The City of Bnei Brak and Dan Region Police plan to boost
patrols on Purim Night to prevent unwanted gatherings in
various locations around the city of Bnei Brak and to keep
out young hooligans by positioning hundreds of policemen,
some in civilian clothing. The plan was formulated at a
meeting led by Mayor Rabbi Yissochor Frankentahl to discuss
arrangements to keep the peace on Purim Night.
A municipal spokesman said that the reinforced patrols are
designed to prevent outsiders from coming to Bnei Brak in
costumes to harass passersby or to cause traffic jams. Last
year police discovered a bus full of youths that had come to
Bnei Brak from the south of Israel. The passengers explained
they had come to a participate in a festival in the city, but
a brief inquiry revealed their real intention was to cause a
public nuisance.
The meeting opened with remarks by the Mayor, who praised
last year's patrols by paid policemen and municipal emergency
services workers. He said the patrols should be extended to
more remote parts of the city as well and that suspicious-
looking visitors should be checked upon entering the city.
Last year's massive campaign, which included hundreds of
policemen, led to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of
hooliganism. This year similar arrangements are being
planned, including strict measures against any attempts to
disturb the peace. The main thoroughfare, Rechov Rabbi Akiva,
will only be open to one-way traffic from 9:00 p.m. to 3:00
am. Public transportation will be rerouted by police
directing traffic. To prevent unwanted gatherings, which were
common in past years at kiosks and restaurants, all
businesses have been ordered to close by 10:00 p.m., with
heavy fines for violations.
Rabbonim are calling on residents to follow the instructions
issued by police and municipal inspectors and not to park or
gather in places that could create a hazard for drivers or
pedestrians or undermine modesty standards. HaRav Shmuel
Halevi Wosner and HaRav Nissim Karelitz issued calls urging
parents keep their children from using firecrackers, whose
use they said borders on pikuach nefesh, and to report
any sale of firecrackers or similar items by calling the
municipal hotline at 106 or calling the police directly at
100.
Police and municipal inspectors are currently increasing
patrols to prevent the sale of firecrackers and other
dangerous items made of explosive materials in order to
protect children from causing themselves bodily harm and to
protect the elderly from anxiety.
