By COLlive reporter
Letters signed by Crown Heights Beis Din members Rabbi Yaacov Schwei, Rabbi Avraham Osdoba and Rabbi Yosef Braun are urging residents to partake in a gathering in New York against the Israel draft bill.
The gathering is planned for this Sunday in Lower Manhattan as a show of support following last week’s massive prayer March in Jerusalem.
A teleconference on Thursday detailed the purpose of Sunday’s mass rally, where Rabbi Shlomo Gertzulin of Agudath Israel of America outlined logistics for the event.
“We are expecting a huge crowd of maybe 50,000 or more,” Rabbi Gertzulin told VIN News.
There will be no speeches during Sunday’s event, which will take place at 2 o’clock in the Wall Street area, starting with Tefillas Mincha.
“The main purpose of this is to daven to Hashem, to protect those who want to continue the Torah way of life,” said Rabbi Gertzulin, who noted that while Agudath Israel is helping coordinate the event, it is a community wide event under the auspices of numerous rabbonim and gedolim.
Although the letter encouraging the public’s participation is signed by over 45 rabbis, no Chabad or Crown Heights Rabbis were included. A request as to why they were not included has yet to be answered.
Organizers asked participants not to bring signs in order to maintain the dignity and decorum of the Atzeres Tefilla.
The NYPD and counter-terrorism bureau will be out in force to ensure the security of the area and will begin sweeping the area one day before the planned rally, VIN News reported. For security reasons, no briefcases, backpacks or large packages will be allowed into the area.
The gathering will take place, rain or shine, on Water Street, from Broad Street to Peck Slip, just north of Fulton Street. There will be separate areas for men and women, with the women’s section located from Fulton Street to Peck Slip and the men located from Broad Street north to Fulton Street.
“We expect very significant street closures in the area,” warned Rabbi Gertzulin who said that all participants are urged to take mass transit to the area.
According to Rabbi Gertzulin, many shuls, yeshivos and community groups are organizing transportation to the event and busses are expected to come from Balitmore, Philadelphia, Lakewood, Monsey and other areas.
By having this protest out on the street for public display, it gives the impression that people, are, chas v’shalom, directing their prayers to the Israeli government and not to Hashem. How is this tznius? How can they stop female pedestrians from walking in the men’s section?
Where was the “yeshiva world” when Gush Katif was given away?
WHY AREN”T THESE PEOPLE PROTESTING SOMETHING THAT THE REBBE STORMED ABOUT-THE SO-CALLED PEACE PROCESS AND LAND GIVEAWAYS!
WHY AREN’T THEY PROTESTING THAT ALL JEWISH CHILDREN IN ISRAEL DO NOT LEARN TORAH OR DAVEN? IF WE STRENGTHEN HASHEM’S ARMY-TZIVOS HASHEM-THEN WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SECULAR ARMY!
SHAME ON YOU! the jewish nation always believed that there has to be Torah study alongside those at war! besides this army unfortunately does not promote religious behavior unfortunately!
Why should we make a spectacle for the goyim? There’s enough hatred of Israel without non-Jews in Manhattan seeing thousands of Jews protesting because they don’t want to be in the IDF (and annoying people by clogging up the sidewalks). They won’t understand the issues, they will just see Jews fighting Jews and opposing the Israeli government. This is chillul Hashem.
SEE IGROS KODESH VOL. 19 PAGE 21
ALL the Rabbanim of CH say to go, who are we to disagree??
DAAS BALEY BATIM HEIPECH DAAS TORAH!
Forget about the draft for a moment.The real problem is that many Chareidim do not understand that the job of a Jew is to strengthen his people and not just to learn Torah 24/7.The Rebbe made that very clear when he advised people not to be concerned if their learning time got diminished if higher priorities came their way. The elitist Kolel culture which sees working as a 2nd class activity and those many Chareidim who never protested about the Gush Katif expulsion because the settlers were Mizrachi Zionists have to refocus their mindset . When they start realizing that… Read more »
Shluchim tell people we don’t sign hatikvah because we don’t want to make people who are not pro-israel uncomfortable (ok it’s not true I get it but still) but it’s ok to associate with what is seen by the vast majority of non-frum/modern orthodox as parasitic, allowing other people to do the dirty work and risk their lives etc. etc.
