RSS Feed
Rurrenabaque, Bolivia - Police Raid Local Jewish Center, Some Israelis Under Arrest |
|
| |
News Source: Ynet By Kobi Nahshoni
Text Size
|
|
Rabbi Aharon Fraiman in front of his shul talking to police after it was shut down photo credit: Chabad.info
Rurrenabaque, Bolivia - Bolivian police forces raided a Chabad center [not listed as an official Chabad house at chabad.org] in the northeastern town of Rurrenabaque a number of times in recent days, ordered its closure and arrested a number of Israeli tourists who were staying there.
Rabbi Aharon Fraiman, who heads the center, told Ynet the police refused to give him a reason for the raid, but rumors throughout the town have linked the police activity to an assassination attempt on the Bolivian president last week. 
On Wednesday, after the center temporarily resumed activity, Fraiman, who was almost arrested himself, said this was nothing more than a local dispute: “An anti-Semitic restaurateur who thinks we are hurting his livelihood is doing everything to get us out of here,” the rabbi said.
On Thursday, however, the multiple arrests, closure of the center and the local media’s coverage of police activity in the area, led the rabbi to believe it was something more: “Apparently it’s not him, but something bigger. He doesn’t have this much power”.
“Rumors floating around say that it has something to do with an assassination attempt on the president,” the rabbi said. “But on the other hand, the media is reporting all kinds of other things, like that the Chabad center here is involved in dealing drugs and the like.
“Meanwhile, I hired a lawyer here to handle the case, but this is not a law-abiding state, and so far, no one has told us what the commotion is about. They also haven’t showed us any closure injunctions.”
The emissary told Ynet about one Israeli tourist who was arrested by the Bolivian immigration police, taken to the airport in handcuffs and deported from the country. He also said there were a few others still under arrest.
“I am working to have them released from custody, and am also trying to contact the Foreign Ministry or some kind of Israeli representative here. So far, I’ve had no success,” he said.
Rurrenabaque is one of the central tourist attractions for travelers in Bolivia, including many Israeli backpackers. The town is a center from which tourists leave for trips to the jungles and swamp areas in northern Bolivia.
More of today's headlines
“Los Angeles, CA - Since two local Iranian Jewish brothers were charged with a 176-count criminal complaint by the L.A. City Attorney’s Office in February for alleged...”
Los Angeles, CA - Iranian Business Owners Claim Labor Abuse Charges Against One Of Their Own Is For Political Reasons
Union City, NJ - Arsonists Burns Cross Inside Klausenburg Girls School [video]
Total22
Read Comments (22) — Post Yours »
1
Apr 23, 2009 at 07:42 AM Anonymous Says:
Something stinks
2
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:03 AM Mike Says:
The Yellow sign in the picture explains why he is not an official Chabad house and not listed on the Chabad website, good on them for finaly clamping down.
3
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:14 AM yossele Says:
Bolivia has a Chavez-type socialist government.
4
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:16 AM Anonymous Says:
you need to relise that this guy is not an ofiical of Chabad. never was, and never will be.
5
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:54 AM Anonymous Says:
“ The Yellow sign in the picture explains why he is not an official Chabad house and not listed on the Chabad website, good on them for finaly clamping down. ”
'good on them for finaly clapming down'???????
This has been from the get-go like this. Dont make like this is something new. The Rebbe Zt"l set up a system for Chabad Houses and how it should work. If it is not under the Merkos Linyanei Chinuch it was never a Chabad House to begin with.
6
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:56 AM Anonymous Says:
“ you need to relise that this guy is not an ofiical of Chabad. never was, and never will be. ”
So what? The leftist government in Bolivia does not know this nor do they care, all they know is that he is a Yid. It is just one more incident of world wide anti-semitism that is becoming more prevelent today. BTW I realize that you do not know how to spell "relise" If you went to school in the US it is realize and if you went to school in the UK or one of the Commonwealth countries it is spelled realise. But I guess in the school in Brooklyn where you went it is relise.
7
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:41 AM liepa Says:
Official or not official Chabad House, what difference does it make vis a vis the law. Were any laws broken over here or is this good old fashioned anti-semitism?
8
Apr 23, 2009 at 08:59 AM Anonymous Says:
“ The Yellow sign in the picture explains why he is not an official Chabad house and not listed on the Chabad website, good on them for finaly clamping down. ”
And why is it that you feel the leftist government of Boliva gives a rat's tuchas that he is yes "offical" or not offical or has a yellow sign. All they know is that he is a YID, they are not clamping down they don't even know what you are talking about. It is anti-semitism in its purest form.
9
Apr 23, 2009 at 09:04 AM Anonymous Says:
“ 'good on them for finaly clapming down'???????
This has been from the get-go like this. Dont make like this is something new. The Rebbe Zt"l set up a system for Chabad Houses and how it should work. If it is not under the Merkos Linyanei Chinuch it was never a Chabad House to begin with. ”
Regardless, he is helping Jews. And the center is a place where Jews can connect to other Jews and to Judaism. True he should call it Beit Moshiach or something but that is for Chabad.inc to deal with, not the cokehead Bolivian Chavezoid government.
10
Apr 23, 2009 at 09:03 AM Brian Says:
“ So what? The leftist government in Bolivia does not know this nor do they care, all they know is that he is a Yid. It is just one more incident of world wide anti-semitism that is becoming more prevelent today. BTW I realize that you do not know how to spell "relise" If you went to school in the US it is realize and if you went to school in the UK or one of the Commonwealth countries it is spelled realise. But I guess in the school in Brooklyn where you went it is relise. ”
You raise a great point. Now your words have much value since you uncovered that fellow's spelling mistake.
