Thousands of students and alumni of the Be'er HaTalmud yeshiva gathered Thursday evening outside Prison 10 near Beit Lid in a protest rally over the detention of alumnus Rabbi Ariel Cohen, a married yeshiva student. The demonstration was organized by Chai Olam, the group accompanying him since his arrest.
Among those present were the yeshiva’s head, Rabbi Yehuda Cohen, a member of the Council of Torah Sages, along with his son Rabbi Chanoch Cohen, who heads the yeshiva. MK Michael Malkieli, also an alumnus of the yeshiva, and MK Yoni Mשריקי attended as well. At the rally, participants said selichot prayers and Rabbi Chanoch Cohen spoke emotionally about what he described as yeshiva students being thrown into military prison and persecuted by the authorities.
Near the end of the event, Rabbi Aviel Cohen, the detainee’s father, received a blessing from Rabbi Yehuda Cohen. Shortly afterward, Chai Olam relayed an update that Ariel Cohen was expected to be released before Shabbat, prompting dancing and celebrations at the scene. Shas later said that, thanks to the efforts of party chairman Aryeh Deri, he would be freed before Shabbat.
MK Yoav Ben Tzur also called the family and told them that, through Deri’s efforts, his punishment would be mitigated and he would be out by Shabbat. The family thanked Shas and Deri for working “without rest” for his release. Shas later clarified that the release efforts were actually led by Chai Olam, which works to protect detained yeshiva students, and that its first statement had been mistaken.
