Profound chilul Hashem might best describe the actions of about 20 hoodlums who forced their way into the Kiryat Gat home of HaGaon HaRav Moshe Havlin Shlita and began trashing the home and shouting against the rav and his rebitzen.

Rabbi Havlin, 68, has been serving as Chief Rabbi of Kiryat Gat for decades as well as Rosh Yeshivas Chabad in the city.

On Wednesday evening 4 Elul, the group of 20-25 males entered the rav’s home and began acting disorderly, throwing pashkavilim and accusing him of making money on each Chabadnik that enter the IDF. The group was protesting the recent agreement signed between Chabad rabbonim and the IDF pertaining to military service.

In a report on Kol Chai Radio, the hoodlums were described as “dressed as Satmar and Eida members”, while Rabbi Havlin added in an interview with Kol Chai “some were dressed litvish, wearing short suit jacket.

Rabbi Havlin adds police were exemplary, remaining with him and his wife the entire night and adding and “taking the attack most seriously”.

The rav stated if there is machlokes, there are ways to address the disagreement and this is never accomplished via the internet or by using violence, but in an appropriate closed private forum. He lamented the magnitude of the chilul Hashem as the tranquility of his community was disturbed and a police response was demanded. At least three intruders were taken into custody. Rabbi Havlin praised police, adding they remained with him and the rebitzen throughout the night. When asked how the rebitzen was dealing with the attack, Rabbi Havlin explains she is slowly getting back to herself but it was a difficult.

The rabbi added there are hoodlums in every camp and such people are simply looking for action and confrontation and will join any fight no matter how unrelated it is to them. Rabbi Havlin explained he lives in a primarily non-religious community and neighbors were shocked and horrified when they saw how the religious-appearing thugs were acting.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)