Israel – Foreign Ministry: Israel Won’t Provide Security for Chabad Abroad

    33

    Israel – The Israeli government will not be able to provide security for Chabad houses in the Far East, the Foreign Ministry said.

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    Officials there said that since Chabad is not an official Israeli organization, it cannot be treated differently from other Jewish organizations operating globally. However, the state would assist Chabad in coordinating security, which the movement would have to pay for.

    After last week’s attack in Mumbai, Chabad and the Chief Rabbinate asked Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for the state to provide protection for Chabad houses abroad. These representations, they said, “served as embassies and constitute a focus for masses of Israelis.”

    The attack last week was the first ever on any of the 3,500 such institutions operating throughout the world. Their main problem had previously been relatively minor anti-Semitic vandalism.

    The Foreign Ministry and Mossad now advise Jewish institutions abroad on security matters and help with security training for Jewish young people, who take a course in Israel.

    But the Foreign Ministry only provides security for official state institutions, and the Jewish Agency’s security department provides security for its institutions.

    The Chabad movement has been stung financially in recent months by the economic downturn that has hit some of its main donors.

    Chabad houses have so far had an “open door” policy, and the movement’s heads are considering changing this and funding new security arrangements.


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    33 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    What anti chareidem they are

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    No suprise!!! Welcome to israel.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Why should Israel provide security for Chabad abroad? If I decided to open a yeshiva in Zimbabwe and I attract Israelis does that warrant me security from Israel?

    murray
    murray
    15 years ago

    Seems a little stingy on the part of the Israeli government, but regardless of who sets it up and funds it-it Must be done, and immediately. These places in far off lands are obviously Not safe, and there could soon be (G-D Forbid) Copy Cats. The ‘Open Door Policy” is an invitation for trouble.

    shteig
    shteig
    15 years ago

    1) Israeli security might actually be counterproductive since then Chabad would be identified as an Israeli instituiton
    2) It would be ludicrous to expect 3000 security guards 24 hours a day (or maybe two shifts

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I imagine if money werer no issie the Israeli Govt would do it. With so little respurces to spare who can blame them?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    I think that chabad should charge the Israeli government for food received hospitality they give the israelis and we sill see who would gain.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Am I the only sane one on this site? To demand that Israel provide security for the thousands of Jewish sites is retarded.#7&#3 those are probably the dumbest comments ever written here…….and thats saying a lot do you expect american citizens to receive food and lodging provided by the USA when theyre abroad? Kindly stop thinking the world revolves around the chareidim and then you wont have to complain that everyone hates people like you.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Iit is Chabad that located Israelis when the Tsunami hit Thailand. Chabad is the address that Israelis go to when they are in distant lands.
    Also, maybe that is it why not other every Synagogue , Yeshiva, School and JCC the option of becoming an Israeli governmental institution. Just in case a local diplomatic haven becomes necessary.As Mumbai has clearly shown the world Jewish=Israeli even if one is does not recognize the State to the enemy he was Israeli.

    a concerned yid
    a concerned yid
    15 years ago

    anti-charedim? are you insane? chabad insnt an israeli orginazation and israel should not have to pay for other’s security. money for security should be included in the budget when chabad houses are set up. israel is doing all that they can by offering to help arrange the security to make sure jews are properly protected. We should be thanking the Israeli goverment for all they have done in this time of tragedy.

    SON
    SON
    15 years ago

    Y should they?? Its enough there’s an israeli consulate in almost any country with a substansial amount of jewish traffic.
    And besides Shteig’s right there’s a chabad in every corner of the globe from Miami to the top of mount Everest, you would need half of the Israeli armed forces just to provide minimal security.

    Babishka
    Member
    Babishka
    15 years ago

    The governments of the countries should provide the police protection for these institutions. I have been to the Chabad centers in Moscow and Frankfurt, where there have been anti-Semitic attacks, and there is a very stringent level of security, including metal detectors at the door and concrete barricades in front of the building.

