An Op-Ed
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JERUSALEM — The recent closure imposed on the Romema neighborhood in Jerusalem was not just because of the spiraling levels of coronavirus in the region, as, unfortunately, there are at present in Israel a number of “red” zones where the virus has seen near exponential growth. However, the alarming nature of some of the Belz Hasidim’s approach to the virus required a government response and a wake-up call for one of the largest Hasidic groups in Jerusalem.
Put simply, some members of this Hasidic sect seem to largely ignore the virus and continue to act in the belief that it is not truly a mortal threat. Hundreds of Hasidim continue to attend the “Tish” (table) of the Rebbe each week without maintaining social distance and without proper adherence to wearing masks. People who are sick within the community are advised to stay at home and not go to be checked for coronavirus. As a result infections continue to rise daily.
When Israeli journalist Yair Sharki came to report about the closure last week, he was attacked by local Hasidim and told not to report from there. Sharki wrote that “in no Chareidi community was I assaulted like I was.. from Belz. The explanation is painful- after they categorically violated the regulations during the first wave, even now in Belz they know they have what to hide: Belittling the masks, families not being tested despite exhibiting symptoms. I heard the sharpest criticism of their behavior from within the Chareidi community and from within Belz itself, from Hasidim who wish to remain anonymous but who are scared of becoming infected. This is the reason it was the first region on which a closure was imposed.”
Belz cannot continue to act as if the virus is over – as the virus has claimed some prominent members of the community. Last May, the venerated Rosh Yeshiva of all of the Belz yeshivos, Rabbi Shmuel Rosengarten, passed away from the virus at the age of 87. On Shabbos, one of the most prominent members of Belz who for many years was the director-general of the Belz Institutions, Rabbi Moshe Yosef Oberlander, passed away at the young age of 60. Chareidi sites wrote that he had suffered a stroke and died but tens of angry Chasidim and even family members wrote back that he had died of coronavirus after being on a ventilator for a week and that his son and brother are still hospitalized with the virus.
Evidently, the attempts to ignore the virus continue even in the media but when will Belz wake up to the harsh truth: The virus is still rampant and extreme steps must be taken to combat it.
I think very soon אי”ה BELZ will be on top. As they will be over with the virus because all the חסידים will have antibodies.look what happened to the חרדי community in new york.
shame on them
Oh good, now the great unwashed can slander another group of Jews.
Thanks for this news article.
So helpful right before tisha b’av
What shameful “reporting”.
Wake up VIN News!!
Whoever wrote this hateful article needs a simple reality check. The New York and New Jersey Jewish communities are on the exact same page as is the Belz community in Israel. Take a drive down Ave J in Flatbush, 13th Ave in Boro Park, Rt. 59 in monsey, or the Rt. 9 in Lakewood. Where are all the dead?!?
This covid-19 being “MORTAL” is a hyped lie of the left. It’s no fun, and we’ve unfortunately seen older people, and those with pre-existing condition die. But same goes for the flu, it’s no fun, and we see many deaths every year (isn’t that a mortal illness?).
I won’t even mention the thousands of BLM protesters, don’t think about the exalted hero cops, hugging sweaty screaming protesters one after the other.
But make sure to find & lay blame with the ultra orthodox.
HATERS!!
FAKE NEWS!! ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!!
The Rebbe will send his ben Yochi’s to Belz in deh Alleh Heim – by private jet – with ah groiseh convoy. Thell block all intersections and have a few fender benders on the way there and back.
The Rebbe himself will to Kotel – oh I mean Kosel – and Alles vey zahn git beEzras HaShem Yisboorach.
Oomain.
Not the belz I knew in wien , this is new belz
Statistically they are not worse off than other communities. The only proven effective way to battle this virus is with herd immunity. Kudos to Belz for not allowing the blind to lead the blind.
Wow just wow you waited till this moment to find something to write against Belz .now you had your moment …even the niftar would laugh you off…
As new Yorker and saw the virus in full affect, I know that it is real and deadly.
That being said, the Belzer Rebbe is correct. The lockdowns are not a solution and nobody is claiming that it is. The only reason for lockdowns are, so the health care system should be able to cope with the volume of patients.
The lockdowns are destroying new York and gave birth to violent riots.
Unfortunately the virus will claim lives and as of now there’s no answer to it.
All rubbish. The Belzer Rebbe says there is nothing to worry about, this is all part of the Zionist plot against Haredi society.
