Edison, NJ – A massive rally by Israeli rabbis that was planned in the United States to protest the draft of Chareidim in Israel has been canceled, just eight days before it was to be held.
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While the logistical difficulties that had been plaguing the planned protest had apparently been resolved, sources told VIN News that it was the refusal of both the Belzer Rebbe and Agudath Israel of America that caused the cancellation of the event.
As previously reported on VIN News, the rally was intended as a show of solidarity for those opposed to drafting Chareidim into the Israel army and was to feature an unprecedented number of Chasidic rabbonim, including the Gerrer, Viznitzer, Sanzer, Sadigerer and Boyaner Rebbes.
The Belzer Rebbe had reportedly pledged to attend the event as a show of support for the Gerrer Rebbe, a driving force behind the rally, but once the Belzer Rebbe elected not to take part in the protest the Gerrer Rebbe told his advisers that he had also decided not to attend the protest.
VIN News has learned that organizers had already been granted a permit for the event, which was to have taken place at a large facility in Edison, New Jersey. Organizers were expecting as many as 50,000 people to take part in the rally.
Rav Aaron Leib Shteinman was one of those who was not supportive of the rally effort and according to one source, rabbonim at Agudath Israel of America in New York, had numerous doubts about the usefulness of the protest, suggesting that while they are concerned about Chareidim being drafted into military service, holding a rally at this time would fail to accomplish anything concrete.
Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, had voiced his concerns about the effectiveness of holding a rally in America to protest Israeli policy, in a VIN News interview last week.
“This will certainly be a subject of discussion, but I don’t see that a rally here will influence the key members of the Knesset,” Hoenlein told VIN News.
Hoenlein also expressed doubts about how this kind of protest might play it out in the American media.
“If they think the press here is going to be sympathetic, I don’t think so,” said Hoenlein. “They will more likely say that they are shirking their responsibilities.”
Bad news for our brothers in Israel
Hashem convinced them not to go ahead with this MASSIVE CHILUL HASHEM!
Bunch of losers, the only way to be successful with a rally in the united states is to include the 2 Satmer Rebbes
Totally unnecessary & a mega Chilul Hashem!
So what is the reason for the Rebbe’s coming to the US if they cancel this event?
Why did they come here? For what?
Good to see that the organizers came to their senses about this being a very bad idea. In the end this rally was bound to become a huge Chillul HaShem as it effectively amounted to Jews rebelling against the Jewish State to the Goyim. It was all about Mesirah! It was best left stillborn. Good riddance!
היות והמעמד הזה לא היה לשם שמים ממילא זה לא יתקיים ככתיב במשנה באבות רבי יוחנן הסנדלר אומר: כל כנסיה שהיא לשם שמים, סופה להתקיים. ושאינה לשם שמים, אין סופה להתקיים.
The only easy to avoid the draft is for all chareidy MKs to get out of the knnesset and at the elections all non religious parties will court for the chareidy massive electorate.
This system used to work well in NY.
The Belzer Rebbi didn’t give any reason for his decition not to attend?
Maybe they realized the half million dollars would be better spent feeding the starving children in Israel whose parents refuse to work?
While I’m not Chasidish (We daven at Young Israel), I’m continuously impressed by the Belzer Rebbe for staying away from “sichsuchim” especially when it pits Jew against Jew. I’ve noticed this time and time again. To me the Rebbe epitomizes what a Chasidic Rebbe should be fully concerned about the klal.
To all those yelling “chillul hashem” protesting against forced induction in a semi Hellenisitic army where they force frum soldiers to listen to women sing is Not a “chillul Hashem” .
What is a CH, well today The Yesh Atid Health minster ordered ALL abortions must be coverd by the taxpayer.
Last week Gay rights benifits was aprroved.
Last month full funding for the Reform movement was approved.
Having a so called “Religous Zionist” party be a part of this goverment, now THATS a Chillul Hashem
What right do 50,000 Chareidim in the U.S. that enjoy the benefit of traveling to Israel at their leisure, but do not contribute or sacrifice themselves in any way for its security, have to protest against government security policies?
