Ponevezh Yeshiva Students Vow Resistance to Eviction Order

Hundreds of students loyal to Rabbi Shmuel Markowitz gathered Tuesday evening for a prayer rally near the grave of Rabbi Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, founder of the Ponevezh Yeshiva in Bnei Brak. The rally occurred amidst a fierce dispute over an arbitration ruling that mandates the yeshiva's eviction from its current location, known as Givat Ponevezh.

Ahead of the prayer gathering, vehicles with loudspeakers and flyers circulated through Bnei Brak, calling for prayer and protest against the eviction. The students and their leaders are actively resisting the ruling, with plans to petition Israel's High Court of Justice to delay or cancel the eviction order.

When asked by a reporter about preparations for the eviction, students expressed strong defiance. They stated that they had no intention of packing or leaving, asserting, "They will have to forcibly remove us from here." This sentiment reflects a determined stance against vacating the premises, regardless of the outcome of legal challenges.

The prayer event, held on the 57th anniversary of Rabbi Kahaneman's passing, included recitations of penitential prayers and Psalms, along with inspirational talks from one of the yeshiva's rabbis. The gathering underscored the deep emotional and spiritual connection the students have to the location and their commitment to resisting the impending eviction.