A huge rally has been scheduled for the coming Sunday, the
28th of Shevat in Jerusalem. The rally will protest the
antisemitism and incitement being perpetrated against the
chareidi community, the autocratic Israeli judicial system
and the persecution of religion in Israel.
Last Monday, announcements of the rally were already posted
in many conspicuous places throughout the city, such as at
the entrance to the city, near the old bus terminal, and in
many adjacent areas.
The planning committee of the massive rally said that since
the rally will be only one of prayer, the students of all the
city's educational institutions, from grade five and up, will
be asked to participate in it. A special and large area for
women and girls will also be set aside. Transportation for
participants from other cites will be available.
The massive rally, which will express the unity among all
elements of the religious and chareidi community and the deep
pain these factors feel over the daily persecution of
religion in the secular media and the judicial system, has
been given a license by the Police Department. During the
rally, on Jaffa Street near Binyanei Ha'Uma, special ushers
will ensure public order, as suits such an event. In
addition, the Police will grant the rally necessary
protection, and special security guards will be present.
At 11 a.m., prior to the rally, the heads of the of its
planning board will hold a special press conference in Beit
Agron in Jerusalem, in which they will explain the purposes
and procedures of the rally.
It is hoped that his will be the largest protest rally the
Jewish world has seen in years. Similar protests are planned
worldwide on the same day.
The rally, which will be attended by all of the gedolei
hador as well as by rabbonim and leaders from the entire
spectrum of religious and chareidi Jewry, will beseech the
Borei Olom with heartfelt prayers to bring an end to
this dark period in the annals of the Jewish people. The
rally has been approved by the gedolei haTorah.
At a recent organizational meeting Rabbi Menachem Porush, who
has a wealth of experience in these matters, noted the
urgency of the issues on the current public agenda, since we
are reverting, he said, to the situation which prevailed in
Israel fifty years ago, at the incipient stages of the
State.
"Currently, the wildest and cruelest form of anti-religious
incitement is being waged against us. If we don't take
drastic and immediate steps, we are liable to reach a stage
of no return. Who knows how far things will go," Rabbi Porush
said.
He added that the first step is the holding of this huge,
unprecedented-in-scope rally, which will be primarily a
prayer rally.
Rabbi Porush then mentioned the struggles which took place
during the early years of the State, and said, "Today, as
then, we must hold a mass prayer assembly to prove that we
are not a negligible force and that we are capable of warding
off all of the dangers which lie in ambush, waiting to assail
us."
Rav Simcha Hacohen Kook, Chief Rabbi of Rechovot, spoke about
the total destruction which the Reform movement has wreaked
on world Jewry. "The Reform movement is not a religion which
thus seeks freedom of religion. Its only purpose is to fight
religion. It is interested only in waging a battle against
all that is sacred that was given at Sinai. It is
inconceivable to force Rav Ralbag, chairman of the Jerusalem
Religious Council, to convene a council meeting with the
Reform."
Rav Kook noted that "a prominent left winger had once called
the Israeli flag a rag, but no measures were taken against
him. But when another Jew tried to refute the idea that the
flag is `sacred,' he was bitterly persecuted."
Rav Kook cited many other examples of discrimination against
religious Jews and proposed that every Jew who attends the
rally contribute a half a shekel for the cost of the NIS
30,000 fine imposed on Rabbi Ralbag by the High Court, and
that the fine be brought to the authorities in sacks filled
with coins.
Rabbi Yisroel Eichler, editor of Hamachane Hachareidi,
said that we should learn from the propaganda methods of the
Reform movement. "We should issue a call for a civil
disobedience campaign," he said.
Rabbi Yaakov Litzman noted that the Attorney General opposes
everything related to Judaism.
MK Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Lazerson said, "The entire Torah
observant community from all circles and sectors must
unite."
MK Rabbi Shmuel Halpert mentioned the provocative remarks
made in the media by Labor MK Avraham (Beiga) Shochet against
the chareidi community. These remarks, Rabbi Halpert said,
bordered on appalling antisemitism, and are included in the
category of "words which can kill." He then said that he had
shown the prime minister the Manof organization's pamphlet,
Words Can Kill, which cites many of the remarks made
against the entire chareidi community.
At the end of the meeting, Rabbi Porush announced the
establishment of three committees: an information committee,
a committee for inviting gedolei haTorah and one for
inviting prominent public figures to the rally.
The attendees at the meeting included: HaRav Chaim Brim,
HaRav Simcha Hacohen Kook, HaRav Zundel Kroizer, Rabbi Moshe
Frank, as well as Rabbi Yisroel Eichler, Rabbi Nachman
Berland, Rabbi Nosson Greenberg, Rabbi Tzvi Haber, Rabbi
Shmuel Halpert, Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Weiner, Rabbi Yaakov
Wertheimer, Rabbi Yitzchok Mattisyahu Tennenbaum, Rabbi David
Yosef, Rabbi Tzvi Yaakobson, Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Cohen,
Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Lazerson, Rabbi Yaakov Litzman, Rabbi
Yehuda Mutzafi, Rabbi Chaim Miller, Rabbi Uri Maklev, Rabbi
Moshe Salant, Rabbi Yehoshua Pollack, Rabbi Avrohom Yehuda
Feiner, Rabbi Menachem Porush, Rabbi Naftoli Porush, Rabbi
Yitzchok Ralbag, Rabbi Mordechai Shlomo Steinmetz, Rabbi
David Simchon and Rabbi Yehuda Shapira.
