Jerusalem – Throngs of people are expected to converge on Jerusalem tomorrow for the mass demonstration protesting the forced draft of Chareidi men, with criminal charges being brought against those who refuse to enlist. While the protest is slated to start at 4 PM at the center of the city near Binyanei Hauma, crowds are expected to engulf the city from the morning on.
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The approximately one hour long rally is to include only davening and the recitation of Tehillim, with no speeches slated for the historic event, as reported by Maariv. The main podium for the protest will be set up near Binyanei Hauma, and given the large number of attendees, the crowds are expected to spill over onto many nearby streets.
Determined to keep the rally a peaceful event, Chareidi leaders have warned participants not to bring protest signs and to avoid any loud vocal protests. For the first time ever, Israeli police have organized hundreds of young Chareidi volunteers who will act as ushers and will mingle with the crowd in an attempt to identify anyone who appears to pose a threat to the peaceful nature of the demonstration.
Rabbonim have urged men from all over Israel to attend tomorrow’s demonstration and women and children over age nine who live in Jerusalem have also been encouraged to attend, according to The Jerusalem Post.
A special tefilla, said only at a gathering of 600,000 people, the same number present for Matan Torah, may be said tomorrow, according to a spokesperson for R’ Aaron Leib Shteinman. R’ Shteinman and R’ Yisroel Hager, the Grand Rabbi of Vishnitz, are both expected to be central figures at the rally.
A joint statement released on Friday by Degel Hatorah, Agudas Yisroel and Shas called on their followers to join tomorrow’s protest, but Rabbi Haim Druckman, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Ohr Etzion and head of Bnei Akiva, voiced his objections to the rally, telling the Orthodox Zionist community to avoid the event, as reported by Israel National News.
“I totally reject the march,” said Rabbi Druckman. “If this demonstration is being held to say that Israel is fighting against the rule of the Kingdom of Heaven, I am so shocked and outraged by it.”
Israel’s Minister of Economy and Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennet said today that the draft was good for Israel.
“Throughout history, the gedolim have worked. Army service isn’t a decree, it is a mitzvah and a tremendous zechus.”
Bennet, who insisted that no one who is learning Torah would ever be imprisoned, described the law as “fair and balanced and good for all Israelis, especially Chareidim.”
United Hatzalah and Zaka are working together on tomorrow’s event, with hundreds of volunteers in place and ready to deal with mishaps both major and minor, including lost children and offering any necessary first aid treatments. United Hatzalah will be running six command centers tomorrow in the city center and will be available by dialing 1221 on any phone.
They should ask for rachme shomiam to protect all Jews from their enemies and to end sinas chinem
There isn’t another country in the world that protects Jews as the medina does These people that want to demonstrate don’t live in the real world –,for 3 generations all they know is the beis medrash . What will happen when the charidim will be the majority in the country?who will fight?
Talmeday chachomim marbim sholem b’olam-not machlokis
he is not observing other mitzvos but he will tell us what is a mitzva not the rabbunom & gdoilim, LOL
The next time that these people need the help of the chayalim, I think they should just daven. Let the chayalim be where they are wanted.
finally most rabbi’s in Israel are facing the reality that the Satmar rabbi was 100% right
If Israel is so treif and Zionism so evil. then why did the remnant frum escaping Europa after 1945 escape there and make a home there? Charedi ideology is nonsensical on this point. And their intolerance toward other Yidden not EXACTLY like them is spiritually vacuous, especially against those fighting and dying for them. Accusations that Zionists caused the Churban is morally bankrupt and historically idiotic.
I hope Bennet & lapid will soon have a mapula just like humon hurushe had….lets pray for it
What Bittul Torah
I have instructed all my kids living in yerushalayim to attend. We chareidim need to flex our muscles. No more chilul shabbos no more gay parades.
I am Chareidi – actually, Hassidic, but to these morons organizing this atseret, we are one & the same& ergo, I should be heading for Yerushalyim today. And much as I endorse limudei Torah, I decry the tens of thousands who use it as an excuse to avoid army service.