One has to question the judgement of anyone who ever thought this was a good idea.
The Belzer Rebbe is not coming because his Gabbai told him not to come as he saw by yesterday’s meeting who are the organizers here , they did not have in mind the draft only which Rabbonim will be sitting in front and middle of the Dias
The belzer knows how to play the cards well…
After satmar made it clear that they are not attending, he declares that he is not coming…
The belzer might be smart, but we ain’t stupid…
We need not support our brothers with ralleys. We can send money. Kesef, zahav, masay y’day oodom.
A well-deserved busha for all involved, though happily not as big a busha as if they had gone ahead with it. Instead of expending energy and resources on useless PR events, the so-called leaders should instead busy themselves with figuring out how to get their people off the kollel bench and into the responsible lives that the torah demands of them – including providing for their own families and for taking part in defense of the dangerous place they’ve chosen to live.
Baruch Hashem!!!
There is a difference of opinion why charedim should not be drafted:
1)The general charedi population with its gedolim, 2) Satmar with the Eida Hachareidis.
General Charedim claim its Bitul Torah to join the IDF.These same Charedim are taking all kind of funds in the millions from the Zionist state to support their institution but in the same time refuse to participate in the IDF protecting THEIR homeland.
Satmar and the Eida Hachareidis do not take any funds from the Zionist state does not recognize it as a Jewish state believing the Torah does not allow for Jews to have a homeland before the coming of Moshiach refuse to join the army not becuase the silly answer “Bitul Torah” but because a frum Jew does not belong in the IDF which is known to have the lowest standards of modesty regardless of what Lipman and hater of Jews Lapid claims
If the chassidim in Eretz Yisroel would vote, they would have a lot more clout with the Israeli government then thousands of American Jews rallying in New Jersey.
why should we care about israeli kids getting killed in an ambush? so long as it’s not my son or daughter…..i hope u get the sarcasm
So disappointing. I mean who wouldn’t be excited to fly 5,600 miles from Israel to JFK to sit in a warehouse off the NJ Turnpike. So sad!
Luke.
b’h its cancelled as the general opinion here in the usa was that it would cause a major chillul hashem being jews were demonstrating against israel and the media not understanding/getting the issues
besides the usa aguda moetzes always kept itself apart from the israeli agudah as a separate entity and wasnt too thrilled with the proposed demonstration
the novominsker rebbe who heads the US agudah as well as shloyma werdyger who is chairman of the board were working the phones every day trying to get the visit/demonstration called off evidently his efforts were successful
the bill for this asifa was estimated at 2 million dollars, money that could be better spent elsewhere perhaps going towards easing the plight of the yungerleit starving in israel when playing it out and seeing that the results werent 100% positive given and the chillul hashem factor and the cost and the aguda not for it called the asifa off
it doesnt minimize the issue its still a major issue in israel but the answer wasnt to protest here in the usa
may hashem help us all
B”H, saner heads prevailed and a massive Chillul Hashem averted.
The internet asifa should have gone this way too! Useless waste of time!
good idea it everybody.media, comedians (daily show) antisemitic people would of had a field day.\
Look at these ungrateful people not even willing to fight for a Jewish state would day even bother to do anything for any other country they live in, NO
The Gerer and Belz chassisdus have shown themselves to be both politically tone deaf and organizationaly inept. How could they have allowed this meshugaas to go so far and drag down the reputations of their rebbes who had previously been held in high esteem.
