A group of Israeli bochrim affiliated with a known chassidus was expelled from the London chareidi community by member of the Shomrim. The young men were caught on surveillance cameras taking a “sizable sum” of tzedaka money from London shuls. After consulting with Shomrim’s rabbonim, the decision was made not to turn them over to police but to expel them, sending them home to Eretz Yisrael.

Shomrim officials spoke with the youths and the former assisted them in contacting assistance in Israel to pay back the stolen funds and to purchase tickets and to get out and not return. That was the ultimatum presented to them, one that they grabbed rather than explain their actions to local police.

Chadrei Chareidim adds that a resident of Stamford Hill added “Shomrim officials refuse to speak about the case with the media for the simple reason they do not want details of the deal leaking to local police, with whom they maintain excellent working relations. The rumors circulating in the community made their way to Eretz Yisrael where the media picked up on the story”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)