The Jerusalem Post
Photos, Video: Itzik Roytman
NEW YORK – Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered in New York’s financial district on Sunday to protest against a Knesset bill to draft previously exempt yeshiva students into the IDF or national service. The protest, described as a prayer meeting by organizer Agudath Israel of America, was intended to serve as a follow-up to last week’s mega-protest in Jerusalem, which drew a crowd of hundreds of thousands.
The prayers offered at the rally were intended as a plea for divine mercy in the face of Israel’s “ongoing attempt at social engineering of the haredi community,” Agudath Israel said in a statement.
The crowd, estimated by the NYPD at 30,000-35,000, stretched for blocks, closing off Water Street to traffic and turning lower Manhattan into a sea of black hats, white shirts, and long caftans.
Stating that his organization was only the organizer of the rally’s logistics, Agudath Israel spokesman Rabbi Avi Shafran told The Jerusalem Post that there was “no official organization or individual” behind the event.
“It is simply a grass-roots response to the similar gathering in Israel this past Sunday that aimed to pray that the current legislation about conscription of haredim be removed from play,” he added.
An uncredited statement mailed to the Post in the name of the protest leaders stated that efforts to extend conscription to the ultra-Orthodox community are “designed to severely limit the growth of Torah in the Holy Land.”
Don’t we, hasidim, believe that there is only one Jew who is different than everyone – and everyone else is exactly the same in the eyes of Hashem?
dont you know that its your duty to to save the spirituality of the holy land?? as bretheren to the israeli people its our duty to fight for them becaues we have the power that could save. we could have even aved them from gush ka tif because we had the power but we didnt fight hard enough an isaeli singer/soldier said whoever is not learning Torah and not doing in anything else then they must go to the army and i agree but whoever learns Torah should be allowed to learn to their hearts content This is just to… Read more »
But there’s no one to talk you.
Savage on the radio today blasted Lubavitch.
Let’s all sing oh rebbe we need you …All toghter now
no! we were not invited! on purpose! so its very nice that lubavichers went, but when will every one realize that we are NOT wanted?
I disagree with the protest too, but you’re missing the point of it. They are protesting the attack on learning torah (the way they see it anyway). From that perspective, it’s an attack on Judaism worldwide.
I really disagree with this. I believe the bill is totally wrong but we are not israeli citizens, it’s not our fight.Do you see Israelis protesting obamacare?
Good point. But the military needs to accommodate a frum environment, and frum people need to find a kosher way to give back to the country.
Try to explain to yourselves why someone should risk physical harm so you can sit in the comfort of your yeshiva. Want to learn, great. Then, the moment you are done you will serve your time. Whether learning helps is subjective. Sitting on the front lines risking your life is objective. Stop being a chicken under the guise of religiosity.
im a student in yeshiva in crown heights this year, but last year i was in a yeshiva in ISRAEL, and from seeing how many students use yeshiva as in excuse not to got the army ,(ps some of my friends) i honestly think that 80 pct of the students in israeli yeshivas, should go to the army. cause the ones that are serious about learning, and get good grades, should stay in yeshiva!! and learn for the safety for the jews!! and our soldiers!! but the ones that are not paying attention and doing well should go to the… Read more »
why don’t we keep our comments to ourselves and stop writing such nonsense to each other?
The Whole state of israel is a chillul HaShem and completely bitul Torah. It, israel, is the true danger to the world. Better a little time of what you call bitul Torah, if it will help, than the YEARS of bitul Torah that will be if these guys go to the army. Many may not decide to return to observe or learn Torah. Besides the army, even with all yeshiva boys in it, is not protecting the land or the people. “Aiys la hasos la Havaya, hayfayru Torahsechah”. Time to do something for HaShem , the Torah has been disregarded.
I attended this event, said ‘Tehillim,’ and distributed my ‘promotional sheets’ (About 7 sheets, with a discussion) about ‘The Chochmas of the Aleph-Beit’ and ‘The 7 Noahide Laws.’ Listeners LOVED it! “Very interesting!” they would say…etc. A lot of ‘positive feedback.’ Rabbi Nissan Mangel gave me a very big ‘brocho’ for the work I’m doing. I used to have a class in ‘The 7 Noahide Laws’ in Crown Heights. Mr. Don Goodman was the teacher (‘Torah Activist’). We had 7 students. I’m attempting, BE”H, to restart the class. Also, I’m in touch with Mrs. Linda Portera, ‘Director of Neighborhood Services’… Read more »
to author of #43, are you serious???????? one shold be embarsed to tell the rebbe that he protested the forcefull removal of bochrim from a yeshiva????
and clearly one shold be proud to write the rebbe that he is spening time writeing talkbacks online….. עולם הפוך ראיתי
הוי האומרים לרע טוב, ולטוב רע: שמים חושך לאור ואור לחושך, שמים מר למתוק ומתוק למר
funny that you are using reb Yoel’s name. this past Shabbos, he was advising people to attend… it’s clear that the Rebbe would fight forcefully against this גזירה איומה against learning Torah. chazal say: יאבד עולם מפני השוטים ? because you can point to a few who may use this as a personal/political issue, – this doesn’t change any facts. this law is clearly against Torah. It needs to be brought down. the Tzemach Tzedek went on Mesiras Nefesh – fought openly against the mighty Czar of Russia to protect the integrity of Chinuch and Rabbonus, and the NO OTHER… Read more »
On the one hand we want everyone to be Frum. On the other hand we don’t want Frum people to join the military. So who exactly is supposed to defend Israel?!?
