Israel -Around 2,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews protested at an Israeli plant of giant US chipmaker Intel for the second Saturday in a row, voicing outrage at the factory’s decision to operate on the Sabbath.
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Angry shouts of “Shabbat, Shabbat” rose from outside the Jerusalem plant, where many sported black fedoras or large wheel-shaped fur hats and gowns traditionally worn by the Haredi, as the ultra-Orthodox Jews call themselves.
Police were out in force and repeatedly chased protesters out of the factory’s parking lot.
Factory guards hurled water at the protesters, who threw rocks and spat at journalists.
Four demonstrators were arrested, police said.
The Haredis are outraged at the factory’s decision to operate on Saturdays, which they see as a grave desecration of the Jewish holy day of rest.
The Intel protest follows a series of sometimes violent demonstrations by ultra-Orthodox people against the opening of a Jerusalem car park on the Jewish Shabbat, which runs from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.
About 200 protesters gathered again Saturday against the opening of the car park, police said.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews are concerned the moves contribute to the secularisation of Jerusalem, a holy city where the Haredi community makes up about one-third of the 750,000 population.
The protests were sharply condemned by Israel’s mainstream media which ridiculed the claim that the Saturday protests do not desecrate Shabbat since they aim at saving it.
The Jerusalem Post decried what it called bullying by “a scowling ultra-Orthodox minority.”
“Sometimes it seems as if there’s an evil mastermind out there determined to make Jewish tradition, observance and ritual seem repellent, retrograde even ridiculous to as many unaffiliated and secular Jews as possible,” the English-language newspaper said.
Some of the protesters spat at the officers and verbally assaulted them, calling them “Nazis” and calling in Yiddish for desecrators of the Sabbath to be put to death.
The police, by contrast, showed considerable restraint, blocking the path rather than actively dispersing the demonstration. Despite the considerable violence, police tried to avoid arrests so as not to escalate the clashes even further. Nevertheless, three protesters were arrested and two others detained. After some two hours of clashes, police began pushing the crowd back toward an ultra-Orthodox neighborhood.
During the week, mainstream ultra-Orthodox rabbis reached a compromise agreement with Intel, but the leader of the Eda, Rabbi Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss, ordered his acolytes onto the streets again.
Ultra-orthodox sources said yesterday that Rabbi Weiss himself was pushed at one stage by the police. The incident outraged the demonstrators, who demanded police to show more respect for the 87-year-old rabbi.
The protests led to the closure of Golda Meir Boulevard in north Jerusalem, an important traffic artery. Jerusalem city councillor Elisha Peleg (Likud), said yesterday that this was “an ultra-Orthodox terrorist attack,” and urged police to keep major Jerusalem thoroughfares open.
Meanwhile, secular organizations began some initial counter-protests. Intel had asked counter-protesters not to attend the ultra-Orthodox demonstrations, saying it may escalate the situation. However, the “Forum of Organizations for a Free Jerusalem” staged some preemptive actions in the area of the plant, writing graffiti on sidewalks with slogans including “We’ll talk about Shabbat when you work the rest of the week.” A more radical group of secular activists sprayed graffiti against Rabbi Weiss, including “Rabbi Weiss is a son of a whore,” and dropping pornographic materials in the area of the protests.
The verbal and physical violence by the protesters represents a transgression of limitations set last summer by Rabbi Weiss, after officers warned him they may not be able to control their men if they continue to be subjected to spits and taunts. Over the last three month, the Edah rabbis warned not to physically assault police and particularly not to spit at them. None of these precautions appeared to be heeded yesterday.
how about causing yidden to mechalel shabbos to tend to them during this chiul hahsem deomnstration…a bunch of hiprocrits. shame on these so called charadim. i would gives these shamful people a penny when they come to the usa for tzedaka.
Why don’t the security police simply use tear gas or pepper spray against these dreche yidden rather than treating them with such respect. They have to be taught that they don’t have the right to trespass or restrict the rights of either goyim or yidden to be mechaalel shabbos if thats what they choose to do. EY is a democracy and tolerating these rioters every shabbos only makes them come back the next week.