“You cant have the cake and eat it too…”
You just cant take millions every year and take part in the general elections, and refuse to serve in the military…
If you take you gotta give…
The agidah rabunim should first stop every connection with the zionist government and then bash their laws; like satmar does…
in hilchos Shabbos and in yora daia says muter shyachalel olov Shabbos achad , cday shyishmoro Shabbos’s harba , if their is a sufek that going in to the army even only one person will become a mchalel Shabbos , klal yisruel will have to pay all the money to save him not to join the army , so the agudah should stop being hypocrites and stop taking money from this government so they wont be able to draft and it wouldn’t be a need to protest. #2 the government knows and we all know when the agudah was established it was to fight for the Torah , now we didn’t hear machoah about the gay low and abortion ASO so we all know this is not the agudah its power and money . for real if we wouldn’t be in the government and would not take he money , they wouldn’t have the chutzpah to ask us to join the army , and they would they wouldn’t be able to fight the whole klal yisruel , but now they also know its about money and power so why protest ???? we have more then enough money to support the Torah ….
and this is for the bashers . to all of you commenters , by the chorben of the bais hamikdosh their ware also rashuim who claimed that the right thing is to fight and to be part of the army , and we all know and cry for this for 2000 years , the same is here , how can you think that any good can come out of this land when we all know and see that this government is based on akiras htorah ? they have money for abortion and all of the znus and trife chazer, chilul Shabbos , who is the captain ? people who don’t believe in the torah ,dont believe in H’ can you say hacoras hatov ? can you support them ? chas vasholom if another chorben of Israel will come who will say yudainu lo shofcho as hadom haze ? the founders said rak bdam teheye as hoarets ” can you be part of it ? we need to act like pinchos and elyaho to be moche . please do tshovah ..
The meeting would have been better if it took place in Israel even better at the Kotel (Koisel) they would have shown great Kavod to HaShem. Can you imagine such a historic meeting of all the Admorim in Israel being Mitpalell together. That I would have gone to see ad partake in even though I am not Chasidi. We need to send a message to HaShem not to the secular government.
I once davened Mincha at the tachane hamerkazit in Yerushalayim, and a group of Nachal Chareidi soldiers were there davening to. The all had beards and peyos. It was a zechus to daven with them. The all had beards and peyos, they were in great shape, they all were serious, confident and had a deep sense of purpose. They davened with great Kavanah. The tefilla was beautiful. I walked out with tremendous pride. Mi K’amcha Israel!
to #67 , stop using my name ESPECIALLY when you speak shtusim (or shtuyot).
What do you know about “kavanah”? Davening 3 timed a day with minyan and a 10 minute shtiller shmoyneh esray is not a proof of “kavanah”!!
What impresses me about someone’s davening is if they take it seriously and show that they really believe that they are talking to the RBS”O. I have seen members of the IDF show they are serious in there Tefilla and I admire them greatly for that. Halevai that we follow their example in that.
There are jews who disagreed with the creation of the state,do not partipicate in elections or take any benefits,and do not wanted to be part in the conflict of the arabs. Can anybody force them to fight for this nosense redemptiom who costs ready tens of thousands of jews and much more invalides,widows and orphans. All this,without asking permission from a real sanhedrin. And after all you dont see an end to it,but the entire arab world waiting for the destruction of the state,hisbollah from the north,hamas in the south shooting on daily basis. A third intifada waiting to explose inside,with the collapse of the peacetalks. Who knows to witch churban the zionist so called redemption will lead us. Do you still admire and defend this movement who made all efforts to undermine the savings of millions of jews,please read ‘perfidy’. Are you happy the way they ruined the emmuna from millions of poor and broken oylim,still today when lev leviov wanted to pay them a fortune,the should let learn with children in all public schools,that religious jews believe that H’ created the universe six day’s,and the seveth he rested,the goverment refused,because they understand the danger, even they live like freiers. And you make mockery from the people who fears from the influence of the army. Does the state need this frum people there or at work? The state is scad from a religious majority,especially after they issued the new law to fund everykind of abortion,by 5m$ a year. The army is the right place to indoctrinate them in the modern society. Are we not entiteld to worry for our frum generations at least like the govement takes precautions how to hide the existence of H’ from millions of poor innocent jewish children? Is this not a SPIRITUAL HOLOCAUST!