A serious incident during Lag BaOmer celebrations in Elad sparked outrage Tuesday night after a police officer allegedly assaulted a community rov in full view of children. The municipality issued a sharp condemnation, calling it a “serious incident that will not pass quietly.”

The confrontation occurred during the central bonfire of the Chaim Sha’al kehillah, led by Rav Shai Ovad. The kehillah, which includes many baalei batim and baalei teshuvah, holds its annual hadlakah at a designated area in the city’s amphitheater park.

This year, due to the intensity of the flames, sparks began spreading outward, raising safety concerns. A municipal truck arrived, and two workers began spraying water on the fire. However, the effort created a thick cloud of smoke that drifted toward the area where people were dancing, eating, and where children were gathered. Dozens of participants, including both adults and children, began coughing and choking.

As the smoke spread, police officers arrived to oversee the situation. A dispute broke out between residents and officers regarding the firefighting efforts, and amid the crowding, one officer attempted to detain a participant. Rav Shai Ovad, who stepped in to calm the situation and separate those involved, was allegedly attacked. According to witnesses, the officer “lunged at the rov, choked him with his hands, kneed him, and forced him to the ground.” Eyewitnesses also reported that tear gas was deployed at the scene.

Videos circulated within the community show the rov lying on the ground. Three avreichim were arrested in front of children, further escalating tensions at the scene.

Rav Ovad is known to be close to Mayor Yehuda Butbul, who was called to the location and worked to calm the situation.

Following the incident, the Elad municipality released a strongly worded statement: “A serious incident by law enforcement authorities. A severe and shocking harm to one of the most important community rabbonim in the city.” The statement added that “the incident will not pass quietly and will be dealt with to the fullest extent,” and emphasized that the city “strongly protests the harm to the honor of Torah and will act to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”