JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Moti Rubinstein‏, publisher of the L’chatchila online newspaper which caters to the modern charedi sector, criticized the charedi leadership following the tragic ramming incident at the haredi protest in Jerusalem on Tuesday night.

“I simply can’t stay silent anymore,” Rubinstein wrote in a post on social media. “Today, a charedi boy was rammed to death in an anti-draft protest in Jerusalem. The images of this tragic event won’t leave my mind. My heart goes out to the family, truly. But the pain is turning into great anger.”

Rubinstein noted, “All the politicians, from Shas, United Torah Judaism, the opposition, and the coalition, are rushing to blame the driver who rammed him and absolving themselves of any responsibility.”

“I ask, what about our leadership? What about the rabbis and rebbes who send thousands of people, including children and teenagers, to block roads with no coordination, no security, and no thought for the dangers?”

“This recklessness is insane,” Rubinstein emphasized. “The writing has been on the pavement for a long time, and certainly since the Meron disaster, where 45 people were killed due to the exact same irresponsible conduct. Did we learn anything? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. And now, once again, we are paying with the blood of an innocent boy.”

Rubinstein also stressed that charedi leaders’ political struggles are endangering the lives of the public and children, adding, “I’m tired of how every time a disaster happens, everyone blames ‘the other’ and avoids responsibility.”

“I demand a real investigation,” he said, stressing that not only the driver must be investigated, “but also against the organizers of the protest, against those who called for going into the streets without planning, and against those who prioritize political power over human lives.”

“Enough of this recklessness. Enough of risking children’s lives for political points. It’s time for the haredi community to wake up and demand responsible leadership-before the next disaster.”

Another popular social media charedi news outlet, dubbed HaPargod, also criticized the way the demonstration went out of hand:

“Without belittling the severity of the act committed by the driver who killed, it is time to look at ourselves honestly and admit that only a miracle has prevented similar disasters until now.

“A situation in which protesters confront drivers and at times harass them, from spitting as in this evening’s incident to banging on their vehicles is one that invites violence in return, since it is impossible to predict whether the driver facing you is already an “on-edge” individual.

“In simple terms: anarchy works in all directions. It is time for protest organizers to engage in serious rethinking.”

Mishpacha editor Aryeh Erlich also said that an internal investigation is required:

“A bit of soul-searching on such a horrific evening.

“The terrible tragedy that occurred tonight will still be investigated. Those responsible may be found,or they may not. We, as a society, will be left with questions and an inner reckoning: Is it justified to protest at any cost?Have human lives become somewhat devalued in our public consciousness since the Meron disaster until today?
And is anyone taking responsibility for young people who, under the cover of protests, are drawn into dangerous places — physically and emotionally?

“So many questions. Zero answers. And nothing will ever bring back the life of the victim, the young boy Yosef Eizental, may his memory be blessed.”

Jooish News

Jooish News