The Rav of Israel Police, Rav Rami Birchiyahu, on Wednesday addressed a letter to the Rabbanim of kehillos throughout Israel in the shadow of the recent terror attacks, saying that shuls and religious neighborhoods are prime terror targets and called for weapons to be carried in shuls, especially during Shabbos tefillos.
“In the wake of the severe terrorist incident in the Neve Yaakov neighborhood in Jerusalem…during which seven people were killed, we are learning that the religous neighborhoods and shuls can serve as a prime operational area for terrorist acts, with the [Neve Yaakov] incident following the terror attacks in Bnei Brak and Elad last year,” Rav Birchiyahu wrote.
“Following consultation with the Gedolei HaDor and on the recommendation of professional sources in the police, I appeal to Rabbanim in Israel to instruct their kehillos that anyone who has a gun license should carry the gun with him on Shabbos, especially in shul during the tefillos.”
“Also, every shul should have a kosher phone from which it’s possible to call the police if chalilah an emergency incident occurs. Of course, in any incident in which there is a possibility of pikuach nefesh, the police should be called at 100 even on Shabbos.”
Superintendent Sigal Bar-Tzvi, head of Israel Police’s Operations Department, said last week that following the attack in Neve Yaakov, the police deployed extra forces in Chareidi areas since they are targets for terrorism.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
“Shuls are breeding grounds for terror”?! No, he did NOT say that! What the actual bleep were you thinking, YWN? How could you possibly write such a stupid and horrible headline?!
What he said was כר נרחב, which the Academia defines as שְׂדֵה פעולה רחב, a broad operational area. Not anything even remotely close to a breeding ground!!!
I’m guessing whoever did the translation doesn’t know what “breeding ground” means
“Also, every shul should have a kosher phone from which it’s possible to call the police”
But, only if it’s a kosher phone. 🤔
Otherwise, well….
The government must supply guns to the jewish private citizens in Israel what are they waiting for, each shul should have at least a half a dozen members that are professionally armed at all times
Shuls are NOT “Breeding Grounds For Terror”.
They are TARGETS OF terror.
There is a VERY BIG difference between the two!
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Shuls are NOT “breeding grounds for terror”.
Mosques are “breeding grounds for terror”.
“Breeding grounds” is definitely not the right translation.
let our souls be breeding grounds for Torah, this note above I am sure means this and that we should be prepared….Hashem confirms I am sure
The article is talking as if it’s a new issue that the Jewish communities are possible targets for terror.
If u don’t talk in shul, it is the safest place