On 9 Cheshvan, over 30,000 people welcomed Rabbi Shmuel
Kornblit upon his release from prison. Rabbi Kornblit, who
completed two-thirds of his prison term, was greeted with
dancing and singing.
Beginning at 7 p.m., thousands gathered at the corner of
Sarei Yisroel and Malchei Yisroel in anticipation of Rabbi
Kornblit's arrival. When he arrived -- directly from prison --
he was hoisted on the shoulders of the throng and led to
Kikar Shabbos with dancing and singing.
Thousands had already assembled at Kikar Shabbos. When the
procession reached the square, over an hour of dancing took
place. The square's walls had been decorated with colorful
posters, which read, "Boruch Matir Asurim" and the
square was illuminated by many lights.
After the dancing, speeches were delivered by Rav Arye
Shechter, who took advantage of the opportunity to arouse the
assembled to do teshuva in light of the many
calamities which have recently beset the chareidi
community.
Rabbi Avrohom Yosef Lazerson, who had extended much
assistance to R' Kornblit during his prison term, was also
invited to speak. In his speech, he noted that R' Kornblit's
conviction was part of the High Court's war against our
sacred Torah, and that chareidi Jewry would remain staunch in
its defense of our faith.
The dancing continued for a long time. At the end of the
reception, Rabbi Kornblit visited a number of gedolei
Yisroel in their homes, and continued to do so the
following day. He thanked them profusely for having
encouraged and visited him while he was in prison.
The trials of five yeshiva students who say that they
happened to pass by the area of the arson a short while after
it occurred, are still pending in the courts. Every day, they
are forced to remain under house arrest from 10 p.m. to 5
a.m. This situation will continue until their trials, which
are liable to extend over many months.
