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| Blocked ambulance at 'Days of Rage' protest (YWN) |
Unfortunately, this isn’t news, disgusting though it may be. I am not at all surprised by it. I wasn’t even going to address it – since I have done so more times than I can count. But I am so disgusted by the video images featured on YWN that I can’t stay silent – even though I have expressed my views on these ‘people’more than once.
Once again, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach (who founded and heads the political party Peleg) has authorized a ‘day of rage’ protest by his young fans. (Only a day has turned into 4 days it seems.) And have once again caused havoc in the city of Jerusalem. That they don’t mind getting their way at the expense of others is not a surprise for people that behave like Vilde Chayos (wild animals).
One video depicts a women trying to capture the protest on her smart-phone being verbally and physically attacked by some of the young people in this crowd yelling ‘Shiksa’ at her. She fought back. Good for her.
Another video depicts a Mogen Dovid Adom (Israel’s Red Cross) ambulance being blocked by the crowd protesters. Have they no respect for human life?! What is the matter with these people?
Yet another video shows frustrated secular Israelis reacting to Peleg with violence!
Why is this happening now?
Apparently a Kenesset maneuver to cancel a recent agreement exempting Charedim from army service and find a solution more suitable to both sides - has generated this response. (Not that Rabbi Auerbach was ever happy with the way that the exemption was structured. Peleg protested that too. Despite the fact that his rabbinic peers were satisfied with it!)
These people do not know the meaning of peaceful protest. Only this time people are fighting back. And I say ‘good for them’. From YWN:
While the Peleg continues on their mission to cause mayhem in Jerusalem on their “day of rage”, they appear to have ignited a fire. And not like the fires burning earlier in Kikar Shabbos started by the protesters.
It appears that irreligious Israelis have multiple times in the past four days attacked Peleg protesters. There have been quite a few incidents reported to police of being attacked by motorists stuck in traffic for hours or other people just randomly walking to a protest and fighting with the Peleg.
I have no sympathy for the protesters. Even though they have been persuaded by a religious leader to act this way, decent people don’t try and get their way at the expense of others. As for their ‘religious’ leader, he is being Machtei the Rabbim – causing many people to sin. He is responsible for a creating Chilul HaShem.
The Gemarah tells us: B’Makom Chilul HaShem, Ein Cholkin Kavod L’Rav. One should not honor a Rabbi that is responsible for a Chilul HaShem. Rabbi Auerbach has therefore lost any respect that otherwise might be due him, in my view.
As much profound respect as I had for his father, Rav Shlomo Zalman, ZTL, – I have that much bitter disdain for his son. My opinions of father and son could no be more disparate!
Rabbi Auerbach (the son) has rejected the wisdom of fellow Charedi leaders that have opted to work with the government for compromise with respect to Charedim and the military. And this rejection has caused untold anguish, discomfort, and in some cases even physical harm to many innocent people by virtue of protests like this. – many of whom are Charedim just like him.
He may be entitled to his opinion. But is not entitled to tell his fans to have a ‘day of rage’ that may end up hurting innocent people and causing a Chilul HaShem. By doing so, Rabbi Auerbach has abdicated any claim to religious leadership that he may have once had.
I should note that there are American Charedi rabbis that actually support Rabbi Auerbach and have joined rallies by extremists in America that agree with his view.
I would tell these rabbis to mind their own business. Let them work on their own issues in America and not worry about what is going on in Israel with respect to Charedim and the draft. Which is exactly what they were told by Charedi rabbis in Israel from the majority leadership that opposes Rabbi Auerbach. Good for them!
If I were the Israeli government, I would have Rabbi Auerbach arrested for incitement to riot. Now that might generate a protest that will make this one seem like a day (or 4 days) in Disneyland. But that should not deter the government from acting. And if such a protest should develop, the government would have every right to fill the jails with protesters if necessary.
The way these young protesters dress should not fool anyone. They may look like any other Charedi in their white shirts, black jackets and pants, and black hats. But they are ‘under the influence’. They have been indoctrinated to believe that they are ’fighting for God’. They need to be disabused of this false notion right quick! They need to be deprogrammed! If it takes a little jail time to sober them up – then so be it.
Most of the Charedim I know in Israel are extremely depressed about Rabbi Auerbach and Peleg. This is an ‘in-fight’ among Charedim that is of no benefit to anyone. Nothing good will come from this. So far it has caused grief; generated hatred – and even physical attacks against those Charedim - and even to rabbinic leaders - that disagree with their tactics.
This has to end!
I am so sick of Rabbi Auerbach and his zombie fans . No one that causes their fans to behave this way should be tolerated. I know that his rabbinic peers have condemned - or at least severely criticized him. But mere lip service to that effect is meaningless. There needs to be some radical action taken and if Rabbi Auerbach is deemed to have incited his fans to riot, he ought to pay the price.