Religious tensions are running high in Beit Shemesh, as chareidim and the dati leumi and secular community are at odds. Tensions were renewed recently when a chareidi youth hurled a rock at a woman because she believed she was not modestly dressed. The woman was hospitalized as a result with non-life-threatening injuries.

This led to secular and dati leumi residents of the city uniting, protesting over the attack.

Anti-religious elements in the city on Lag B’Omer disturbed the bonfire of chareidim and injured HaGaon HaRav Natan Kupshitz. His talmidim report rocks were thrown at the rav as well as a number of other mispallalim in the Beit Knesset.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)