"Rabbi Eliezer Berland will not be able to fly to the town of Uman in Ukraine for Rosh Hashanah after speaking in one of his classes in praise of the Russian invasion of the country."
Ostensibly, marginal, niche information that should not interest anyone who is not one of its followers.
What should interest the general public is that the person who tried to help Berland was none other than Minister Meir Porush, the government's project to coordinate the trip of Breslov followers to Uman.
The minister went to a meeting with the Ukrainian ambassador to Israel, and even sent a letter to a Ukrainian court on the matter, but was refused.
Yesterday, he explained that he was merely helping the Chassid visit his Rebbe.
It's worth noting that this isn't the first time Frosh has worked for Berland. This was preceded by a visit to the hospital while he was in an alternative detention; There was also a pre-election visit; And, of course, allowing his community to hold a ceremony in Meron, while turning a blind eye to the fact that the lighting would actually be carried out by Berland.
Frosh is the representative of the small Hasidim in his party and in the Knesset. In this capacity, he also represents Berland's community.
He also has political affairs in Jerusalem and Berland has power in the city. But political power and commitment shouldn't legitimize every runner.
For those who have forgotten who Berland is, let us recall that the Israeli Center for Classroom Victims declared its community: a cult.
The man was convicted of sexual offenses and assault, as well as receiving something by fraud, exploitation, tax offenses and money laundering amounting to tens of millions of shekels, and more. He evaded other, more serious charges, and his followers pursued and attacked those who complained against him.
However you turn it around, this is not a wafer fish, and probably not a person who has fallen, regretted it, sits quietly at home and sends letters of apology to those around him.
His last sentence was shortened due to lack of space in prison, and after his release he returned to lead his community.
Again he is the leader, he is the address, he is the indisputable person. Does anyone check that he's not hurting women again? Who didn't come back to exploit patients?
Two groups closely monitor how convicted sex offenders are accepted into society. The first is the victims of sexual offenses, and the second is the group of perpetrators and perpetrators. For these, the attitude of society in general and the attitude of elected officials in particular are a kind of signpost.
The more legitimacy sex offenders gain, the more desirable they become, the more the perpetrators breathe a sigh of relief and know that they can continue their hard deeds, because even if one day they are caught, there will always be someone who will get them back. On the other hand, the victims receive the message that it is not worth it for them to complain. It is already very difficult to convict a person of sexual offenses, so they continue to suffer and remain silent.
Those who will pay the social price for Frosh's actions will not only be the victims of Berland's community (which is serious in itself), or even just his sector, which has already witnessed Yaakov Litzman's support for sex offender Malka Leifer. It doesn't stop there. This is not a private act. This is public conduct, crossing sectors, ages, right and left.
Therefore, the silence of the ultra-Orthodox MKs and members of the entire coalition is thunderous and unacceptable. In each coalition, parties and members swallow frogs that colleagues feed them. This system of government causes balances and compromises within the government, but here we are talking about one frog too many. A frog that should not be swallowed. A red line on which ultra-Orthodox ministers and Knesset members, including anyone who has a part in this government, should tell Porosh and his party that this is enough.
You don't work for a convicted sex offender, you don't work for a cult leader, even if he's part of your political power. These acts and this person must be condemned.
For the sake of the casualties in your sector, and for the morality of society as a whole.
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