Hundreds of protesters gathered on Wednesday in Bnei Brak in protest against cell phone stores that are operating without being under the auspices of the Va’ad Harabbonim.
A group of Admorim and other Rabbonim spoke at the protest. The majority of the rabbonim sat on a mirpeset (porch) on Rabbi Akiva Street above a cell phone store called Didi Phone. One of the Admorim asked that people do not create a mass protest out of this, and he spoke from his own car.
Police arrived en masse having estimated that 10,000 people would participate in the protest. In the end, only a few hundred arrived in support of the protest.
BeChadrei Charedim reported that over the course of the afternoon, one of the Admorim sent messages via private channels to various community influencers asking them to announce the time and place of the protest and requested that Avreichim in Kollels and Yeshiva students stop studying in order to attend the protest.
During the protest, collections were taken in order to pay for the campaign against the stores. One of the Gabbaim organizing the event carried a large mug and walked among the protesters asking for donations.
The police were on high alert due to the protest and dispatched an entire platoon of Border Police officers who stood around the store in an effort to protect it. Young men attacked the store and succeeded in smashing its windows and damaging merchandise.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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16 Responses
what a “Kiddush Hashem” NOT! people have nothing better to do in middle of the day. This is what the “kollel” guys are getting paid for.
I have trouble understanding the issue?
Were they forcing people to accept these terrible phones?
Are people not aware that there are cellphones stores all over Israel?
How dare they break the glass windows of this shop?
I am always very careful not to say the wrong thing with charity, never to hurt or misjudge. I did limit charity to an organization when they ransacked a neighboring Shul and yeshiva dorm.
Haporetz geder yishchenu Nachash
If BCC is correct, there should be a machaa and public fast that an Admor arrange a massive bitul Torah for the purpose of what? If I was allowed to fast, I would
What a chllul Hashem. I would think that in Bnei Brak if the word went out throughout the community to boycott the store that would be more effective than the protest.
with lapid and bennet calling the shots, each act of violence will result in another cut to items hareidim depend on to survive. in due time this will become very clear and hagfanot will be an expensive way to protest.
requested that Avreichim in Kollels and Yeshiva students stop studying in order to attend the protest. Outrageous ביטול תורה. Repugnant & unacceptable to be wasting their time at this protest blocking streets.
Poretz geder yishachenu Nachash
Indeed. These hooligans who break fences, windows, and whatever else is in their way, vandalizing private property, are violating that pasuk.
I’m reasonably sure that if mizrachi rabbis ordered their students to stop learning and protest gush katif or some other unwanted political issue which “undermines” the “jewish nations” political interests, nary a soul would mention bitul torah.
There is reason to believe that while many would not venture out of the community to buy non-kosher phones, if the resources are available in the community, then they will.
It goes without saying that destroying property is egregious, but what does that have to do with the stated purpose of the protest and the validity thereof? If a protest against the UN sanctioning Israel turns violent, would these people then condemn the position of those who wish to protest?
ignorant savages
The idiots who engage in these daily protests against whatever “gevalt issue” the bigger idiots at the top who call for these protests should all be rounded up and allowed to protest one another in an isolated prison complex somewhere in the Negev. If the want to be left alone, they have to be made to realize that the vast majority of Israelis also want to be left alone and allowed to live their lives without others telling them what they can eat, what activities are allowed, what media they can consume and what products they can purchase. The new government will be inflicting a much higher level of pain on those who attempt to dictate their view to the majority.
“Sent messages via private channels” WhatsApp?
If anything is outrageous that is blatant disrespect of Gedoilim and Admorim by all these commentators!
The Chareidim are more extreme and disruptive in Israel. Why? My opinion is that it’s because they play no sports in their yeshivos, so the boys have no physical activities over there.
Are you guys serious when you call this protest a “Chillul Hashem and Bitul Torah”?
Are you really so naive when trying to persuade others that protesting something serious enough as selling nonkosher phones in heart of Bnei Brak, a city whos’ residents mostly are subject to daas Torah?
One thing is certain. The Bitul Torah that these treifa devices are going to cause and all other terrible consenquences resulting from the internet is way worse.
So please, if you are still far from refraining and letting go of the internet, don’t cover your guilt by blaming others, at least let them do their job by saving Beezras Hashem the coming generation. Of course, violence is not the way to behave and certainly not in favor of those Gedolei Hador. I’m convinced the ones performing those acts are no others than some mischievous strret youngsters.
And by the way, the new catchword of “Chillul Hashem” in anything that has to do with a Dovor Shebikdusha is merely Atzas Hayetzer and unrelated, in this case anyways. So please whoever is not familiar with Hilchos Chillul Hashem is welcome to learn it thoroughly.
So no to violence, yes to peaceful and meaningful protests!!!
@ShloimieB Are you absolutely crazy!!?? So if Gogoyim meshugaim start coming to bnei brak we should leave it, because there’s “so many all over Eretz Yisroel!?” Obviously you have to protest! This is only step one! They’ll start coming at you with more of their meshugaas!!! Do me a favor, stop favoriting the internet and stick to your learning, and not saying lashon hara about bachrim and kollel yungerlite is also a good idea!