Rebitzen Berland on Erev Shabbos was permitted by authorities in Johannesburg to bring Shabbos food to Rabbi Eliezer Berland. Chassidim tried to bring Rabbi Berland food during the week, albeit without success as authorities would not give the green light. However, when his wife arrived with homemade food the green was given, permitting the rav to enjoy his rebitzen’s food on Shabbos, albeit in jail.
Back in Israel, police representatives have met with members of the Shuvu Banim kehilla in the hope of getting a handle on what to expect when the rav is extradited and arrives back in Israel to face charges of assaulting women. Police are trying to prevent rioting or illegal activities by followers of the rav.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
I challenge the Rav to make a statement instructing his followers to behave themselves. Anything short of this means he approves of their actions.
Why would this Rav’s followers “riot” if he is brought home to confront his accusers and have hid day in court? One would assume they would prefer to see this circus ended where he is constantly running from country to country like some scared animal fleeing from a predator. At least in EY, he will get representation from top lawyers and his rebbetzen won’t have any problems delivering her chulent to his jailcell l’chovod Shabbos.
Send him back to Israel to face the court. This is one gigantic chilul hashem.
He may or may not be guilty of the accusations. But I would think that any baal seichel would know that he would have done better never to have run and to have hired a good team of lawyers if he felt he was defensible. All this self-aggrandizing talk of holy sparks to bring the moshiach and the tefillin in court circus – modna would be an understatement, something stinks is probably more on the right track. At this point shouldn’t all those who have harbored him and facilitated his numerous clandestine escapes ALL be hauled in as co-conspirators and obstructionists of justice? Anyone?