No less than 11 talmidim in Yeshivas Aderet Eliyahu run by Rav Zilberman in Jerusalem’s Old City have been taken for questioning by police, some arrested and even distanced from the yeshiva. They claim police are cracking down because of a dispute with an Arab neighbor who is provocative and violent.

According to a Ladaat News report, two weeks ago, on a Tuesday, there was a dispute between a number of talmidim and Arab neighbors after he entered the yard used by the yeshiva and began to act violently towards the talmidim and Jewish youths present.

One of the bochrim is quoted explaining, “The Arab resident claims the noise from the boys was bothersome, and it got worse, and according to the neighbor, the yard belongs to him, not the yeshiva.”

They came escorted by two policemen and created a provocation using violence and when they [the Jews] responded, police got involved and arrested two bochrim, holding one in the Kishle station in the Old City overnight.

The story does not end here however, and according to him, the same bochur who was locked up by police, was only the first, as he explains police began bringing in bochrim and avreichim and on Tuesday, police planned to arraign some of them. According to the talmid who spoke to Ladaat, the three arrested on Monday night are being held.

It is also reported that during the past days, the Rosh Yeshiva became involved, and he met with the commander of the Merchav David (Kishle) station, but it does not appear the meeting yielded results.

Yeshivas Aderet Eliyahu exists for about 40 years and is known to be for serious talmidim who do not seek action and violence, and therefore, the story is astonishing, especially in light of the damage caused to the yeshiva’s furniture.

Police were contacted to respond, but no response was forthcoming by publication.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)