On Sunday, a huge number of ultra-Orthodox Israelis rallied against the proposed draft law at the entrance to Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands — organizers said half a million while police put the number at some 300,000 — attended the protest, which sealed off the entrance to the capital for hours. Unlike previous protests, the event was largely peaceful, without clashes between demonstrators and police.
Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox have gathered at the entrance to Jerusalem to protest a draft law moving through the Knesset which would impose criminal sanctions on Haredi draft dodgers.
Carrying placards calling to rise up for the “Torah of Moshe” and declaring they would never submit to a Knesset bill that would dramatically increase IDF service among the ultra-Orthodox communities, protesters have created a sea of black and white near the central bus station in the capital.
Many are wearing sackcloth, symbolizing mourning for the creation of the law, following decades during which the ultra-Orthodox were able to claim an exemption from army service.
Some 3,500 police and other personnel were securing the massive demonstration, which is expected to draw upwards of half a million people, making it one of the largest in the country’s history.
Organizers billed the event as a “million-man protest” and a prayer rally.
The Magen David Adom rescue service said it had upped its readiness level to prepare for the crush of demonstrators at the event near the entrance to the capital.
The demonstration is expected to bring much of the capital to a standstill.
By 3 p.m. traffic issues had rippled outside the capital, with heavy congestion reported on area highways.
Police say the demonstration will snarl traffic, close roads and shut down public transportation around the entrance to the city and the Knesset.
Route 1, the main road between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, closed after 2 p.m. Sunday from the Latrun area to the capital, and the Jerusalem Central Bus Station also shut down in the afternoon, along with much public transportation in the city.
“We have no intention of the large demonstration turning into a riot,” Jerusalem District police chief Yossi Pariente told Ynet. “We have coordinated with the protesters that there won’t be riots and we hope they stand by it.”
In the past, ultra-Orthodox protests over the draft issue have turned violent. Earlier this month in Ashdod, a protest that drew several hundred led to over a dozen arrests for rioting.
A major proponent of the Haredi draft, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, came out against the demonstration on Saturday night, asserting that “military service is not a ‘decree’” – as some ultra-Orthodox leaders have been referring to it – “but rather a big mitzvah.”
The latest version of the draft bill has faced scathing criticism from ultra-Orthodox leaders over its inclusion of individual criminal sanctions against draft-dodgers that would kick in if the community as a whole failed to meet rising quotas for the draft. But it has also faced criticism from proponents of an equal draft for delaying such criminal sanctions until mid-2017, after the next election.
Police say that contrary to organizers’ assessments, some 300,000 protesters are at the rally.
MK Moshe Gafni of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party tells Walla News that there are 600,000 present, and that the effort is an “extraordinary success.”
“We are sad that it has come to this. I hope that there will be no provocation on the sidelines and that it remains a prayer [rally]. The Torah saves the Jewish people and will continue to protect the Jewish nation, and we here will continue to learn Torah,” he says.
The rally, which at 400,000-strong would make it one of the largest in the country’s history, can be heard clear on the other side of the city.
The largest gathering in the country’s history occurred just a few kilometers from today’s protest, as some 850,000 people, according to some estimates, attended the funeral of Shas leader Ovadia Yosef on October 7, 2013.
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why dont the chabad bochrim tuck in
Dear # 30, I used to be a citizen of ‘The Medina.’ I visited often and lived in ‘Sefat’ for two years. Your attitude is very misdirected. ‘The Medina,’ being secular (No, it’s NOT a Jewish State, but more, ‘A State of Jews.’ Let’s be clear and honest.) You are separating Jews from involvement in Israeli doings when ‘The Torah’ states we are all one.’ If your attitude is shared by many soldiers it is a sad state of mind — and FALSE! How can you start a secular state on a land given to YOU, the secularists, by religious… Read more »
איך אתה מעיז להגיד את דעתו של הרבי, ועוד כשהדיעה שאתה מייחס לרבי היא דיעה שמונוגת לשיחותיו הקודושות???
that even though these pictures are only of men, women were encourage to participate and there are also pictures of women standing at the rally.
For all these rabbanim are gung-ho about tzniut . . .
you are right, I agree with you
Those learning Torah are protecting the land.The sicha was recently publisized.
Tell me of ONE democratic country that does not have differences of opinion, arguments, and demonstrations. (And this was a PEACEFUL demonstration, and all they did was say Tehilim, Shema, and hold signs!!!) I do not understand how this is a Chilul Hashem.
“Is this what we want the world to think of us?” What do you mean by THIS? what’s wrong with the world seeing that citizens of a country are peacefully demonstrating against a law? All it shows is that Israel is a democracy, and that differences of opinion are allowed.
to # 27
You would never let a loved one enter the IDF but have no problem letting someone elses loved one defend your family ???
Israel is surrounded by nations that hate her and don’t acknowledge her right to exist but we can travel freely there , vacation there and live in security there, all on the backs of someone elses kids ……its shameful
if you are right you go to the armry
לכל אחד שהוא כתב נגד אני רוצה להגיד לכם אני יודע בדיוק מה שהולך שם אם הרבי ז”ל היה יודע מה שהולך שם באידשקייט הוא היה עושה שטורמען הרבה הרבה יותר מה שהיה אתמול שבשום פנים ואופן הוא לא היה מסכים לאף אחד ללכת שם פשוט אי אפשר ליהות שמה א חסידשע בחור עם ירא שמים ותפסיקו עם כל השטיות נגד העצרת זה לא היה הפגנה בכלל בכלל לא זה היה תפלה להרבוו של עולם
oye are you right!!!
