Jerusalem – A radical ultra-Orthodox mob encircled Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat’s car as he left the neighborhood of Ezrat Torah where he visited a prominent rabbi. Stones were thrown at his car, which was damaged in the incident. Barkat managed to leave the neighborhood after the police stepped in with reinforcements to escort his entourage out.
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The incident occurred on Hana Street in Jerusalem where the mayor made a “personal visit” to a prominent rabbi who invited him to talk.
The Jerusalem Municipality reported, “A radical group of haredim threw stones at his car, damaging the vehicle, and surrounded it.”
According to the municipality, “The police, who escorted Barkat, needed to call for backup. Minutes later, they successfully cleared the way for the mayor.”
Barkat himself responded to the incident: “I will not succumb to violence, and whoever thinks he will make strides through violence and bullying is incorrect.”
The mayor has recently evoked the anger of the ultra-Orthodox community for allowing two of the city’s parking lots to remain open on Saturday in order to ease the parking problem in the city. In recent weeks, haredim have protested, sometimes violently, on the weekends.
Dozens of haredim were arrested at the height of the protests for attacking policemen, throwing stones, and causing damage. A few weeks ago, the municipality also received veiled threats in an email sent to Barkat and his deputy.
Very nice mission acomplished send David dinkins to be their mayor so there can be an allout
riot
if charaidim claim they are so heilik and follow the letter of the law, then act like it. they are acting like primitive ill-mannered people. a sure mas chilul hashem…stop this chilul shaboos balogna…its irionic how they themselves are mechalel shabbos with their stupid riots…..enough!!!!
וכל קרני רשעים אגדע
what rabbi invited him?
These animals are not “chareidim”. They may dress like us, but they are nothing more than animals. Anyone who participated should be ex-communicated. It has to stop and the only way is to rid our communities of this cancer. There are violent, anti-Torah animals that have sprung up and are ruining life for every other frum yid.
This behavior is so far beyond disgusting it is humiliating to the rest of us to see it. The mayor goes and tries to talk things out and this is how he is treated? No wonder everyone hates them…. to be honest I’m starting to hate them too… and with good reason.
The Edah HaChareidis which is representative of many if not most of the protesters is anti-Zionist. Which is to say that in their esteem the state is an illegitimate one and Jews should not try to change it (by for example engaging in the political process as the “Religious Zionists” do in order to make the country more Jewish).
So if they believe in getting the state to change and be more Jewish is inappropriate course of action then under what pretext are they protesting the opening of municipal lots? Isn’t it hypocritical of them to protest? And if it is not hypocritical, then why don’t they align themselves with the “Religious Zionists” in the Knesset and really try to change the entire state for the better… rather than reserving their wrath for one little parking lot.
If they REALLY wanted all business to shut down in Eretz Yisrael on Shabbos and they REALLY wanted all stores to be kosher and they REALLY wanted the state’s operations to reflect Jewish values then they would unhesitatingly embrace the Religious Zionists and look past petty differences of Hashkafa in order to ensure that such policies are instituted.
A further question is, why do they believe it is appropriate to express themselves this way in Eretz Yisrael? If they were in New York they wouldn’t dare block Mayor Bloomberg’s car and pelt it with stones. Do they really think that they are performing a positive service for Klal Yisrael? Do they think that the Chilonim who are potentially Baalei Teshuvah will admire their behavior… or more likely revile it? Don’t they realize the greater damage they do by tarnishing the image of frum Jews? We are truly in Galus (even those fortunate enough to live in EY) and this kind of behavior only perpetuates our Exile.
He was visiting the Kaliver Rebbe.
What a chilul hashme. The time is growing close when there will be a massive reaction against these dreche yiddin such that they will wish they had never been born. Their attack on the mayor may be the last straw. Once the police decide to forego the restraint they have shown thusfar, it is unlikely there will be any futher demonstrations or riots.
Bravo for the mayor.
The foolish Charedim have managed to make yet another chilul Hashem.
They are not too smart.
Do the Charedim showoff idiots, think the mayor will now run and hide for a week and then he will come out and say, “Oh we are so sorry for the parking lot being open, so we will close it. And we are so sorry that the woman’s son was starving to death so we will put the doctors who helped the boy, in jail.”
i am pleasantly surprised that as of my posting no one has defended this attack on the mayor of jerusalem.
maybe we can now begin to see some jewish unity in both purpose and action.
its very normal, he “start” the fight its his fold, let him close the parking lot & release the mother & I promise you it will be peace.
Nothing more then a bunch of hooligans, the only way this could stop is that the parents should be held responsible to the letter of the law.
Number 5 you are correct. They should all join Manhigut Yehudit. We should turn the state of the jews into an Jewish State!
A smart rabbi told me ones: unemployed + not educated = riots. I think the rabbi is right.
Problem is, the mayor has yet to take responsibility for his own “bullying” tactics.
No question–these people are from the “eirev rav.”
This simply disgusts me! and I was raised with chassidim!
If this was a Palestinian mob throwing stones at a Jerusalem mayor, the government would call in Seyeret Matkal and Yamam to take swift action, and we all know how Yamam takes care of violent Palestinian mobs. When it comes to Haredim acting like Jerusalem is their own land like the Taliban in Pakistan, there is a big double standard in how the Israeli government responds–soft and non violent.
Our support is with this charydim who are making the bigest kidysh hasham by protesting against the discretion of the holy shabes !!!! Keep up
This is so not political, a rabbi calling him over than stoning him on the way out
this is very shameful, they do not have any respect even for the Kalever Rebbe.
the mayor went to the Kalever Rebbe in honer Kalever Rebbehis fathers yurtzat
בירושלים צרו הערב עשרות חרדים על ראש העיריה ניר ברקת בעת שיצא מביקור אצל האדמור מקאליב בשכונת סנהדריה. הם קראו נגדו קריאות והשליכו אבן אל ריכבו. הוא לא נפגע אך לרכב נגרם נזק. כוח של משטרה סייע לו לצאת מהמקום. לאחר התקרית אמר ברקת כי לא יכנע, ומי שחושב שבאלימות ישיג השגים טועה
Intresting how the secural media makes such a fuss when a choiloni is attacked,not when a chareidi is.Former mayor Uri Lupolianski was attacked with a hail of stones at least twice by these wakkos,even once at Rav Elyashiv’s shul entrance.Former deputy mayor Yehousha Pollak was attacked with stones as well.Even worse, Rav Elyashiv’s car was once attacked with stones as well!Not mentioned by the media ia that the mayor’s chareidi, chareidi affairs advisor was there with him and they didn’t discrimanate.Also not mentioned,the Utj faction in jerusalem [Degel Hatorah and Agudas Yisroel]as well as Shas sharply condemmed the violence.
Surely the Eida Chareidit and other rabbinical leaders know who these hooligans are or can find out through their networks. These people should be either chastised or removed from action in some way. There are many means to deal with them within the religious community.
#52 thru ones comments one can easly come to conclusion of the persons haskafa and he came to the right conclusion. no, your not the type of person to come in my kind of shul or to send yoiur kids in the kind of schools i do
#51 no, in judaism there is not freedom to practice religion how one chooses, you have the 4 parts of S’U. and if you think otherwise you dont brlong on this torah oriented site.of course hashem will take care of ‘it’ but then it will to late ‘ hayom lasosam ulemochor lekabel schar’.. and then you complin who are we to judge you when you describe yourself so explicitly
Before you speak up against these ‘animals’ as you call them check into Barkat- the last i heard was that he was supporting a missionary opening near the kosel……