Large demonstrations are planned for Thursday in Yerushalayim and Gush Dan following instructions from HaRav Azriel Auerbach, in response to the recent arrests of yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit by military authorities.

The Committee to Save the Torah World announced Wednesday that the protests will take place at 4 p.m. in both areas.

The announcement follows several incidents involving Chareidi men classified as deserters by military authorities.

Overnight, military police arrested a Chareidi man in Be’er Sheva. On Tuesday, a talmid of Yeshivas Chevron was arrested in Eilat and transferred to military police custody.

On Monday, an attempted military police arrest in Modi’in drew large crowds and triggered a major confrontation. The arrest ultimately was not carried out.

According to the committee, HaRav Auerbach instructed supporters to demonstrate “in protest against the degradation of the honor of Torah and those who learn it.”

The committee said HaRav Auerbach also sharply criticized what its statement described as the “abandonment of yeshiva students” by those who had previously pledged to stand alongside them at such a time.

Speaking to the committee’s rabbonim, he said the demonstrations would also protest “the terrible chillul Shem Shamayim of yeshiva bochurim and kollel yungeleit being thrown into prison, while no one opens their mouth in protest,” according to the statement.

The demonstrations are scheduled for Thursday, October 8, at 4 p.m. in Yerushalayim and Gush Dan.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)