I’ve thought that we should expel the chariedim from eretz yisorel but what country would wnat ot take them.
The police should just arrest all of these idiots. The chillul hashem is disgraceful. These protesters are not yiddin, they are taliban idol worshipers.
This can’t be appropriate according to halacha. And even if it is, watching this makes me rethink becoming a Baal Teshuva. Is this the future of my family????
strange how the video contradicts the media report. The police are pushing and chasing protesters. They are indeed nazis.
the crazed ones are at it again they are so out of touch with reality that it boggles the mind they live in their own make beleive world and have no knowledged how the real world operates they need to know they are not the ones who have the truth as their own and today we live in a democratic world not a dictatorship like they would want it to be like in iran where their wholier then thou muhlahs ruined the whole country and are fighting with the rest of the world this is not the jewish way
Now that a compromise has been reached, whereby only non-Jewish workers will work there on Shabbos, the continued protesting proves what many of us have know all along: these protests have nothing to do with Shabbos. They are merely a “heter” for bored Eida-niks to have some Shabbos afternoon action.
I’m confused, on the one hand,I see ppl who are sticking up for hashem and his shabbos, on the other hand, I see them doing it in a way of hate as opposed to a way of love…now, I don’t hate them or despise them, cuz their intentions are to stick-up for hashem, however, I wish it would/could be attained in a way of peacfull understanding. The way some of these ppl post on this blog is reminisint of charedi-hating blogs, the way they bash their own blood, miss-guided as the perceive it.
The chilonim act in a disgusting manner, and its barely mantioned, and not even stated in negative light.
Sure, there were a few bad hooligans, but this makes it seem like the majority of us were doing this. Please note that the police shot water hoses for us saying “shabbos”. theyre always the first to get physical, then they complain about us rioting.
Such distorted articles make me sick.
Can anyone tell me how long the Intel plant has been operating on Shabbos? Did this just start? Is this a new plant or have they been around a while a now started operating on Shabbos bah”r?
“Factory guards hurled water at the protesters, who threw rocks and spat at journalists. “
I see the water. I see the police beating protesters. I see the protesters yelling. How is it that in all the footage these journalists took none includes rocks being thrown at them, or them being spit at?
After the parking lot and the arrested mother we all new there will be more protests. They were just looking for a reason. BTW I believe we should protest chillul shabbos, but not THIS way. As a descandant of kedoshim who died in shoah it hurts me to hear when they call israeli police “nazis”…
It is so sad when I check the news on Motzoi Shabbos and see things like this.
These very sick Yidden, are not only causing a enormous Chilul Hashem, but are causing even more Chilul Shabbos by protesting. The kina is on the highest level, but so misdirected. If they would go to shul and daven for Intel to do teshuva, which is kina coming from a place of love and empathy, Am Yisroel would be better for it.
I invite every Yid who reads this to ask themselves the following questions:
Do you really think that people will keep Shabbos because of this?
Is this an example of “דרכיה דרכי נועם וכל נתיבותיה שלום”?
Do I want them to represent me because we wear the same clothes and speak the same language?
Is this the pshat of “אור לגויים”?
Is this what הקב”ה wants from us, especially on Shabbos itself, the Holiest Day in our lives, where our behavior influences the entire Universe for the following week?
what is Wrong with these people,they are creating a huge chilul hashem that can be seen around the world,and people can point to this and say you see jews and especially orthodox jews are animals…
If Israel Is A Democracy_ Not A Jewish State Than The Arabs Will Want Equal Rights Also . .
This is another example of self hating jews making comments online..all you see on this footage is cops pushing jews water thrown at jews…no spitting or rock throwing by anyone who is Jewish…
The bottom line is Israel is a country which does not respect the toreh or jews..and never has…the pope gets more respect then a 87 year old rebbe who knows so much toreh..