    For additional security, I would recommend volunteers and professional security services who have had military and firearms training to offer citizen patrols.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Why should Israel provide security for Chabad houses out of Israel? Should they also provide security for my children’s yeshivos in Lakewood if Israelis attend? Perhaps the frequently visiting businessmen could help out, but get this: Chabad does not support these places so that people will have a place to eat, but so that Jews will have a kosher place to eat, a place where they can be introduced to Yiddishkeit. Is this the responsibility of the Israeli government? And it’s not about their being Charedim. If they were Christian Israel-loving missionaries, they also would not receive security.
    Anyway, do you think one or even two security guards could have stopped these machine gun-toting madmen? They would have been the first ones dead.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    y should they do it they are not a jewish nation that seeks to help yiden around the globe.

    but the kedushim were killed becouse they were considerd isrealis.

    UNDERSTAND???????????????

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    i have nothing against chabad, i even admire the idea of chbad houses, but from now on, when ever i go to a third world countr, i will never goin to a chabad house even for a minyan. not only this i will stay away from hotels that are right a few blocks near the chabad houses. its just to bad we live in this kind of world.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Chabad provides a place for Jews to come and participate in all types of religious activity in a open and relaxed atmosphere. The state of Israel benefts from this because this makes these Israelis more appreciative of their heritage and more commited to their connection to Israel. Many of them would not return to Israel if they were left alone in foreign countries. It is for this reason that many Israeli consulates encourage support & participate in Yom Tov events (like 2000 people at a Seder in Katmandu Nepal) and other Chabad functions all over the world. Maybe their is some justification in this Idea. Food for Thought!

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    The Rambam holds under certain circumstances (eg zman oppression) one must do ANY mitzvah, but does this include staying in a Makom Sakana when one doesn’t have to? Is this even Mutar? And even worse — Shlepping one’s family and possibly other Yidden (Guards?) to a Makom Sakana. Mutar?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    “Chabad houses have so far had an “open door” policy, and the movement’s heads are considering changing this and funding new security arrangements.”
    WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! NOT CONSIDERING NOTHING! THIS IS WHAT CHABAD IS ABOUT! MAYBE HE SECURITY BUT NOT THE OPEN DOOR POLICY…. WHO SOLD YOU THIS?

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    BS”D

    I am a Lubavitcher abroad and the last thing I would want to see is security provided by the state.

    1) We are not “Israeli” and we do not need to become targets of anti-Israeli peace demonstrators and the like. We are apolitical and want to stay that way.

    2) Security guards in E”Y are notoriously anti charedi with the pretense that terrorists dress up as charedim. Here, where I am, B”H the very professional security team knows the difference between me coming to shul at midnight with a sefer and then taking out another sefer, and a suspicious person daring to enter shul at such an unusual hour. In EY I was routinely harassed when I brought tefillin into Center 1 and the tachana hamerkazit because I am a soft target in that the guard can be seen to be doing his job by examining me.

    Providing advice to security teams, on a paid basis, is one thing, but Chabad is a local institution in each place that it operates, and not a part or responsibility of any foreign government.

    .
    .
    15 years ago

    Oy!

    I have no love for the government of the “State of Israel” and do have much respect for Chabad. Though I am very far from being a Chabad person, I do believe Chabad does much more for Jews and Judaism than the “State of Israel.”

    However, in this case, the “State of Israel” is correct.
    1. It is not their job to offer protection to ANY operation outside of their borders other than they embassies. To do so, may actually be considered inflammatory by the host country.
    2. For Chabad to accept such protection, would hurt Chabad’s credibility

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Israeli security at internationally located Chabad houses would make them much more of a target than they presently are. I would never enter such a Chabad house if they had Israeli government agents or soldiers or security officers.

    Sure, Chabad houses in some areas need security. But this needs to be PURCHASED by them from the hosting country’s police!
    This way they are getting much better protection, since the security personnell will be actual police officers, and they will have their departments behind them in case of emergency. Also, terrorists would be more hesitant to attack a location protected by the local police, instead of loving the idea of attacking a place guarded by Israelis.

    Anonymous
    Anonymous
    15 years ago

    Security Wouldn’t Have Helped, You Think The Hotel Had No Security?

    GREEF
    GREEF
    15 years ago

    let the “tzivos hashem” gaurd the chabad. why is israel obligated? they are busy enough as it is on a daily basis protecting israel round the clock . if the americans posting here feel so strongly, YOU leave brooklyn , got train in the idf and then become a private security gaurd for all the holztzbergs in all the houses around the globe. until you do that SHUT UP and dont judge israel. its impossible for them to take this one when they are thwarting terror attacks from taking place every single day!!!