I’d like too see you justify yourself why you didn’t listen and are going against the rabbonim who the rebbe always said to listen to!!
‘If they (neturei karta) wouldnt protest then we would have to’
Same here b’h other frumeh yidden at least care about this, because If all other frum even satmar would change heart & join the army, then we as chassidim of the rebe would have to protest all by ourselves.
maybe i am very simple, but it seems we orthodox jews should not be shnorrers, and by expecting israel to have an army, and we not be a part of it, seems like being either beggars, or hypocrites. how can we say out of one side of our mouth we want israel to be strong, safe for jews, but out of the other side, a refusal to do our fair share in the military. and if we do not accept the state of israle, then we should not live there ?!?!
Perhaps some sensible person could explain to all us ignorant ones about why we should attend such rallies and how we may coherently explain to our not-yet frum friends sbout the dangers of the proposed new bill. It seems that many of the readers of this website could benefit well from this clarity.
Dishusting that anyone turned up
this mockery of an event.
ad masai ?????all the davenings should help!may we see moshiach now!!!
What an absolute Chilul Hashem and Bitul Torah.
For any Lubavitcher there, please write a Dooch into the Rebbe and try and justify it.
This demo was wrong on all levels but mainly cos it is NOT New York’s business. Unless you are Israeli and are afraid of serving (not judging anyone) it is not your business. If all 50,000 feel so strongly, move here and help protect the country (it doesn’t have to be with a gun.)
Nice pelz on the Satma Rebbes coats! Best part of the photo shoot!
First, “Stam Leho’ir” is with an “Ayin”, not an “Aleph”. This is the first sign of your ignorance. Second, you can’t invoke “Kabolas Ol” when it comes to matters such as these. You are a human being with “Sechel”, and sechel is SUPPOSED to ask questions. As Reb Yoel says, if you don’t ask “why?”, then there is nothing to differentiate between yourself and an animal. I can’t say why Reb Pinye went, but perhaps he has his own feelings about it and his own reasons for going. Now on to the facts… This whole demonstration was a political farce.… Read more »
The Rebbe ZY”A is theone who bailed out Olomeinu.
The army wants the charedi to go to the army-maybe the army should go to yeshiva. How many secular Israelis know Torah? They are protecting the Jewish state but do they even know why Eretz yisrael is considered the Jewish state?
Reb pinyeh korf went. A yid with קבלת עול doesn’t ask any questions (or cause machlokes) just listens to the rabbonim as the rebbe instructed.
Maimonides and many other important Jewish sages did not depend on others to support them.
If the Rebbe were here I wonder if he would have encouraged attending the demonstration???
To # 8 and the likes of #8: You are mocking people who attended there not just because they believe its the the right thing to do but just because their rabbis instructed them to go!! and whats wrong with just that?? Look back at history and see for yourself that people who thought they’re smarter and wiser than their leaders, didn’t (or their future generations) cut off too well with there spirituality, did they???
Which part #29
That Jews are demonstrating against each other in the streets of New York?
I am sure that if we thought about this objectively it would seem somewhat ludicrous.
Until it comes to the pocket aka money no one cares. Now that the Israeli government is threatening with financial consequences everyone gets holier than thou and feels they need to attack the government of israel
these are the words of the rebbe in e printed letter about these demonstration, stating clearly that although he did not officially endorse that demonstration (about Giyus Banos) he still wanted us to join.
Why not check what was the Rebbes approach before giving our own opinion?
I you would follow and read about the ‘askonus’ of all the Lubavitch Rebbe’s you will notice that one CENTRAL theme was that it was NOT about having the name of Chabad on the top of the list of organizers. just the opposite. the ONLY objective was to achieve what was needed for the benefit of KLAL YISROEL. ליובאוויטש איז נישט קיין פארטיי – מפלגה this was stated by all our Rabbeim – from the Alter Rebbe until the Rebbe. Chabad champions what is good for Klal Yisroel. not what will get our mosdos more money and influence!!! the frierdike… Read more »
Where were you before the expulsion of gush KATIF?
why didn’t you demonstrate & do anything?
where was 80% of lubavitch that did nothing before the gush katif expulsion? those 20% or less of lubavitchers that did protest Sharon & Israel gov then were criticized by ‘mainstream’ lubavitch as making a chill hashem & lubavitch,
& for the record the same ppl Lubavitcher chassidim that went to (or support the rally against drafting yeshiva bochurim) (the reb pinye korffs,,) were those that went against the tide then too & protest the expulsion from gush KATIF.
toda!
