The controversy surrounding the fight to save Beit Knesset Ayelet HaShachar is fragmenting the tzibur as there is growing opposition to audible threats from mispallalim including gabbaim of the shul, who vow to blow themselves up if bulldozers attempt to move in and destroy the building. These same people have placed cooking gas cylinders in and around the shul, and have tires ready to be set afire. This and similar actions have led opponents to explain mispallalim are turning the battle to save the shul “into a political battle”.

The opponents add such actions are keeping many away from the battle including chareidim, who do not wish to be viewed as approving of such actions, threatening to take their own lives to stop the demolition. They feel the actions of the extremists are inappropriate and contrary to halacha.

On Tuesday 28 Cheshvan many youths manned the shul ahead of the imminent demolition. On Tuesday evening they protested outside the home of Shas leader Aryeh Deri, in the Har Nof section of Yerushalayim. Many have come out in support of Deri on Wednesday morning, explaining Deri is powerless and if one wishes to protest, those efforts should be directed at the defense minister and prime minister.

Speaking with Kol Chai Radio on Wednesday morning Baruch Marzel acknowledged that many of the youths who were seen outside Deri’s home on Tuesday evening were campaigning with him and Eli Yishai against Shas during the national elections on behalf of the Yachad party. This adds credibility to accusations the battle has turned political. Marzel admitted the protest against Deri was not a wise move and everyone should be at the shul, nowhere else.

He added that the exact same demolition order from a court has been issued against many illegal mosques around Israel, yet mosques are not razed as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu explains the ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) feels carrying out these demolition orders would result in widespread violence. “However when it comes to a shul, they are unwilling to make the same declaration. The court ordered the demolition davka because it is a shul and there can be no doubt this would not be the case regarding a mosque or another house of worship” concluded Marzel.

Among those who visited the shul recently is Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and on Tuesday evening, the Karliner Rebbe Shlita, who along with chassidim davened maariv at the shul.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)