It’s quite simple. They sit in relative comfort, debate who’s ox belongs to whom, and sponge off the State. Every benefit (which I do NOT begrudge them, large families deserve a break in water bills etc) is theirs for the taking . And take they do. But what do they GIVE? There are alternatives to picking up a gun – for example there is “community service” – would it be so terrible to work with underprivileged children? Teach Hebrew to new immigrants? Work in hospitals – help VETERANS? There are many options.
TO BE CONTINUED
I honestly believe many of them are cowards – it has less to do with religion & more to do with their own failings as human beings. Guess what? We are all afraid of battle. We aren’t psychopaths who relish blowing the enemy to bits. What really bothers me is the haskama from revered & respected Rabbanim & Gedolim: they seem to be saying it is OK for millions to put themselves in true danger, but not a small “select” group.
IF these “learners” received a full, independent salary which will enable them to provide for their families, that’s one thing. Then they can say it is their job to sit & shteig. How many of you know the Government actually supports Yeshivot & pays for each grown man? How many of them give back??
So. I have tried to make my point without screaming, calling you names etc. Those of you who no doubt have smoke coming out of your ears will be cursing, calling me all sorts of reprehensible names & accusing me of being a goy etc etc etc. I gave you my background. I am far more right wing than you will ever know, but on this I disagree. Be as polite to me as I am to you. Otherwise, you just prove the point of those “evil Zionists” who fight for YOU!
Hey Rosha Bennet, being a shomer torah u’mitzvos is a bigger mitzvah than serving in your army. The sooner you tzioni r’shaim get that thru your heads the better off everyone will be.
The Rally will accomplish ZERO. The only thing that will hel will be a full boycott on travel to Israel by Chareidim and ALL foreign Yeshiva boys, Sem girls and Kollel families shall leave the country, once the Government feels the $ crunch, they will negotiate in good faith. Yosef ben Chaim
Hey wait a minute, whats this hundreds of thousands. This was supposed to be a million man march
If chilonim are jailed for draft dodging, then so should Charedim. Equality is that simple.
Hope this rally ends up a Kiddush Hashem and not a Chillul Hashem.
theyre all welcome to leave israel if no ones interested in defending it. I dont believe that every single one of them is serious about learning. enough is enough its quite easy to spot those who goof off, send them to the army so they can one day possibly work,
After the Atzeres Tefillah, many Yidden will be Zoiche to finally comprehend that it is Not the Rotzon of Hashem, to have somebody else’s child fight for you while your children are free.
I just reminded myself of the gemara which says, Eizehu chasid shoteh, zeh hameikil l’atzmo umachmir l’acheirim. Who is a pious fool, one who is lenient for himself, and strict on others. Chareidim are saying others should be required to go to the army, but not us.
Wow. The ultra orthodox are going to war with Hashem over the idea that the service of an Israelite is to his own people. This is a group of nostalgic worse wishers of the future asking for their direction to be ingrained in the sand box of their own play pen of irregular behavior. This is not Torah. This is not Israel and this is not honorable. G-d bless The Duties of the IDF.
My dear brothers and sisters
there was a meeting with the israels general in NY we the charedi people asked him about the draft law he told us beferesh we do not need them we do not want them.
Every country even the USA is sending home soldiers because todays wars are not done by soldiers it is a computer war, yes the army needs computer genies they could use more of them by the way many are charedim (one of my family ).This is a war against the Charedim against the TORAH my cousin a Prof in Israel was not rewarded because he is charedi look at the Nobel price receiver who was refused the honor in Israel because he is charedi…..If you want to see the truth you will see it and the draft law is only an excuse. I am a working woman in high ranking company they want us to drop the Toiro and everything that we care…we should be like other nations.We promise you H. we will never abandon your TORAH *KI HI CHAYEINU*
The thousands of IDF soldiers who died in defense of Israel, and those who perished FIGHTING the nazis are crying in heaven today, watching the demonstation of those who desecrate their sacred memory from the safety of their cheder.