Three talmidei yeshiva in Odessa were arrested in an anti-Semitic incident, the daily HaMevaser reports. The three were placed under arrested after getting off a train in Laviv. They were held in jail for two days, and following unrelenting efforts, they were released on Monday night 22 Adar 5773.

Askan R’ Hillel Cohen, who heads Hatzalah in the Ukraine was involved in obtaining the release of the talmidim, quoted in the report explaining the talmidim are in their 20s, and they learn in the yeshiva in Odessa headed by Rav Bakshet. They were invited by Cohen and others to join them for Shabbos along with visitors from New York marking the yahrzeit of R’ Elimelech from Lizhensk. This was going to take place near the tziyun of Rav Michal Zlotchov.

“On erev Shabbos, three brisos were held on older persons, including a friend of the three talmidim from Odessa. After a marvelous Shabbos the three were invited to join us in a visit to kivrei tzaddikim in Poland. They got off the train in Laviv to catch another train to Odessa. As they waited for that train, the police jumped them and leveled various accusations at them, placing them in custody. These are adeil boys and speak Russian, and it appears their dress and yarmulkes are most likely the reason for the occurrence.”

“They were confused and stunned over the arrest, and they managed to get word to us and we immediately began working to obtain their release” Cohen explains. Cohen adds that Rabbi Elimelech of Laviv was instrumental in obtaining their release as well.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)