[Photos below.] Thousands of Gerer chassidim gathered Wednesday outside Military Prison No. 10 at Beit Lid for a mass protest against the arrest of yeshivah bochurim and, in particular, the detention of Gerer chassid Yechiel Kotainer, who was taken into custody at a military induction office.

Kotainer had reportedly arrived at the enlistment office to arrange a medical exemption when he was arrested and transferred to Prison No. 10. Despite the fact that his family recently suffered the tragic loss of a son, Rafael Ari a”h, who was killed in a serious accident just a few weeks ago, appeals on his behalf were unsuccessful, and he was incarcerated.

The demonstration was organized on short notice and was led by the Gerrer Rebbe, who made a special trip from Yerushalayim to attend the gathering at the prison gates.

Thousands of participants assembled outside the facility as the protest began with Minchah. The davening was led by Motty Babchik, who is currently observing the year of aveilus following the passing of his father. Following the davening, Tehillim were recited by MK Yitzchak Goldknopf, and words of chizuk and protest were delivered by the prominent Gerer leader, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Denderowitz.

In his remarks, Rabbi Denderowitz declared that the gathering was rooted in the belief that all of Klal Yisrael stood together at Har Sinai, including those who today oppose Torah study.

“We believe that all of Klal Yisrael was present at Matan Torah,” he said. “Even those who are now fighting against us over Torah, their ancestors also stood at Har Sinai, and they too heard the words, ‘Woe to those who insult the Torah.’ We did not come here with violence. We came with tefillos, to ask HaKadosh Baruch Hu that these people also return in teshuvah and stop bringing disgrace upon the Torah.”

Rabbi Denderowitz sharply criticized law enforcement authorities, arguing that their priorities are misplaced.

“There is so much theft and so much destruction in this country,” he said. “The police do not go to such lengths to stop the thieves. But what do they devote all their efforts to? The small sheep. The police found time to concern themselves with those who learn Torah—the small sheep. They say that we are evading a duty imposed upon us. Our bochurim and avreichim are devoted and bound to Torah. We are the ones evading?”

He continued by rejecting accusations that yeshivah students are shirking responsibility.

“We are not evading the first obligation placed upon us,” he said. “Yet all around us are masses of people who have evaded the obligations of Toras Yisrael, of Shabbos observance, and of mitzvos—and they call us draft dodgers. They are the ones evading avodas Hashem.”

Drawing a comparison to the persecution of religious Jews under Communist regimes, Rabbi Denderowitz recounted a story about a rabbi imprisoned during the Soviet era.

“In Communist countries under Lenin and Stalin, people who sat and learned Torah were sent to prison,” he said. “Once, one of the rabbanim was arrested and told, ‘We want a list of everyone working on your behalf to teach Torah.’ The rav replied, ‘I will not give you a list.’ The commander told him, ‘We have dealt with many wise men like you and they all surrendered. Now we will see about you,’ and he pulled out a rifle.

“The rav answered him, ‘Do you know who is afraid of your rifle? Someone who has only one world. We have two worlds—this world and the Next World. We are not afraid of your rifle.’ We strengthen those who have been imprisoned, and we stand beside them.”

Prior to the protest, Ger’s leadership issued instructions to participants urging them not to clash with police officers, to remain patient and orderly, and to avoid entering private property during the demonstration.

{Matzav.com}