By COLlive reporter
Activists in the Jewish community in New York are trying to organize a gathering that will echo Sunday’s mass protest gathering in Jerusalem against the alienation of frum Jews.
The event is planned for next Sunday, 7 Adar II – March 9, beginning at 2:00 PM on Water Street in lower Manhattan.
Notice about the protest was sent to COLlive by an executive of Agudath Israel of America, but he noted: “Although we are providing assistance with logistics, etc., the Atzeres is not being organized under the auspices of Agudath Israel.”
A request for the identity of the organizers has yet to be answered.
The announcement said: “The gathering will echo this past Sunday’s huge atzeres tefilla in Yerushalyim, which brought out hundreds of thousands of Jews in response to the Israeli government’s ongoing attempt at social engineering of the charedi community, including wholesale conscription of bnei yeshiva.
“The New York asifa, which will include a special area for women who wish to participate, will begin with Mincha and consist of the recital of Tehillim and special tefillos in unison.
“Buses are expected to bring participants to the gathering location from communities and institutions outside the immediate New York area, but New York residents are being urged to take public transportation to the site, which is well serviced by the subway system, and to not attempt to drive into Manhattan for the gathering.”
The new enlistment law moving through the Knesset will impose criminal sanctions on frum draft dodgers of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured “I will not be a part of sending Jews to jail for learning Torah.”
While Chabad bochurim typically differ from their frum peers as they enlist in the Israel Defense Forces after getting married, Chabad’s rabbinical body in Israel called on Lubavitchers to participate in the protest.
The Rebbe, in a talk on 6 Tishrei 5728, said: “The bravery and sacrifice of Israel’s soldiers on the front lines will continue to meet success when bolstered and secured by their “spiritual supply corps” — the Torah study of the “support troops” back home. For the Torah is our deed of ownership to the Holy Land. This partnership will keep the military miracles coming.”
A source in the Crown Heights Beis Din told COLlive the member rabbis have yet to be contacted for their public support for the gathering this Sunday.
isnt defending the holy land in which you want to learn torah more important? without those people that go to the army, israel would be history, wouldnt you want to protect your country if it is so deeply attached to your religion?
‘Todah’ to all…very interesting comments…great photos!
they made frum divisions of the IDF, what more do they want, to live on public assistance and not give anything to the land (Land) they live in which protects them? HaShem protects, but one must show some level of respect to any place which gives a person shelter, and this is Eretz haKodesh…..
true I AGREE such an event is embarrassing, but now that its happening,will be more embarrassing that not much come, shows the world that we dont care
no 6 referred to the Chareidi indifference to the dangerous mindless insensitive expulsions from Gush Katif.That gives us some insight into the problem. In some people’s’ eyes all Jews are not equal. We see that also in the elitist kolel culture where the Kolel yungerman who goes to work loses his status as does his wife and children.We see it when the Sephardi alters his name so that his children will be able to get into the elitist Ashkenazi school! The Chareidi world also has to start seeing the outside world as a place where they might have to venture… Read more »
They have suggested mandatory conscription for girls and it has been unanimously vetoed again and again. No one in the government is interested in it; they do not see value in forcing girls to draft and they believe it is completely unnecessary.
Probably, if it weren’t for the feminists, girls would be out of the army already. But today that’s not PC, so it won’t happen. Leaving the status quo suits everyone just fine.
Please read #11 again. I said that “frum” does not equal “chareidi”. That there are other frum groups besides for chareidim and not to forget that. I do not need a history lesson, #15. And please note that the Rasha”b withdrew from Agudat Yisrael just a few years after they founded it. Also, please get off your high horse and don’t say that dati leumi don’t stick to Shulchan Aruch. And especially, I would like you to realize that the “frummer than you” culture has more to do with “you” than with what Hashem wants in this world. So, stop… Read more »
Alot of chareidim throw stones at the soldiers and stuff it just shows how jews should be responsible for each other. and they shouldnt be throwing rocks while the soldiers are doing service.the chareidim have to realize they’re no diffrent than the chayalim.
In a nutshell: Frum is a yiddish term used for “strictly adherent” Chared(i) is a hebrew term used for “fearful (of G-d) Generally, both these terms are used to describe the sectors of Judaism which follow the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov (Chassidim), Gaon of Vilna (Mussar oriented non chasidim) and the Chassam Sofer (General ideology and traditional approach to Judaism accepted by both Chassidim and Misnagdim). [lets set aside Sefardim for now, as their history is slightly different] Charedim accept the Shulchan Aruch as their undisputed constitution and adhere to every little detail. Additionally making no changes to… Read more »
Did the Rebbe calling for physical protest when Yamit was given to the Egyptians?
Did official the offical Lubavitch Beis Din of Israel call for physical protest when Gush Katif was evacuated?
A Shliach once sent in a flyer for the Rebbe’s approval. The flyer said something about us NOT being Orthodox, rather Chabad.
The Rebbe wrote back a very harsh message that he will accomplish in his brochure what the misnagdim have not been able to do in 200 years. (I.e. say that we, Chassidim are not Orthodox). We are frum, chassidim, chareidim. Forget the PR garbage, mir zaynen Chassidim fun Rebbin!
I dont undersrand what right they think they have to protest in the u s when they dont live in israel and have no idea what 3 years army is..
Frum does not equal chareidi!!!!
There are frum people – and communities – who enlist.
Chareidim, as a rule, do not.
Please, differentiate between frum and chareidi!!!!!
“While Chabad….differ from their frum peers” – no, they differ from their chareidi counterparts; there are lots of other frum people who DO enlist.
Thank you for being truthful and stating that Chabad DOES enlist.
I wonder who is organizing the protest…
The report states: While Chabad bochurim typically differ from their frum peers as they enlist in the Israel Defense Forces after getting married, Chabad’s rabbinical body in Israel called on Lubavitchers to participate in the protest. Since when is that correct? There are Chabad chassidim in the IDF just as there are other chassidim from Gur, Vizhnitz and the likes. But that is the personal choice and preference of personal individuals. Lets not fool ourselves. Chabad individuals join religious programs in the IDF either as Rabbis, Chevra Kaddisha, Mashgichim or simple positions in Nachal or Shachar. You will very rarely… Read more »
“The Torah student… as for making it into the big headlines – if only he weren’t written about negatively…” (6:33 minutes into the clip)
WOW, unfortunately that’s exactly what’s happening now, 44 years after the Sicha was said…
As someone who has spent quality time in the Holy Land and has lots of relatives living there, I just want to make one comment. The Current “draft law” was ill written and should be changed. However the two main opinions within Lubavitch are both flawed 1) Serving in the Army is an Honor and everyone should be doing their fair share. 2) Lubavitch should stand united with the other Frum communities and protest the law. Group 1 is wrong because they simply don’t understand Israeli politics, and they even less understand what 3 years of Army service initials. Group… Read more »
If only All of these Chareidim would have protested when Jews were kicked out of their homes in Gush Katif…
learn torah instead
Chillul HaShem.
The Rebbe gave over such a strong and inspiring speech, that i believe if a Jew who wasn’t frum at all watched this Rebbe video, then he would start learning Torah and become frum just from this.
The Rebbe was such a haileke person. He was so special.
i cried when i saw this video, because i saw how much the Rebbe cared about Torah, and Klal Yisroel, and i was amazed.
I don’t agree with such a demonstration here. The whole thing is absurd.
I just watched the video of the Rebbe. I had no idea how much the Rebbe was for DAVKA sitting and learning and for us NOT to go to the army!