasidim here to join in. And he left it all to be at the levaya!
My husband sits and learns all morning/early afternoon Friday, yet he left home after davening and before breakfast to be there.
Please, before you slander klal yisroel, or any segment of it, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME LIKE THIS – think 3,000 times and then once more.
Photos do not tell the whole story. Ahavas Yisroel does.
Yea this discussion is an busha.
Ofcourse black hats were there.
The Belzer Rebbe shlita didn’t just show up with is gabbai.
The busha is that someone could make such a conclusion based on a picture and then WE give actually take such stupidity seriously.
Baruch Dayan Emes,
I have wiped away many tears….
I have not read all of the comments, but I ask all those who read this to PLEASE take this to heart…
We are in a time of “Yonasi B’chagvey Ha’sela” Klal Yisroel is the dove referred to in Shir HaShirim—-like Bnei Yisroel who was trapped between the Yam Suf in front, and a charging Egyptian army from behind—-they had no where to turn–BUT to HKB”H—they raised their voices in deep TEFILLAH…..to Avinu She’bashamyim
Shir Hashirim goes on to say—(Hashem says to His beloved dove)—“Hashmi’eeni es kolaych ki kolaych orayv u’maraych noveh” Klal yisroel–your voice is beautiful to Hashem…
We must storm the heavens with unrelenting tefillos and bakoshos to end this bitter galus…we must truly believe our tefillos will make a difference because they will-Hashem only wants to hear our voices…let us cry out…
and may we be zoche to the geulah b’karov–where all tears will be wiped away, and Kiddush Hashem will prevail…
May the families of these kedoshim be comforted b’soch she’ar aveilei tzion v’yerushalayim
from hyde park:
The Belzer rebbe shlita closed himself in his room when he heard the news ,ahe also was at the levayaaבלעדי: מי הודיע לרבי מבעלזא על הטבחfro
מיד עם קבלת הבשורה המרה הפסיק האדמו”ר את קבלת הקהל, והסתגר בחדרו לשעתיים תמימות. היום, ראש חודש אדר, לא יצא האדמו”ר לתפילת שחרית בבית המדרש, ושינויים רבים נרשמו בסדר יומו. מאוחר יותר השתתף בלוויה
i have pictures of the rebbe leaving Mercaz Harav Kook after a sheva brachot held in the yeshiva.
the terrible umglick affects all yidden. PERIOD.
16 yr old Yonathan Yitzcaq alder was buried with his bloody meshect nedarim.
26 yr old dorn, who learnt 9 NINE years in the yeshiva, did some of the rabbanut tests, and also served in the Mercaz Hesder program, was a talmid chochom marbit torah and ethiopian.
Rabbi Dodan, who shot he rotzeach has some seforim in addition to the pistl under his belt.
anyone wanting to learn torah is welcome in mercaz. the rotzeach wore a kipa, was he going to be kept out?
and no he didnt work for the yeshiva.
to those who write before they think:
R’Kook Z”tls motto was that ahavas chinom is doceh sinat chinom
chodesh & purim sameac
mercaz@mercaz,org
im told rav ezrachi & rav shmuel auerbach were also at the the levaya.
also,keep in mind the levaya was split up into 8 different routes.
I am a Yungerman learning in EY. Everyone I know was totally shocked and broken up about the shootings, but almost nobody I know went to the levaya.
I would venture to say that if chas v’sholom there had been a shooting in a random yeshiva in B’nei B’rak the oilam also would not have gone. Even if it had been some unheard of Chareidi Yeshiva in Yerushalayim, I do not believe that they would have went. So why should Mercaz be any different. Is this an answer? No.
But my point is a simple one. This has nothing to do with Kipa Serugas or Black Hats.
P.S. I went to the Levaya.
To # 3, 9 & 17: You are no PlainSimpleJews, only PlainJewHaters. You are sickos, dripping with venom against the “black-hatters” community – a term that was invented by other old and rusty sonei hatorah like yourselves. In reality, most yeshivish and chasidishe people have the greatest amount of caring for any single jew of ANY stripe, from ANY background. This fact is very well known, even amongst the most left-leaning fringe yidden.
What an insane thing it is to compare R. Aron Kotler zt”l’s levaya, a Torah giant who was “machzir atoroh l’yoshnoh”, to this horrifically tragic slaughter of 8 yekirim, roses that HKB”H took back to himself, to our terrible dismay. You are just so contorted in your hate for anything from the torah world! BTW – it is only the likes of you who make it sound like these kedoshim were NOT part of the olam of amailim b’torah. In fact, in the halls of Mir, Brisk and all other more “black-hat” yeshivos there were “b’chiyos noroos”. Those talmidim could not be stopped from hours of weeping and tearing themselves apart upon hearing this terrible tragedy.
As for attendance at the levaya – my son who was there (who learns in Brisk) told me that it seemed that there were more yeshivishe and chasidishe (& yerushalmyim) than “kipot serugot”. And that there PREVAILED AN ATMOSPHERE OF UNSTOPPABLE ACHDUS BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS. Many of the yeshivishe boys made contact with Mercaz boys, and promised to keep in touch and keep up the friendships.
As of now, it seems that the only Torah luminary to have visited the cholim r”l was the Belzer Rebbe shlit’a.
At a time like this of unbearable pain, who needs your old, rusty jabs of sinas chinom!
leave there work and some leave there wife and children olso. to go to the “Bar Mitzva” or “Yomim Tovem” by this Rabbi. are They crazy? does he care about you? But if you look into it you see. How much he does for his chasidem. and for EVERY JEW. The Tzedaka he gives. how he admiers TORAH. how he cares and he is involved in every ones hard situation. HIS ACTION IS DIFERENT THEN HIS PICTURE. I wish to be a part of this chasidus