Video: Police in negotiations upon boys' return to arrange a prayer area for Jews in Stella Maris (documentation on social networks according to section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Walla learned Thursday that Rabbi Eliezer Berland is calling on his followers not to visit the monastery and church in Stella Maris temporarily. In doing so, he acceded to the police's request to cool things down and stop Jewish prayers without permission on the spot. In a lesson on Monday, Rabbi Berland announced, "No one is going to Stella Maris. You can't go there until Rosh Hashanah. Let them arrange a special place for the Breslavs and for all the people of Israel, so that they can pray."
At the Shobu Banim Yeshiva, which Berland heads, they said that in negotiations with them by the police rabbi, Rabbi Rami Brachiahu, he took it upon himself to arrange a place of prayer for Jews in the monastery area, and at his request, Rabbi Berland issued the order to his Hasidim not to go near until it was arranged. Berland told his followers this week about the special connection he has with the place as someone who grew up in Haifa and was born in a maternity hospital that operated not far from the church. Shobu Banim Hasidim said this week that if Rabbi Berland cannot go to Uman on Rosh Hashanah, they will come with the rabbi to Stella Maris, set up an encampment, and celebrate the holiday there.
Stella Maris Monastery belongs to the Carmelite Order, one of the most important orders in the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church is very concerned about attempts made in recent weeks to create a new reality in which ultra-Orthodox Jews go to pray at the entrance to the monastery, or even inside it, because of their belief that the prophet Elisha is buried there, a matter denied by the church.
In a video distributed by one of the members of Shobu Banim, Rachamim Bracha, he called on Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to prepare to allocate a budget for the mission, "so that the Shobu Banim yeshiva and the people of Israel will have a warm corner when they go on pilgrimage, that there will be a mass influx of Jews to Stella Maris; To the tomb of Elisha the prophet and Elijah the prophet." He added, "Just as President Herzog and the police commissioner were privileged to enter Elisha's Tomb, we will also be privileged to enter." Bracha also called on Public Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a former lawyer who represented Shobu Banim: "Let him help the Breslavs, and let the State of Israel discuss the issue and help us, and even make a straight bus line every day from Jerusalem back and forth like Meron."
Rabbi Eliezer Berland lights a bonfire in Hilula, Meron, May 9, 2023 (Photo by Itamar Carmon, News All Over the World)
Arab Christian demonstrators at Stella Maris in Haifa, protesting the Breslavs who visited the church in recent weeks on June 18, 2023 (Photo: official website, Yoav Etiel)
A senior official in the Shobu Boys community told Walla! "As we have said all along, we had no desire to occupy or take over Stella Maris Monastery or, God forbid, harass Christians there," he said, "We just wanted to be allowed to stand outside, since according to Jewish law it is forbidden to go inside and pray, just as Christians visit the Western Wall and King David's Tomb in Jerusalem." He added that "it is a great pity that nationalist elements hitched a ride on the monastery's people and fanned the passions and spirits to the point of violence and bloodshed against Jews who wanted to pray in a holy place for them." He stressed, "As far as we're concerned, we got what we wanted. First of all, that today the entire nation of Israel already knows that the tomb of Elisha the prophet is located on Mount Carmel near the Cave of Elijah the Prophet, and the most important thing is that soon there will also be an organized place for Jewish prayer nearby. We are confident that the Israel Police will abide by the agreements and soon we will see things progress for the benefit of everyone."
Shobu Boys took pains to emphasize that they were not the only ones who visited the church in recent weeks, thereby causing a storm of emotions in the Christian community in Israel. Even if an arrangement has been reached with them, even temporary, as the rabbi says, it does not obligate anyone who does not disobey his authority. In addition, senior officials in the Catholic Church told Walla! Because they are aware of rumors about negotiations with the Hasidim, and have already informed the police that they are "not prepared for any change in the existing situation, neither in the monastery nor near it, and we will not be a party to any such compromise because there is nothing to compromise on here."
On Sunday evening, another demonstration of solidarity with the Carmelite monks is planned in the church plaza, which is expected to be attended by hundreds of Christian Arabs.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog meets with the abbot, Father Jean Joseph Bergera, with representatives of the leadership of the Christian religion, Stella Maris Monastery, August 9, 2023 (Photo: Government Press Office, Kobi Gideon)
Yesterday, against the background of the recent attacks against the monastery in particular and against houses of worship and Christian clerics in general, President Isaac Bougie Herzog met at the monastery alongside Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Yaakov Shabtai, and the abbot, Father Jean Joseph Bergera, with representatives of the leadership of the Christian religion: Theophilos III, Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem, Pierbattista Pizzabala, Litine Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop of Aristoarchos, Secretary General of the Greek Patriarchate, Bishop Rafiq Nehra, Deputy Pariarchal in Israel, Father Elias Al-Abed, Secretary General of the Greek Catholic Patriarchate, Archbishop Hossam Naum, Head of the Anglican Church in Israel, and Monsignor Natala Albino, Secretary General of the Vatican Embassy.
At the meeting, Herzog said: "I come here on behalf of the entire State of Israel and the people of Israel to commit, and once again, to fully defend freedom of religion and worship in the State of Israel. This is a commitment that we have given since the dawn of our existence, and we are adhering to it lightly and severely together with the law enforcement agencies in order to ensure that peace and quiet in this place and in all the churches and in all the holy sites of the Christian communities in the State of Israel, in the Holy Land, will be preserved as it has always been."
The police said, "The Israel Police takes seriously and seriously the charged events that took place in the church and Stella Maris Monastery, and in order to stop the further deterioration, Police Chief Superintendent Rami Brachiahu met with elements within the Shobu Banim community and raised with them the severity of the continuation of the events related to the monastery. It was agreed that the followers of Shobu Banim would cease attending the church at this stage until after Rosh Hashanah. The Israel Police welcomes Shobu Banim's response to settle the dispute through dialogue."
That's not all, to Walla! It was learned that as part of the agreement, the Haifa Municipality will erect a sign stating that according to Jewish law it is forbidden to enter the church, and in the coming months the option of finding an agreed place that is not on the territory of the church and monastery where Jews can pray will be examined.
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