Gaza City – A small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews were preparing Friday to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath in Gaza, in an unlikely show of support for Palestinians in the Hamas-run coastal territory.
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Bearded and wearing black hats and coats, the four members of a tiny Jewish group vehemently opposed to Israel’s existence were a rare sight in the poverty-stricken enclave.
Members of the Neturei Karta group have expressed support for the Iranian regime and for others who oppose the Jewish state, which they believe was established in violation of Jewish law. They made a similar visit to Gaza last year.
“It’s crucial that the people of Gaza understand the terrible tragedy here is not in the name of Judaism,” said one of the men, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss of New York City, as the four prepared to observe the Sabbath at a Gaza City hotel.
Gaza is still recovering from Israel’s devastating military offensive a year ago, which was aimed at halting rocket fire from the territory. Thirteen Israelis and almost 1,400 Gazans were killed in the three-week war.
The four men are American and Canadian citizens. Israel bans its citizens from visiting the blockaded territory. Weiss and his comrades entered Gaza through a border crossing with Egypt.
Neturei Karta, Aramaic for “Guardians of the City,” was founded seven decades ago in Jerusalem by Jews who opposed the drive to establish the state of Israel, believing only the Messiah could do that.
Considered marginal even among ultra-Orthodox Jews, the group’s size is estimated at between a few hundred to a few thousand people.
Given that this group supports the murder of millions of Jews, I am not sure it’s appropriate to describe them as “ultra-Orthodox”.
A few hundred to a few thousand members?! It’s a handful of roitzchim nutcases!
Isn’t Gaza part Eretz P’lishteem? I don’t get NKs point here…..friends of Avimelech????
Let the media stop giving them the attention they want!!!!
minyan? krias hatorah?
Why do you write stories about “mishugoyim.” There are plenty of “mishugoyim” around. These four are in Gaza for Shabbos and are not even davening betzibur and missing krias hatoraah for what.? To make a point? The Rebono Shel Olam will take care of them in time. We do not need to read about crazy people.
Dont these Amharatzim know that it is forbidden to give aid to enemies of the Jewish people in any way? What ignorance they display. If Rav Amram was alive he would have expelled them from Niturei Karta.
Chillul Shabbos and chillul Hashem all together. So Sad!!!!
Let the Tnius police rough them up a bit. I’m sick of the Neturei Karta. While we know they don’t represent us the Media and the world certainly don’t. This gives off the image that many Ultra orthodox/chareidim side with the Palistinians.
How Sad to watch these ignorent self hating jews make such a chilul hashem, may their names be eraised for ever.
“A small group of ultra-Orthodox Jews”
Call them misguided, Meshugo’im, Mush’chossim, but don’t call them ultra orthodox!
By now everyone realizes that this is a small group of psychotic people. Neturei Karta is rabidly anti-Zionist/medinah, but 99% would not go near Ahmidinijean or Palestinians and only wish well for Jews. But their leaders have to come out and denounce these lunatics as not being accepted by Neturei Karta and not representative of Neturei Karta. Klal Yisroel needs a yeshuah on all counts.
I would like to know who is the public relation manager for Neturei Karta. He is amazing! Despite their horrible nature, they manage to get in the news more than the kkk. Terrible!
Lucky if they have 150 members
How sick and misguided these individuals are. My question I would ask them if I had the opportunity would be that how could they(neturei karta)be on the same page as our sworn enemies when our enemies want not just “their” land back but they want us wiped out (or as in the case of Iran wiped off). So my questions is if they are giving recognition and support to them then they are no better them. And so its fair to say these individuals(I’ll leave the name calling for others) are murderers. Its really that simple.