Even if one non Belzer dies directly or indirectly from this virus meaning he lived less
time due to some one with the virus giving it to him, he and all who encouraged him not to be careful are oosid litehn es hadin.
Retzeecheh is the worst form of avaireh In HKBH eyes.
“the virus will claim lives and as of now there’s no answer to it” Nonsense. Rav Chaim has said that giving to Kupat Hair will save you from Corona.
I have never heard that killing people to create herd immunity is a halacha concept. I have heard though many different prohitions against causing harm to others.
The solution is masks. Period. They’ve been proven to stop infection from spreading. People have the right to go say kaddish without being exposed. People have the right to shop for food. Whoever doesn’t want to wear a mask should stay home!
There is no vaccine. There is no solution at this time. If you are vulnerable, you must self isolate and stay away from people.
It may be difficult but right now there is no alternative. Try to get tested as many times as possible. The tests dont tell you if you are immune but at least at the time of the test you are covid free. You still have to be careful if you are vulnerable.
If you do come across people who are selfish and do not care about the virus, stay way from them as much as possible. If that includes your family, tell them they are not welcome till such time they take this seriously.
The idea of herd immunity has been disproven. It has not worked in places where its been tried.
THis is a long term virus with no solution at this time. Only time will tell. In the interim we must be very careful.
Can you imagine how we have stooped so low…… We’re in the 3 weeks of mourning our Bais Hamikdash which was destroyed due to sinas chinam!!! Can we stop all this hatred??? Why are we talking with such hatred towards Belz? Let us all instead daven for the Geula and the rebuilding of our Bais Hamikdash!! THATS the ultimate solution!! Don’t you all agree?
Wake up Vos Iz Neias!!! It’s Corona…..
Why don’t you talk to our tens of thousands American Fathers and mothers that are sending there kids to Camp. School Yeshiva!!!! (The fake mask is “CHILD CARE” on all buses. This “Child Care” sign protects the children and teachers from Corona. As if the Governor said you can open schools as long we fool ourselves. ) against the rules of the NYS?. and it was going on when the Corona fire was still burning.
The answer is the same as “”Black Lives Matter”” (only against Belz)
Very interesting , gur chasidim in isreal are so strick with all covert laws , a they have much more death unfortunately then belz
The reality is people die from being hooked up to a ventilator, which is a very unnecessary and very risky procedure, not from coronavirus!!!
Look it up!!!
Need I say more?
SHAME SHAME VOSIZNEIAS. A picture is worth a thousand words.
The picture and caption displayed, reveals the mockery of this article.
Does this picture of 5 decent chassidish looking boys represent demonstrators????
Wow, wearing masks at a demostration. OH, these are the jewish murderers in our society.
Worst of the Worst.
Yeah, they were not social distancing. Go penalize them $5,000. Lock them up for 14 days. Disgrace all of Belz for their deeds.
The caption reads
“Ultra orthodox jewish men and youth seen during a protest against the closure on the Romema and Kiryat Belz neighborhoods in Jerusalem that is currently under a lock down in an attempt to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus, on July 12, 2020. Photo by Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90”
Olivier Fitoussi, if you would be a Jewish Chosid, you would be proud of having such a boy instead of showing your total ignorance or hate.
Vosizneias should apologize and retract this article and all the posts from very sick people.
Time to stop “Jews for Jews ” publishing this type of trash.
All of BELZ including the Belzer Rebbe, be proud of such students.
אילן אילן במה אברכך
Bloomberg should get back in the race. He’s a lot more competent than Joe BiteMe.
The Belzer Rebbe can have a tish if he wants, but just have cardboard cutouts of his chasidim sitting or standing around the table . Hey it works for baseball and football .
The Belz Bombers can bomb away corona forever. !!!!!!
‘שלשה אין להם חלק בעולם הבא כת מספרי לשון הרע וכו
It may be an issur to read this column and all the comments, true- half-true or false….total loshon hara with no way to get mechila
the girsah definitely has to be changed , i’m checking the hagahos reb akiva eiger on this .
Belz will be Belz.
I was walking in BP and I saw young adolescent age students walking and eating, dropping their garbage on the sidewalk as they walked. I followed them as they returned to their BELZ yeshiva. I asked them why they threw their garbage on the sidewalk and they just laughed.
I daven in a Shtiebel all my life but to be a pig is not the derech I was taught.