An organizing committee of major Hasidic groups has unveiled the official logo and the map of 19 departure points for a planned car convoy protest on Wednesday against the arrest of yeshiva students and married Torah learners. The campaign headquarters estimates that about 2,500 vehicles could take part, making it one of the largest car protests seen in the ultra-Orthodox public in recent years.
The logo carries the slogan, “Enough! There is no way without the way of the Torah!” and will appear on cars, signs and stickers throughout the route. According to the plan, the vehicles will leave at 4 p.m. from cities and towns including Elad, Ashdod, Tiberias, Beitar Illit, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Givat Ze’ev, Haifa, Hatzor HaGlilit, Jerusalem, Modi’in Illit, Nof Hagalil, Netanya, Emmanuel, Afula, Arad, Safed, Kiryat Gat and Rehovot, then merge into one protest convoy heading toward a military prison.
During the procession, participants are expected to recite Psalms and deliver words of encouragement and protest. The organizers said the slogan and logo reflect a public sense that “the red line has been crossed,” and described the event as the opening shot of a historic show of solidarity for those they call “prisoners of the Torah world.”
The effort is being coordinated by representatives of major Hasidic courts, including Gur, Belz, Vizhnitz and Shomrei Emunim, with Jerusalem deputy mayor Tzachi Brim, Shruilik Frankel, Yitzchak Bartler, Shimi Bluy, Israel Dranger and Aharon Frischman taking part in planning meetings. At the same time, Degel HaTorah and Shas are not publicly backing the protest, and Degel HaTorah’s Yated Ne’eman has not covered it so far. The Jerusalem faction has said it will join the convoy. Brim said final police approval had not yet been issued, but the organizers are preparing to proceed, while Kfar Yona Mayor Albert Tayyib said he plans to stand at the city entrance to prevent the convoy from entering and causing traffic disruptions.