Listen, after all they get a chance to go on a plane and stay in hotels, be away from home, basically a nice getaway vacation which otherwise they wouldn’t be able to do (not due to a job since they never worked) and on top if it get much attention which they lack like small children, so what should they do? stay in monsey and going crazy out of bordum? these lunatics enjoy each & every minute of their vacation, and if they still manage to get people upset, is like winning a jackpot! they laugh their heads off, when they call their buddies in Monsey and by hearing that people are furious on what they did etc, this gives them the maximum satisfaction they so desperatly need, trust me, I know some of these loosers! they work like terrorists who seek to cause maximum fatalaties, but also to instill shock & fear etc. same with these shmucks, they always sit and plan what their next step, where are we flying next? which story will get people really mad, and also after a trip like this, when they come home,they have a few weeks what to do, since people stop them & ask why did they do this etc?they love to argue and hold debates so they are atleast occupied at that time. What a bunch of loosers! please stay in Gaza this time, I promise, you will get much more attention there, you will be able to give interviews there day & night, Trust me, you will have much more FUN if you stay in Gaza…
Very inspiring. They can sing Ko ribbon olam in Gaza where it was composed.,and really find meaning in P’rok yas onoch m’pum aryeviosa.
They douing a smart thing,we must show the palestinian that realy yidden don’t fight with them so they will stop the rockets, nobody fights with the wall if the isreali’s start fighting with them they coming out from the whole
In one column on this website a demented Yid referred to teaching about the chorbin in Europe as bitul torah. I assure you and I am certain that a son/daughter of survivors is not among them and a survivor even he keeps nothing would not join those rotzchim for shabbes. This reflects more on our matzif hanefesh than all the yishovoth. We should scream al chet and not worry about President Carter
I’ll be SHOCKED if they LIVE till Motzei Shabbos in gaza
Just nauseates me to read the word “Rabbi” Yisroel Dovid Weiss !!
How & who gave him that title. Takes a little more to be called Rabbi.
How about IMAN WEISS
Which Beis Din would these “jews” abide by? If they are truly orthodox, why arent they summoned to their beis din for a ruling that they cannot do this?
Or would they ignore that, just as they have ignored common sense?
I don’y getit. If they are not citzens then why can’t Israel just deny them visas and entry and kick them out this way they can spend the rest of their lifes in Hamasland and maybe get voted in as well. The Mayor of…..terror
Ok, why does everyone attack them? Don’t they have a right to express their opinions? Or do we all have to think alike? Come on.
It seems that the majority of the bloggers all forgot about what we recently read in Parshas Vayishlach, how Yakkov Uvinu bowed many times to Eisuv with gifts, hugs, etc.
This is how we survived throughout exile, with all the Sonei Yisroel we had to deal.
Please stop bashing these Mesiras Nefesh Yidden, who are trying to minimze the hate that Zionism planted in the Middle East for the last 60 years.
I dont know their names but I sure recognize them. It is always the same couple of freaks. Look at the pictures of them standing vigil outside the hospial when Arafat was dying, Kissing Ahmedinijad etc always the same 3-4 idiots.
Hope they receive the Arab hospitality they deserve.
As a Chasidishe person who’s parents were Holocaust survivors and had all their family killed in Aushwitz, i can not say much but to say that it is not only a chillul Hashem, it brings tears to my eyes thinking that Bnei Avrohom, Yitzchak, Yakkov can steep so low and embrace and befriend Rishoyim and Roitzchim and deniers of the Holoucaust…Hashem will avenge the death of the six million and take Nekama in these Rishoyim…Shame on them…. They are embarrasing all Yidden with their deeds..
This is the perfect opportunity. Just deny their re-entry to Israel. They can enjoy the rest of their lives in Gaza with the Am HaDomeh L Chamor
All their doing is giving the arabs p.r. that they don’t really hate jews just zionists,,,,,,, which we all klnow to be false just look at the tens of thousands of korbanos – Hasem Yishmor.
Great!!! Exchange them for Shalit.
Who said it was good that the army maimed 1000 or more kids for life over there. Shouldn’t someone wake up and tell them it wasn’t us. And all of you naysayers are like the real jewhaters. What about the Jew who is saved from being attacked because would be attacker saw the nk and believed them, that we don’t agree with mafkiring their blood
Don’t you think this scene with the Hasidic Jews might change the heart of even a few Arab kids, might make them think out of the box just a little bit. Might save one life. Or you just want to jump up and down, be real defensive a real hardliner and scream like someone who feels he really has to prove. Gevalt! Self hating Jews! Antisemitin! Oy!