[By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times]
Let no one think that the protests happening in Israel are by any means justifiable. They are a clear violation of many prohibitions in the Torah. But before we get to that, let’s get some background as to what is currently happening.
THE DEBATE
There is a great debate in the Chareidi world in Eretz Yisroel about how to best deal with the forced registration for the draft of Yeshiva students. Rav Aron Leib Shteinman Shlita is of the opinion that the Yeshiva students should register for the army at the induction centers, and rely upon the tacit understanding that they will not be drafted.
Rav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita, head of Peleg Yerushalmi, is of the opinion that the Chareidi yeshiva students should not register for the draft at all. A number of Chareidi families have switched their schools on account of this debate.
It should be noted that both Rabbis are brilliant Gedolei HaDor and Tzaddikim. The debate is thus a rather painful issue in the Torah world – somewhat akin to the pain of children whose parents are divorcing, r”l. The debate has not only torn apart the Chareidi world in Eretz Yisroel, it has also torn apart families.
THE YESHIVA STUDENT
This past Sunday evening, a 24 year-old Jerusalem yeshiva student was arrested at a protest in Yerushalayim. The young man is a follower of Rav Shmuel Auerbach Shlita and is following his instructions. According to an article in HaPeles, the young man was arraigned in the Jerusalem Magistrate Court after his arrest. He was to be released under house arrest with restrictions, as often happens in such cases. However, instead of releasing him, he was handed over to military police, who now are holding him without bail in a military jail because he had not registered for the draft.
THE NATIONWIDE PROTESTS
In reaction to this arrest, on Monday night, hundreds of Peleg Yerushalmi affiliated yeshiva students took to the streets and highways across the country.
On Tuesday evening, some 50 demonstrators who tried to block major roads and junctions in Jerusalem, Modiin, Beit Shemesh and Bnei Brak were arrested.
At the Bar-Ilan Junction in Yerushalayim on Tuesday, dozens of protesters intermittently blocked the road and caused heavy traffic congestion in the approaching roads. Police arrested 15 people at that demonstration. Other protesters tried to block Shivtei Yisrael Street in Jerusalem and were dispersed by police.
On Tuesday night, 25 Peleg Yerushalmi students stopped an entire highway and began singing, “Aye aye aye tzion.” The cars that were blocked waited until the police either escorted or arrested the protestors.
The protests have caused a groundswell of anger among Israelis across the country. Police officers have been injured. The protestors have caused massive delays and forced closures of highways. Rocks have been thrown, trashbins have been set on fire. People missed flights, arrived late home from work, etc. Ambulances were delayed. Tens of thousands of people were inconvenienced.
Rabbis who encourage the protests are unaware of both the repercussions of the actions of the protestors or the more extreme measures that the protestors have taken up by themselves. Those close to these Rabbis tell them that such information are fabrications – lies. But they are not. It is thus incumbent on those who have entry to the Rabbinic supporters of protestors to explain the repercussions.
Rav Eliezer Menachem Shach zt”l, however, was aware of some of the repercussions and extreme measures that protestors take. He spent time and effort clarifying to his followers that at all times protestors must act with the utmost derecho eretz – like true Bnei Torah. The enclosed video is just one example of such a speech that Rav Shach zt”l had given.
