It was not a peaceful shabbos for some avreichim in Elad as what is being described as “a hot headed wayward male” attacked avreichim both verbally and physically during davening. The attacker, who is known to police and the local tzibur tore a sleeve of the gabbai’s garment as he tried to restore order in shul. Mispallalim who came to the assistance of the gabbai were next in line, targeted by the wayward youth in their assault. At least one avreich reports his eyeglasses were broken while another’s beard was partially ripped out. The attack occurred in the Lelov Beis Medrash located on Yonasan Ben Uziel Street during seudas shlishis.

The physical violence was accompanied by rock-throwing at mispallalim. The mispallalim phoned police after shabbos and the suspect was taken into custody while still in the beis medrash.

Deputy Elad Mayor Rav Yisrael Porush explains that he established a branch of the Shomrim in the community to address issues such as these “but due to an agenda”, a number of people in the city torpedoed the organization’s efforts to assist and a number of weeks ago local police shut them down.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)