MAMAMIA!!!
I want to begin by saying I mean no disrespect to any of the above comments. Firstly, I am going to go ahead and assume, that not many of you live in Israel. That being said, even if you follow politics here you do not truly understand the situation. When you move to Israel, which I hope you all do, then you can have opinions on the draft bill. It is nice to know that Jews in Chul (Chutz L’Aretz) think about us and express opinions on what our government should or shouldn’t do, but it is not your place.… Read more »
Thank you for your clear and respectful explanation.
yup…….here it is …………..opinions, arguments, insults, pride, embarrassment etc. It’s still questionable whether this is the right way. It was billed as a demonstration. The word itself is confrontational. here is the definition: a public meeting or march protesting against something or expressing views on a political issue. It was not billed as an achdus Yisroel rallly. I question whether this can be called a kiddush Hashem. Additionally, who is paying for the huge cleanup? That’s good Jewish money – wasted! If you want to make a kiddush Hashem you keep it all clean – no need to have a… Read more »
Good idea?
Why don’t the ‘Daati’ start a lawsuit, (International?) declaring that they don’t want to enter an army that needlessly puts it’s young people in harms way. It’s know that the Israeli govt. doesn’t protect it’s soldiers and they often get harmed or killed because of the fear the govt. of Israel has of the world’s opinion. For instance the MV Mavi Marmara where sailors/soldiers were needlessly brutalized. I believe 3 are still disabled. How about ‘Gaza,’ ‘Lebanon,’ etc. etc.
I would NEVER let a loved-one enter The IDF, unless ‘The Rebbe, MH”M,’ told me to do so.
I like all those who claim to know what HKB”H wants. My question to them is:
And Who made YOU Shofet Olam?
If you can say that ANYONE has no place in Chabad, then you are not a chassid.
How many people bh!!
in support the zionist entity then you have no place in Chabad, no knowledge of Torah, and you need to sign off the internet and re-evaluate your life.
I was there yesterday. Frum newspapers reported 800,000 attendees. In my opinion, this is an understatement. I am familiar with Jerusalem street and have been to many gatherings, Jewish and non, and i know how to count. But numbers arent always important. To my fellow commentators, the situation in Israel is not a simple one. The Secular flagging the orthodox for not serving in the army is just an excuse to brand them as third class citizens. No one NEEDS them in the army, and no one WANTS them. But as they know that Army service isny compatible to Orthodox… Read more »
unless you are a serious bochur and not merely warming the benches of yeshivah, then your learning is on par with those fighting at the front lines. But woe to those who bum around and use yeshivah as an excuse to get away with not serving. your blood is no thicker than anyone else’s!
I agree that these kids would prefer the, still legal, way out of their military service by attending yeshiva – that’s logical. Military services is difficult and whose looking to make life more difficult. However, they forget that this was a mistake that Ben Gurian made in 52 and that the Israeli government finally realized that the country needs the frum community as well.
It’s incredibly selfish that these people think that their Jewish blue is somehow redder than the next guy’s. Granted, army service it tough, but make it a religious issue.
Chabad has no esek in this chilul Hashem.
Can someone please explain…
I’d understand if they protested over not
Being coerced to defile the Torah while in the services.
But it seems they don’t want to be drafted into צהל at all.
The argument of who learn or who will daven doesn’t really apply. As there are older and younger that can daven n learn.
Ukvar hayta lanu “mi ben esrim v’ma’ala”
What am I not understanding?
or is this a red herring to detract the attention away from what the government are doing… selling israel for a penny. Why doesnt everyone protest about that? If thtey would, Israel would be a safer place today.
Moishe Rabeinu would’ve been ashamed.
Since when are B’nai Torah PATUR from defese of AM YISROEL against our enemies? NOT!!!
If one is TRULY Toraso Umnaso, then he might be patur, but those who do not learn YOMAM VALAYLA, are CHAYAV in defense of THEIR people.
I would have dragged him out. I am disgusted by this protest – they are moral cowards. It’s OK for frei Yidden to die, but they mustn’t defend their (our) people? And there ARE alternatives – Sherut service (community service) which Chabad has been allowed to do, since they do it anyway (we call it Mivtzoim.) So Chabad had no business being there.
Who is it they think is going to defend them down the road?
These people are self absorbed, shortsighted, and sufficiently delusional. I fear this won’t end well.
Not sure how the Rebbe would have responded to this. I look at the overall picture. We shlepped in young kids who don’t really understand – all they know is what they are told. They now know that the way to get things done is with demonstrating and making a big tumult. It’s a lesson that was taught a while ago and now seems to be the accepted way. This goes for every argument, disagreement, or personal vendettas – they all get published and announced. Then we have fodder for more arguments, discussions and table talk. How many thousands of… Read more »
I hope they change the law!!
Just imagine what the crowds
will be like when Moshiach arrives
Incredible achdus of so many Yidden gathered together B”H
Printing Tanya
Singing niggunim and saying pesukim
Amazing!!!
Ad Mosai
We want Moshiach Now!
im lubavitch and i agree with the protesters
if they’re all in the army then who will be davening for the soldiers? wow!
make this galus end
L.G
Go צמח אלפסי .
There’s a certain amount of irony in this situation…
Enough of Chabad enlisting in the IDF! We are Chassidim and a bochur’s place is in Yeshiva!
What an incredible site
alls well that ends well
בשלטון הכופרים אין אנו מאמינים
good lock
save us from the hands of our brothers