11
Apr 23, 2009 at 09:16 AM PMO Says:
How do we know this is antisemitism? Perhaps there are criminals operating in his Shul that he does not know about.... I'd like to see some more facts come out about this before I pass judgment. South and Central American governments have generally either greatly supported or just ignored shuls there (I've been to a few). It is rare for a government there to do something like this. I will wait and see.
12
Apr 23, 2009 at 09:11 AM to # 6 Says:
the point # 4 is making is only that no one knows what was going on there... and since he has no oversight no one will know. it is not always the best direction to scream anti semitsim. and so my speling is messed up.
13
Apr 23, 2009 at 10:29 AM chossid Says:
if does not matter if it is official Chabad or not. It is A Jewish INstitution and they are there as Chabad representatives, official or not ,they have the Rebbe's pics and teachings.
they went to Bolivia b/c the ex-sliach left the country, it was dangerous, and they went b/c there are many Israelim travelling , they are are there, not b/c their choice, they couild be in Israel, they are there,just to help Jewish ppl
Bolivia is like Venezuela, with Evo Morales , a communist President, that ppl elected
14
Apr 23, 2009 at 10:44 AM Anonymous Says:
“ So what? The leftist government in Bolivia does not know this nor do they care, all they know is that he is a Yid. It is just one more incident of world wide anti-semitism that is becoming more prevelent today. BTW I realize that you do not know how to spell "relise" If you went to school in the US it is realize and if you went to school in the UK or one of the Commonwealth countries it is spelled realise. But I guess in the school in Brooklyn where you went it is relise. ”
please resist the urger to correct spelling errors. If the person dosent know how to spell it is mean and if he does you are wasting your time. i dont spellcheck my blog posts b/c I dont had additional time
15
Apr 23, 2009 at 11:20 AM An Educated Yid Says:
“ the point # 4 is making is only that no one knows what was going on there... and since he has no oversight no one will know. it is not always the best direction to scream anti semitsim. and so my speling is messed up. ”
With all do respect your logic is as flawed as your spelling. By your quote you make no reference to "no one knows whats going on there" only to the fact that the gentlemen in question is not part of the mainstream Chabad. "you need to relise that this guy is not an ofiical of Chabad. never was, and never will be" And were you in any way shape or form cognizant of geo-political affairs you would understand that most leftist governments like that of Evo Morales are notoriously anti-semetic.(if you don't beleive that then just look at your history books) Please read about the incidents which took place in the Jewish communities of Venezuela this past year, Venezuela is led by leftist Hugo Chavez, noted anti-Israel, pro-palestinian friend of Castro and ant-semite and you will hopefully understand, Mr. Chavez & Mr. Morales have much in common and are close friends so hence the remark about anti-semitism. And with regard to your spelling I have nothing to say, except your last comment says it ALL.
16
Apr 23, 2009 at 02:14 PM Anonymous Says:
“ How do we know this is antisemitism? Perhaps there are criminals operating in his Shul that he does not know about.... I'd like to see some more facts come out about this before I pass judgment. South and Central American governments have generally either greatly supported or just ignored shuls there (I've been to a few). It is rare for a government there to do something like this. I will wait and see. ”
Oh, don't be so stupid. Or maybe it's your anti-Chabad bias peeking through.
17
Apr 23, 2009 at 02:39 PM ya' Says:
to #2, while you make machlokes, the goyim realize that a jew is a jew period!
with your attitude, you should be burned cause i disagree with you!
18
Apr 23, 2009 at 03:57 PM Anonymous Says:
Can't anyone realize what is going on?? There has been an attempt recently to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Morales, and there is apparently reason to suspect that people associated with the so-called Chabad houses are operated as "SAYANIM" for foreign intelligence services that are outsourced to do the job for the CIA. Can anyone guess who such possible sayanim work for? I'll let you have three guesses: 1) The Secret Service of Estonia; 2) The Intelligence Services of Zambia; 3) THE MOSSAD. That's right, I knew you were smart!
19
Apr 23, 2009 at 03:56 PM Anonymous Says:
everyone realizes that its about helping yidden under any circumstances that is being viciously attacked by the governmant when they should all fear the concept of the shoah!
who cares what its about the government going after the jewss officia or not makes no difference!
20
Apr 23, 2009 at 07:58 PM Anonymous Says:
is he helping jews? yes!
that is what counts!
Chabad, unofficial-Chabad, Aish, unofficial-Aish, whatever we got to back him!
please post info, on how i can help!
21
Apr 23, 2009 at 09:01 PM Anonymous Says:
“ Can't anyone realize what is going on?? There has been an attempt recently to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Morales, and there is apparently reason to suspect that people associated with the so-called Chabad houses are operated as "SAYANIM" for foreign intelligence services that are outsourced to do the job for the CIA. Can anyone guess who such possible sayanim work for? I'll let you have three guesses: 1) The Secret Service of Estonia; 2) The Intelligence Services of Zambia; 3) THE MOSSAD. That's right, I knew you were smart!
”
Democartically elected? Are you for Real? Evo Morales is 2 steps right of being a communist dictaor.
22
Apr 23, 2009 at 10:57 PM Big talker Says:
“ 'good on them for finaly clapming down'???????
This has been from the get-go like this. Dont make like this is something new. The Rebbe Zt"l set up a system for Chabad Houses and how it should work. If it is not under the Merkos Linyanei Chinuch it was never a Chabad House to begin with. ”
Why is there a different between is they are on chabad.org or not you should know that most of the ones that are not on chabad.org are the ones that are on mesiras nefesh (like India..) in the wackiest places so on till you move there shush..