Yishar Koach to all the yidden that care !!!!!!
YOU URGENTLY NEED TO SEE AN EYE DOCTOR, NOT JUST FOR YOUR PHYSICAL EYES BUT YOUR SINAS CHINAM EYES AS WELL. HOW CAN ANYONE IN THEIR RIGHT MIND TELL FROM THESE PICTURES WHO WAS THERE AND WHO WASN’T THERE? AS IT HAPPENS, I ACTUALLY PICKED OUT A NUMBER OF LUBAVITCHERS IN THE CROWD, INCLUDING RABBI SHWEI.
Vos hackst a chainik! Maybe some bums, but that’s about it!
we are not children or politicians. if something is against Torah we must add our voice to the protest. just because some people didn’t protest on a different issue that is a against Halacha (giving away land to our enemies) – doesn’t give you a right to remain silent on this issue of Limud Hatorah.
as they say: 2 wrongs don’t make a wright…
The Charedim are not our friends. They are not the friends of the Jewish people. Possibly 1% of the boocherim and yungerleit in yeshiva are actually learning nonstop day and nite. The leydigeyyers should go to work, and serve just like everybody else. There were 16 Charedi MK’s in 2005. Together with the other right-wing parties they certainly could have stopped the expulsion. Instead, for a few chekels in the coffers of their corrupt institutions they allowed Jewish homes to be destroyed, shuls and yeshivas to be bulldozed, dead to be exhumed from Jewish cemeteries, and thousands of productive frum… Read more »
what is the different who was there or who wasnt there, its a time to daven for Moshiach to come!
That’s why they don’t ask lubavitch rabbonim to sign, or us to attend most of inyanei klal yisroel, cause we don’t show up. If a large lubavitcher crowd would have attended, I guarantee you next time they would ask our rabbonim to sign!
(Btw I went, and a litfisher bachur gave me a yasher koach for coming!)
And the rebbe always said to listen to rabbonim!!! And all lubavitcher rabbonim Said to go! Don’t blame your uncaring laziness on ‘der rebbe said’…
I was there, where were you?
what a chillul hashem
Was LUBAVITCH officially invited?
First off there were at least a few hundred lubavitchers. Also the fact that the so called Charadim failed by Oslo and Gush Katif doesn’t mean we need to support Lapid’s policies (His Dad’s party fully supported the Expulsion).
A good portion of CH bochurim are in the IDF
Lubavitcher’s were there, just mixed in the crowd. About #150 to #200 bouchrim from BMOT went. (Besides lubavitch is pretty small in comparison to other kraizen. But you’re right ‘more’ should have went)
Good job
We don’t attend anything by other frum yidden.
פורש מן הציבור ואינו עמהם בשעת צרתם
sit back and keep criticizing why others dont go…so why didnt YOU organize a rally for gush katif? why didnt YOU go to protest today?
remember when you point a finger at others the other 4 are pointing right back at you.
Harav Shwei Shlit”a and Harav Braun Shlit”a both are pictured!
The Rebbe was against protests
Didn’t add an ounce of Jewish pride in me…
But a total waste of time!! why is it ok to waste time of young men and women to go to the other side of town and not sit in yeshiva and learn? why bitul torah is ok in a case of purely political demonstration and not when it comes to protecting the lives of other jews?? why is it ok for young men in the US to wake up in the morning and go to work but not for young men in Israel to wake up in the morning and serve their country?? If they want to help the… Read more »
Lubavitch should not have been their.
you just want to write negative coments. Do you think among tens of thousands of people you can pick out lubavitchers. Actualy col who can pick some out just posted the pictures above. Why do you love to knock lubavirch is it your overwhelming ahavas yisroel . Do you know the Rabonim signed a kol korei to go even though as usual the Aguda based proclomation made a pt not to include lubavitch Rabonim. I guess Rabb kotler wouldnt sign if a lubavitcher Rov was on it. Did you see the video posted on collive of the Rebbes zl sicha… Read more »
If you would have attended Lubavotch would have had a bigger representation.
Number 3 you couldn’t have said it better !!! Where were tr protest when they gave up gush??? Shame on them.
When they cut up Israel’s territories and gave them as launching pads to the Arabs.
Now they care and we have to run with this hysteria, let them serve and choke on it . They made their own bed .
Moshiach now
From seeing pictures from couple websites it seems to me that pretty much no Lubavitchers attended this event!
I guess it’s nice that we at least sent an ambulance to the event.
Maybe someone can explain why Lubavitch didn’t show up to this event?