Rightfully so!
…that our esteemed Rabonim Shlita are not aware of the true agenda of the organizers of the rally in NY and in Eretz Yisrael and therefore do not know that their Hashkofa is completely against that of our Rebbe.
This makes me sick. Yidden fighting yidden. They need to growup come to some sort of an agreement and make Israel a kiddush hashem.
At least they are not calling it a demonstration – that word itself is very confrontational. I have no issue with klal Yisroel gathering together for tfilla and tzedaka – but the message here is Jew against Jewish.. the flavor is bitter. Granted it’s a result of government planning major changes that frighten many. If it is believed that their plans are wrong, then do two wrongs make a right? Is this a kiddush Hashem? That is the only question to be considered. If it is not then it is wrong .. if yes then it is a good thing.… Read more »
The idf is not a place for a frum yid, not to mention a yeshiva bochur.
it seems the organizers think the window of heaven is the biggest place of klipah,, money ville. bh we have a rebbe mhm, and we have our 770, beis rabeinu sh’bavel… someone should organize a pertinent conference in the shchuna kan tziva, we don’t need makumtumamanhattan to daven mincah, thats just for mitzvoim, nothing else.
its a great chilul hashem to protest against israel together with satmar in front of all the goyim. hashem yerachem.
The Israeli government, even the far left, have demonstrated time and again that they are willing to work out a compromise. They can push off the draft until a bochur is out of Yeshiva, and they have separate programs in the IDF for Chareidim that in many cases only require paper pushing and no battle. They can also greatly limit the mandatory time served. The chareidim keep aggravating them by mooching off the taxpaying Israeli workers and cursing and shaming the government, all while living securely under the protection of the “frei” young soldiers. Chabad supports Israel, and the left… Read more »
Right on #8, its our land from Hashem, we should do whatever is needed, proudly.
So basically to you Israel will be punished regardless?
I see a no win-win situation here.
The Rebbe did not support mass public protests. Does not accomplish anything and does not bring Jews closer to Yiddishkeit.
serve your country, or get out! You get out. This is a Lubavitcher site. The Rebbe’s word is law, and you have no right to oppose him here. The Rebbe’s opinion was very clear: a yeshivah bochur who is learning full time is doing more to defend the country than any soldier, and it is both wicked and stupid to drag him away from his seforim. The gemoro is equally clear: talmidei chachomim are exempt from the draft, and one who drafts them will be punished by Hashem. #4 the Rebbe did not support mass public protests Since when? Stop… Read more »
To 17:
Good point. Was Breslov also omitted form the Kol Koreh?
BS”D 1.I wonder if all the bachorim bashers would be so vehement if it were they or their sons drafted
2 Shall a bochor suffer bc we need to stand on principle. If the Rav said go who is one to dare discourage participating
its very nice to say that people in israel should be drafted for three years in the army but would you like to be drafted for three years but the main point is is that they dont need or want the chareidim in the army it is part of the movement against chareidim since they are afraid of the growth rate of the chareidi population they will try anything to mellow them down in their religious beliefs is this what you are supporting especially since we are all effected if israel isnt as religious then it will effect yahadus America… Read more »
Who said they need us to rent a crowd?! They never asked lubavitch to come!
I am not Lubavitch, but I think that you shouldn’t be so sensitibve about not being on the Kol Korai. Satmar wasnt included either because they don’t normally affiliate with Agudas Yisroel, yet Rav Aron Teitelbaum told all his followers to go and the Rav Zalman Leib Teitelbaum will likely follow on Motzei Shabbos when he is making his decisison. This has the potential to be the largest gathering of frum Jewry in American history. I urge our Lubavitch friends to take part in this.