And only hashem will put a end to this chutzpah I”h
what makes a rabbi mainstrem
As usual the zionist propaganda machine is at work… Notice the father being pushed with his young son clenching his hand (looking terrified) at 2:32. Did anyone see rock throwing by the Charedi in the video? Anyone see spitting or physical violence being perpetrated by the charedi in the video? Just as the goyim turn Jews into a scapegoats when times are tough ( like these economic times ) so too do the zionists in the medinah do the same. Only since the majority of Israelis are secular Jews they attack Gd Fearing Torah Jews because they are the minority. THey hold on to the old ways and defend the namesakes of our forefathers. The sad irony of course is that while the secular zionists believe a strong army keeps Israel safe it is the Charedi who keep HKBH’s mercy on the state. For if not for their being some righteous left our enemies would have prevailed long ago. Its time to stop the charedi bashing!
wow the first 4 comment are amazing i though i was reading a secular website. it’s pretty pathetic how you guys have no idea whats really going on and just believe anything you read. The video shows what is really going on most of the time, cops pushing the charedim, water getting thrown at the charedim etc. Get the point? The charedim are not so bad, they just want Yerushlayim to stay holy and that major stuff should not be open on Shabbos.
this is the way to go ! we are all standing togather with our bros in israel
Dear readers,
I have taken it upon myself not to purchase anything or contribute to anything that has to do with the Bedatz edah charedit, if you would like to make a difference please do the same, every individual action adds up!
When they asked belz to join these protest’s the belze rabbi told them that he has an outreach organization and a yeshivah for bale tshuveh and that way he does his part to bring secular people to abide the torah.
Kidush hashem
they have all the right in the world to protest just because you people dont care about shabbos as much as they do SHABBOS SHABBOS
there should be a protest at these types of protest against the chillul shabbos of these so called eida /mikva yiddin . what a grave chillul hashem they are causing
The cops with olive drab and black vests are Yamam/Yamas (SWAT). They are usually swift and overwhelming in use of tactics. You can see their tactics every time they arrest Arab rioters. Here you see them tootsy-playing with Charedi rioters and not using chemical sprays, water canons, stunt grenades as they normally do against Arab or secular protesters. You would never see an Israeli senior commander being verbally shouted at or shoved. These Charedi are so self absorbed that they don’t appreciate the soft handiness approach from Israeli government. The Arabs are jealous of how the Israeli Police treat Charedi rioters.
Now, Israel is a secular state, not a biblical country run by Sanhedrin. It can not function or survive if the entire economy operated on Charedi principals. Not only do the Charedi play a little role in contributing to Israeli economy or scientific/technological knowledge, they now try to interfere with mega corporations from operating inside Israel. I hope they do comprehend that they won’t stop Intel from operating, nor will they bring Jews closer to the religion by acting like Pakistani tribal warlords who bully or turn to violence against everyone.
Protesting open factories on Shabbos doesn’t keep Yerushalayim holy. There is nothing wrong with non-Jews working on Shabbos, and it isn’t an insult to Shabbos at all. A chillul Hashem is an insult.
When I was small, I was taught never to let anybody take my picture on Shabbat!! When I see this, I see the charedim who are demonstrating — they are wore than Intel!! Intel hired only non-jewish workers but the charedim are Jewish and they know that the press is there!! They know their pictures are being taken!! That is worse!!
It is a shameful Chilul Hashem, i am Chasiddish , and know for a fact that all of the Gedolim from years ago including the Heilige Rebbes of Belz, Ger, Vishnitz and all of the Litvishe Gedolim were against protests and they believed in talkng nice to them and davening to Hashem that every Yid should do Teshuva and boy did it help, look at the thousands of Bale Teshuva in Israel today, not one of them became like this from screaming on them Nazi or throwing stones at them, only thru being mekarev them..
Rav Tuvia Weiss happens to be a Gadol and a big Talmin Chacham and big Erliche Yid, he only is doing this beacuse it is his job as Gavad, this is part of his job that he has to listen and agree to whatever the Leidigeieres tell him…
It is a shame what is happening there…To all out there ..say some Tehillim every day and daven that every Yid should become Shomer Torah Umitzvos, i assure you it will help…
Chillul Hashem Chillul Hashem Chillul Hashem. If all of you who think this is a kiddush hashem then get a life!!
