Ukraine – A small group of men with backgrounds in the military and martial arts skills have formed a militia to battle anti-Semitism in Ukraine.
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Tthe eight men in the rapid intervention force are Israeli or Ukrainian former military members or have advanced martial arts skills.
In an interview with JTA (http://bit.ly/1otUJvJ) Tzvi Arieli, the group’s founder, said he formed the group at the behest of Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Yaakov Dov Bleich.
Anti-Semitic attacks have been on the rise in the Ukraine since the start of the revolution in November. Arieli states anti-Semitic attacks used to be rare in Ukraine, however, four Orthodox Jews in the area have been the targets of physical attacks and there were two efforts to burn down synagogues.
At the behest of the Chief Rabbi??? Finally, someone with beitzim. I hope that the chareidis don’t do their usual shtick and spit on the volunteers as they do on the chayalim in Meah Sha’arim.
Confusing. A few weeks ago this same rabbi said everything was fine, despite Russian invasion of Crimea and russian thug activity in East Ukrania.
You would think this was an effective solution. Bloody the lip of the villain. But really, we are just going to become another victim in a hate festival of hate’s unrest. It might be good of course to draw attention to a criminal experience of the anti-Semitic voices. But still, the day that Jews start breaking the law to bring about change is the day that Israel will indeed be vilified by others in some capacity and they might be heard by the voices that do in fact ask for human suffering to be silenced. And to see them wearing masks is quite annoying treacherous. Its a bad situation. Best we can do is continue to atone for our own worst sins and then ideally either move to a more law abiding place or just keep our hands on the future in our own esteem. But if they attack first, public defense is always a prerogative.
Never Again.
Ye 8 guys with “martial arts” training is hardly some paramilitary force in dire need to protect Jews in Kiev. Sensational article that tries to glorify some Shomrim wannabes. And that stock photo is not these Zohan Jews.
Good idea. Sounds like they have some recruiting to do.
Ukrainians voluntarily formed SS divisions,Trawnikis all Ukrainians helped the SS in Treblinka, Belzec , sobibor in the murder of Jews, numerous Ukrainians with war criminal records have been deported from the U.S. Why are jews now in the Ukraine ???>
My understanding is that there are 150,000 Jews still in the Ukraine. There are Jews in the Ukraine, just like there are Jews in Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia… We have the right to self defense whenever the host country doesn’t protect us properly.