The happenings in Israel aside, the Israeli and Amercian Chareidim tend to mange to sound and act strange when it comes to protesting anything. Maybe it’s the message maybe it’s the messenger. In this age of sound bites that’s all that matters.
Let the Bochurim and Yungeleit Learn torah and Chasidus better than going with all the snamgs there.
Im sure Satmer will not be there anyway along with many others.
Let lakewood go and fight it.
The rebbe might not be against bochurim who dont learn anyway to join the army?! the Rebbe wanted guys who learn to learn but half the guys dont learn anyway so why not serve to protect the country. the rebbe said both jobs are important. If you dont lean then serve baby!!!!!!
What are complaining about? we shouldnt have to protect the jewish nation? sit inside and enjoy our learning all day while the others die for us?! doesnt feel right to me and many others in our own community…follow your heart people..
If we should attend the protest when their advertisements omits Chabad is a good question, and I guess our Rabbanim decided to put cause above ego and that’s the answer plain and simple. To all of those criticizing this protest b/c its against the IDF you plainly don’t understand Israeli politics. Sadly most of the Frum leadership is terrible at P.R so the real pointers haven’t gotten out there. 1) No Israeli Arabs are forced to serve. They make up 20% of Israel and enjoy full benefits. 2) Many Kibbutzniks enjoy a service of less then 18 months. 3) Thousands… Read more »
We’re being asked to show our support for parasites who have no problems taking handouts from the State but who refuse to give back? Seriously? When I see these Rabbonim in principle taking NOTHING from the State (and that includes not flying through Ben Gurion, not visiting the kosel which we have access to thanks to IDF paratroopers, and of course not accepting State funds for our Mosdos), then I’ll respect their desire and beliefs. When I see them offering productive suggestions and alternatives rather than behaving like spoiled children, then these proclamations might carry some weight. Until then, I’ll… Read more »
IF THERE ARE THIS MANY PEOPLE GATHERING TOGETHER CAN SOMEONE THERE PLEASE MAKE THE PEOPLE THERE SHOUT OUT ‘AD MASAI! WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!”
WE SHOULD ALL BE DRAFTED INTO HASHEM’S ARMY OF TZVIOS HASHEM AND MARCH TO THE GEULAH!
EVERYONE EVEN OUT OF TOWN AT THE TIME OF THIS GATHERING PLEASE SHOUT OUT ‘AD MASAI! WE WANT MOSHIACH NOW!”
#8 nebach that you can’t understand that this has nothing to do with wanting to not put their life on the line. The IDF is not a place for a yeshiva bochur.
not one chabad rov was asked so sign the paper, but then they ask chabad to join to rent a crowed?
boycott it
So what are we praying for at the rally? That Hashem should help us avoid defending Israel while everyone else is putting their lives on the line for it?
What kind of mentality is this? Why is this being endorsed by Chabad?
What’s next? Should we daven to Hashem that the government should continue to help us remain unemployed and get free benefits?
No, that is not true.
Especially in this case: see the recent teshura from the Laufer wedding, where R’ Uriel Tzimmer a”h writes about the Rebbe sending the bochurim to an Agudah protest, re girls serving in the IDF.
Please check your sources b4 making blanket statements like that.
Berel
You undeoubtedly were not there. I was – and they were holy ralleys, extremely inspiring – not for the program necessarily – but you could feel the Rebbe there with you. It had that strength.
There things are protests “dkedusha” and are part of the battles of Moshiach coming.
halocho b’yodua aisov sinei l’yaakov. the famous a.m. kotler who said that Lubavitch is not part of klal yisroel(&others like him) won’t let Rabbi Aharon Y. Schwei be on the list with him. especially since the list is according to alef bais, that could put Rabbi schwei in the top 3!
the Rebbe did not support mass public protests
serve your country, or get out!
Thank you Horav Schwei & Horav Braun.
Good Shabes.
so they need us for “rent a crowd” but they dont even have ONE SINGLE chabad rav on this paper !!!!