I would like to know what our leadership (Agudah etc…) thinks about this situation. Why don’t they come out with an opinion?? Do they hold like R Elyashiv who agreed to the compromise of just non-jews working?
Never in my life have I had such bad feelings to frum jews. I feel such disgust that I don’t want to be frum anymore!!!! I wonder how the kiruv org deal with this bad publicity? I can’t imagine why anyone would ever want to be a frum jew. With this issue, molestation, white collar crimes etc….
The Agudah convention is THIS week. AGUDAH, we are watching you this week to see if there are any changes to the current “crisises”. If you are REAL leaders you will start making changes. Not just words, REAL action.
Woe to the hands that dared to push and shove the Gadol hador Rav Weiss, torah chigri sak!
Woe to the people who sent those beasts to touch the holy body of this real gadol, and woe to all who defend those torah predators, the israeli mishtara.
I wonder if these protestors show the same passion when the same soldiers are killed or maimed protecting them from the Arabs. Perhaps, if they were makir tov to the government and the army, then maybe they would listen to them. You can’t only demand without ever giving.
As much as I’m NOT a hareidi (or even orthodox) Jew, I was under the impression that the State of Israel has “blue laws” that prohibit places of business from employing Jews on the Sabbath. While I abhor the “talibization” of the State of Israel that the hareidim seem to be trying to enforce, I believe that “blue laws” are beneficial to society for keeping one day of the week as a day of rest where normal work stops. In the USA, we’ve been denied our Sundays as a “day off” much to the detriment of society.
Terrorism is defined as unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments.
This is clearly terrorism. The government needs to start treating it as such. If Arab terrorists who throw stones get pepper spray and rubber bullets the Tallitbanis should get the same. Since they are pretty much without exception physical cowards it shouldn’t take too many lessons before they learn that attempted murder – stoning is absolutely deadly force under any sort of law, vandalism and rioting will hurt. I wouldn’t expect them to understand that it is bad to riot, spit on others or try to kill them. That seems to be beyond their basic humanity. But at least they can be taught that it will have consequences.
Reading the posts and comments you can easily see the sharp contrasts and clear reflections of the comments.
On one side there are people who would always and ALWAYS jump to show support for secularists and apikorsim (regardless the issue or specific story), those are usually half frum people or secularists themselves.
On the other hand there are many that would usually try to defend the frum and observant yidden, and thos are usually torah observant jews themselves and jew lovers.
So it’s absolutely no surprise for me to see how many bloggers would jump now to bad mouth all frum yidden and justify the wild and absurd actions of the secular police and government.
It’s basically a concept of “Eisav soneh l’Yaakov”, and sinas am haaretz letalmid chochom”.
After seening the video I am unsure if these protests enhance or diminish the sacntity of Shabbat.?
I find it hard to understand the thinking of those who wish to protect chilull Shabbat. Doesn’t anyone in government realize the operation of businesses like Intel and the resulting offense caused to residents of the city not only waste municipal resources that could be put to better use the polarization between Seculars and Charaidim only becomes greater.
The video although from the secular side showed images that should sicken anyone senstive Jewish unity and Kavod Shamaiyim
I love how they make a mountain out of a molehill its great now as someone who was at the intel protest today myself I’d like to add in my two cents to all of you sitting on ur berries in the u.s. Commenting as if u were there “arrest those idiots omg” lmao #1 there were no rocks thrown aside from a’coupla shababnickz who decided to take things into their own hands and threw at cars passing by boom ud watch the windshields crack lol what entertainment, but on a serious note the ppl for the most part I could say 80% safely were there for one reason and one reason only l’sheym shmayim and there really wasn’t much violance they just came to be “moicher” and vent and express about how they feel (freedom of speech) and the cops will agree the only reason why there was so many officers, magav, tasam etc….was to prevent those 20% of troublemakers from entering the intel building,
any rate for all those who sit on ur berries commenting how terrible these things are, why don’t u put urself into their(the chareidim-yerushalmis-heimishe) who live in yerushalayim (ihr hakoidesh) and watch how such a thing comes and just stepps right on ur toes, let’s see how u’d react…….
