For many in the ultra-Orthodox society, the harsh images of police activity in Bnei Brak were the straw that broke the camel's back • For them, the plague is raging because Torah study has been harmed • Interpretation
Yeshiva students in Jerusalem, at the end of October
Photography:
Oren Ben Hakon
It is impossible to separate what happened in Bnei Brak on the night between Thursday and Friday from the escalating conflict over the question of whether or not the Talmud Torah will be opened, with or without permission.
This is after the unilateral decision of the Rebbe of Viznitz and under the influence of the dilemma faced by Rabbi Kanievsky. The pressure from all directions is increasing, and the fact that the police and the ultra-Orthodox are on a collision course only adds fuel.
The ultra-Orthodox have been in a huge dilemma in the past year.
On the one hand, there is a dangerous epidemic, and the vast majority in the sector faithfully adhere to the guidelines.
On the other hand, the ultra-Orthodox public has no zoom, no Internet and no distance learning.
Staying the kids out of the house means seven, eight, ten (and even more) souls crammed into small rooms with no action, causing spiritual deterioration.
To this must be added the belief that learning is what saves the world, and therefore according to this account the children must be returned to Torah studies as soon as possible.
"An ultra-Orthodox person knows one thing, which he was educated from a young age," a source who is intensively involved in the field of corona in ultra-Orthodox society told me this week. The schools are closed, for him this is what is causing the epidemic, and you will fight against this belief. "
At the beginning of the closure, the government put significant pressure on Rabbi Kanievsky's house.
For many days the rabbi refrained from saying explicitly that the Talmud Torah would be closed, but finally complied with Prime Minister Netanyahu's request and announced it in a wavy bristle. After that, all the rabbis in the sector, the Hasidim and the Lithuanians aligned themselves. An influx of principals to the rabbi's house to approve their opening. Some allowed the opening only for recovering children, others completely banned, but the mindset was well understood in the rabbi's house - the public is tired of closures and wants to open the institutions.
To this must be added the barrel of explosives that is about to explode inside the ultra-Orthodox sector.
The violent incidents in Bnei Brak on the night between Thursday and Friday did not help the feeling within the sector that they are being punished for what extremists do.
Time for talk is over, there are many who believe in the sector, and now is the time for action.
If we are not counted, we will not count you.
The clashes in Bnei Brak // Photo: Police spokeswoman. Some of the materials in this video are used in accordance with the provisions of section 27A of the Copyright Law. The author of the work is invited to contact us at Sherut@IsraelHayom.co.il
"The rebbe and the rabbis understand the mood. Did the police act against extremists or not? It no longer matters. For them, the police attacked the Bnei Brak ultra-Orthodox stronghold by unconventional means and a strong response is needed to prove who the boss is. Do not attack the police," R. from Vizhnitz to his followers, but also do not count them.
If anyone asks - I ordered.
I'm the commander and I've now decided to break the tools.
It is difficult to predict what will happen in the coming days.
Rabbi Kanievsky's entourage makes it clear that they are interested in opening the educational institutions, whether the government agrees or not, but at the moment they seem to be waiting for an agreed outline, partly due to pressure exerted on them to align with the closure provisions.
In some storks, however, they refuse to wait any longer and make a decision themselves "and they will talk to me."
The attitude of the Lithuanians, in this case, is very different from that of the Hasidim - while the Lithuanians have two main leaders, each Hasidism acts as a separate body, sometimes even if it is inconsistent with the conduct of the general public.
Each Rebbe's account was made in relation to his court, and some were simply fed up.
It is possible, as has happened in previous waves and closures, that agreements will eventually be reached.
In the past, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with the various rebbe and succeeded in convincing them to close the institutions and even the synagogues on holidays, a much more difficult decision than the one currently facing them.
Unlike in the past situation, however, the feeling among the entire public is that we are nearing the end and that the vaccine will put an end to closures.
This can cause rebbe and rabbis not to have time to make requests and open Talmudic Torah, on the understanding that intra-sectoral politics is more important than another week of closure.