Jerusalem – Haredi riots aimed at preventing civilian traffic on Rehov Hanevi’im reached a new height on Saturday afternoon, when over a hundred men of various sects tried to scare secular residents into steering clear of the Jerusalem thoroughfare, shouting “Shabbes,” pelting cars with stones and spitting on passersby.
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At least one secular man was arrested after being accused by police of “provocation.”
The man was driving his car on Rehov Hanevi’im when a large rock was thrown at the vehicle. He stepped out of the car and asked an officer why the police had shown up in such small numbers, faced with such a large and violent crowd.
He was told to “get out of here” or face arrest. When he said he had a right to use the road, he was handcuffed and taken away.
Police officers repeatedly pushed to the ground haredi men who were throwing themselves at the windshields of every passing car, while secular women who were dressed in a way considered immodest were spat upon.
Several of the most violent rioters were lightly injured, mostly because of falling or jumping on the cars passing by.
There were fewer than 10 police officers on the scene, in three patrol cars. At the riot’s climax at around 6:30 p.m., the number of haredi protesters reached about 150.
Every time a protester tried to block cars from driving through the street, the officers who came to pull him away were besieged by the angry mob with shouts of “Nazis” and “anti-Semites,” and they were also spat upon.
Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel Ben Ruby said that between 50 to 150 haredim have been protesting at the intersection for the past few months. Police consider it a “gathering” rather than a protest, and therefore the demonstrators are not required to request permission from the police to hold a legal demonstration.
It is not acting in a mentch like manner for these protestors to throw rocks at cars (endangering the occupants), or to spit at women, whom they consider to have dressed immodestly. When the protestors act in that manner with impunity, it brings to mind religious intolerance in other countries, where people are watched by religious police.
So there causing Jews to be mechalel shabbos by causing them slow down or stop and accelerate again. And throwing stones? Aren’t stones muktza? Such animals. Then people wonder why.
when will they realize that protesting chilul shabbos does not work kiruv works show them our brothers how special shabbos is
This is not who we are as a people. Rock throwing, spitting, and name calling are beyond outrageous. Not everyone that drives on Shabbos is a secular Jew, so restricting all acccess on every single road is a bit much. For the literal love of G-D, we have got to stop creating chilulei Hashem not only to the outside world, but within our world as well. They love Shabbos and want everyone to abide by the rules, as do I, I get it. But maybe invite folks over for a meal instead of assaulting them? This is not Judaism and not at all what I signed on for when I became frum. All of us need to wake up and try a little Ahavat Yisrael instead of Churban Yisrael. We waste precious energy and our future when we stoop this low.
what the police are doing is right, if they show up with more officers more ”protesters” will come out and would start a huge hafagana
How does throwing stones and blocking traffic increase their own observance of shabbos? They should peacefully demonstrate and plead with the unobservant on Thursday so they themselves can be shiner shabbos in a proper manner. What they are doing is not only chillul shabbos but a chillul Hashem as well. It is a black eye for all religious Jews around the world.
This is absolutely ridiculous. The roads are public thoroughfares open to all, period! The Haredim need to stop behaving like animals. Where are their leaders? Why do they remain silent?
Anger does not work to prevent desecration of the Torah love works better. These people should invite each driver to their home for a Shaboss meal. There are many in Meah Shiarim who already do this and it is very effective and have made many Baal Teshuvas. Only a small minority of the residents of Meah Shiarim use the viloent method to protest against Shaboss desecration. Only 150 protesters showed up to this incident which proves most do not participate in this type of behavior. I lived in Meah Shiarim for seven years and I witnessed only a few incidents like this in that time. There are hundreds of residents of Meah Shiarim who invite non-religious guests to their Shaboss meals every Shaboss and it has had a very good effect upon their guests.
They are not protesting chilul shabbos, they are protesting it bring allowed in their neighborhood. There is a difference.
This site has become a anti-haredi site.
This is not exactly the best way to teach these tinokos shenishba about the beauty of shabbos.
The religion that I was taught by my parents and by my Yeshiva did not include throwing rocks or spitting at people. It did include reaching out to others.
What religion do the rock throwers belong to? It is not Judaism. They might dress Jewish and speak Yiddish, but someone who throws rocks and spits and other human beings is not a Jew.
How do you know ANY of the jpost story is true? We just read that the beis-din-sanctioned stoning of a dog was a lie, even though it was published by nearly every news service in the world! Why do you think the jpost is correct this time and our fellow jews are in the wrong?
this is a patently false story the reason there r only 10 police is because this is nonviolent and no more r needed i have seen these nuts they have beeen doing this for 2 years alraedy and just stand and screem and listen to police ordrers