if only somone can explaine what this will achieve if anything?
mark my word “THIS WILL NOT ACHIEVE ANYTHING”
Not sure if they right or wrong but that’s the only way to go and that was proven to work….. and bythwy there use to be a law in israel that business have to be closed on shabbos
As a good Zionist you believe that Israel is a JEWISH land due to our receiving it from Hakadosh Baruch HU as stated in the Torah. Then It is of most importance that the same Torah be followed.
CHILLUL SHABBOSS IS THE ULTIMATE CHILLUL HASHEM! that is why a Michallel Shabboss has the same Halocho as a GOY! his wine is nesech….
Do you find Jews fighting for the Torah requirements to be followed by a company in Yerushalayim by raising their vocies in protest to be a Chillul Hashem?
Why here in New Jersey all the malls and stores in Begen county are closed Sunday under the law! because Sunday is a day of rest for the Chr-istian majority. (It is known as the blue laws)
Why cant their be such a law in Yrushalayim?
I think I’m missing something. Don’t these people have other things they should be doing like davening, learning, spending time with their families, and eating? OK, so during the week they have time to protest because they don’t work. But, on Shabbos?
I’d love to see the reaction when Rav Elyashiv or Rav Ovadia yosef would be pushed by police for whatever reason.. woe would we see some different types of comments here, but since it was a real frum Rav then its like “nisht geferlach”..
Charedim, keep up the holy work, in this lawless state the only working method is protesting, they come as usual with water canons, tear gas and rubber bullets, they get wild and vicious. But Hashem will reimburse you for the mesiras nefesh.
Where are all “dina demalchusa dina” goody goodies now?
There’s a law in Jerusalem that no business may be open on Shabbos.
Let’s say you don’t care about shabbos, you don’t care about Torah, you hate all ehrliche tidden. OK. But what happened to “Israeli law”????
An answer please.
a bunch of nut cases screaming dancing pushing and acting like or rather are a bunch of cheap hooligans im embarrassed to wear my shtreimel when the average goy that sees this will think im one of those ugly animals, im not going to bother explaining why i feel this is who the are all i will say is one thing, they think just of themselves and their lifestyles, beliefs and can not accept someone else’s but they definitely appreciate the acception of governments accepting their lifestyle, there wailing whistles erev shabbos and all the other garbage that come along with there way of life talking about garbage why is mea shearim a smelly place and always topsy turby with garbage flying all over the place? at least when i was in yeshiva years ago.
If they were nazis they would have mowed all these protestors down with machine guns.
a true beautiful example of yidden against yidden on the videos, and on the comments on VIN, where’s ahavas yisroel ?
Shabbos should be the day these men stay at home with their children and wives and be concerned on spirituality…and the governement should make every effort to let the jews be at home for shabbos and not at work… so the chareidim could honor their shabbos meals with the secular jews for the beautiful mitzvah of hachnosas orchim… why do you all think ?
Stalin and the neologen from germany are all saying to themselfs “we didn’t wipe off all of torah but most of it” . Most of jews today are non shomer shabbos , another part is shomer shabbos but not really proud of the fact . There is another small percent of yidden who are shomer shabbos and proud of it and will protest for it , and yes my freinds we are proud that we are from the small minority that still have that yiddishe spark of some kedusha . You use one phrase to mask your hate to yiddishkeit called”chilul hashem” the real cause for chilul hashem is your ingnoramus way of thinking. Just explain to would be balei tshuvah , that we are protesting for hashems shabbos , we are leaving our shabbos table to protest for a holy cause , don’t tell them lies that we are violent cause that is not true. The first mitzvah before building of the mishkan was ? you tell me !! STOP THE CHILUL HASHEM!!!