Jerusalem – Two of the most senior haredi rabbis, Rabbi Haim Kanievsky and Rabbi Nissim Karelitz, have publicly criticized radical elements in the ultra-Orthodox community that have violently protested against construction work in Beit Shemesh.
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In a public notice published on Tuesday and posted in haredi neighborhoods, the rabbis deplored recent criticism of the ruling of another leading rabbi that to continue with the building presents no halachic problem.
“Worthless people have opened their mouths against one of the great Torah sages of our generation, Rabbi Moshe Sternbuch,” wrote the rabbis.
“We hereby protest this for the honor of the Torah. May it be God’s will that [these people] fully repent.”
The comments represent the first time leading haredi rabbis have publicly objected to the actions of the hard-line group protesting against the construction work in Beit Shemesh.
The group, called Atra Kadisha and connected to a faction in the radical Eda Haredit communal organization, believes that the building site, known as the Goloventzitz project, possibly contains Jewish graves which make construction at the site forbidden.
Sternbuch, who is himself the second-highest figure in the Eda, has ruled that there is no problem with construction at the site.
However, the chief rabbi of the group, Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss, has ruled that the work should stop, and Atra Kadisha therefore rejects Sternbuch’s ruling, saying it is simply following Weiss’s ruling.
The comments of Kanievsky and Karelitz – who are from the mainstream haredi community, unlike the Eda – are, however, unlikely to be listened to by members of Atra Kadisha, because of their allegiance to Weiss.
The comments may, however, increase pressure on the group to tone down its violent protests and polemics against construction and against Sternbuch.
Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post
the saddest part is that because these rabonim et al allowed these behaimos and their behavior to fester,the makla is seemingly to far spread. now that they themselves have been attacked,now they realize it’s actually a problem.
Kol hakavod! It’s wonderful to see rabbis sticking up for one another & condemning violence. Unfortunately, our sages of today are more likely to do the opposite.
As usual, JPost is out of touch when it tends to report chareidy news.
First, I Asra Kadisha don’t consider themselves bound to rabbi Weiss psak. Rav Shmidl, who heads the group is capable of making decisions and uses rav Weiss and other rabbis when it’s necessary to gain public support. At times they also use rabbis knievsky and karelitz.
Second, he pashlevilin against rav shterenbuch were not authorized, and of course not distributed by rav Shmidl. There’s no shortage in leidiggiers looking for action and taking things in there own hands. I’m also skeptical if this wasn’t done by those who have a cheshbon with Asra Kadisha and see this as an opportunity to defame its image
Wake up Jews it’s erev Yom Kippur already. Time to repent.
Wondering why Rabbi Yitzhak Tuvia Weiss and Rabbi Sternbach don’t just simply meet and talk until they agree on a ruling and if they can’t agree, bring in additional Rabbis with an odd figure sum. Then make a majority rule and pronounce a single unified psak from that group. Then there will no longer be a disagreement and fights? Anyone know why this doesn’t happen?
How sad, our Gedolim persist in giving the wrong messages. It is not about whether a the thugs are following this rabbi or that rabbi. It is that the thugs are acting like thugs and not according to Torah. Our “Gedolim” are so out of touch. Glad I am not part of this Daas Torah Rebbe worship nonsense.
I wouldnt comment anything on the Halachachic perspective since Im a nobody next to the Worlds Torah Giants.
But one think I can tell you that throwing pashkevillen all over my Hometown Willy every day and leaving it for the Sanitation to clean up will not bring any good.
BTW can anyone take off the Internet Asifah sign from Bedford Taylor and Lee cor Hooper. Up it went overnight down it wouldnt go so fast.
Chillul Hashem
Mazel Tov. It’s about time.
This post is just not true. As anyone who saw the letter from the rabbis can see that they never said a word against asra kadisha, they were Talking against these fringe elements who threw pashkevillen against the raavad. It has NOTHING with asra kadisha
if they have so much time to protest instead of sitting and learning then maybe they have time to get a job or maybe do some ser!vice in a hospital and be a constructive member of society!
Kok Hakovod to these gadolei yisroel for speaking out clearly against the chilul hashem being promoted by that fool Shimdil with the implicit support of Weiss and the other Ediah hooligans. They are the reason the Chareidi tizbur in EY are held in such contempt. Perhaps the coming yomim norahim will lead to some outcome whereby we won’t read anymore about violence and abuse coming from the hooligans under the cover of Shmidl and Weiss. They are no better than the NK and deserve the same fate for what the actions they encourage.
The Jerusalem Post is lying to its readers.
Rav Kanievsky shlita in the public notice didn’t write one word about the digging of graves or about Asra Kadisha. All he writes is about the pashkevillen against Rav Sternbuch shlita that it needs to stop.
Shame on the Jerusalem Post for lying.