Orthodox Students Transported to Protest Outside Israeli Prison
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Around 1,000 Orthodox students were transported to a protest outside Prison 10 on Monday, skipping school to demonstrate against the imprisonment of men refusing IDF service. Organizers called it a prayer and outcry for the detainees, who they say are being held for preserving their Judaism. The Ministry of Education condemned the use of students for political demonstrations and vowed to investigate.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Approximately 1,000 Orthodox students skipped school to protest outside Prison 10 against the detention of men refusing IDF service.
- The protest involved students from Talmud Torahs, including those affiliated with Breslov Hassidism, traveling from multiple cities.
- Organizers described the event as a prayer and outcry for the release of detainees, some held for attempting to travel to Uman.
- Attorney Natan Rosenblatt argued the detentions are ineffective and resource-intensive, harming Jewish observance.
- The Ministry of Education called the use of students for political demonstrations unacceptable and promised strict action against any violations.
Approximately one thousand Orthodox students skipped their regular school day on Monday to attend an organized protest outside Prison 10, where several Orthodox men are being held for refusing IDF service. Students from Talmud Torahs associated with Breslov Hassidism and other Orthodox streams, accompanied by their teachers, traveled from cities including Safed, Beit Shemesh, Jerusalem, Beitar Illit, and Tel Aviv to the military prison.
Nachman Kenig, director of the Breslov Hadar school in Bnei Brak, stated, "We have come here to pray that yeshiva students can continue to study Torah without interruption... We want them not to interfere with us, to let us sit in the tent of Torah and live our lives as before." He added that the gathering was an organized prayer and protest, involving young children, to enable them to continue their religious observance.
Attorney Natan Rosenblatt, a Breslov Hassid, explained that the thousands of children came to pray for the release of the approximately 30 to 40 men imprisoned for refusing to enlist or for attempting to travel to Uman for Rosh Hashanah despite court orders. He described the detainees as "standing firm to preserve their Judaism" and noted their suffering. Rosenblatt characterized the event as a prayer and outcry, not a demonstration, emphasizing that the imprisonment of Jews for studying Torah is severe and ineffective, as it ties up significant military resources without changing the detainees' stance.
The Ministry of Education issued a statement condemning the use of students for political demonstrations during school hours, calling it "unacceptable and forbidden." The ministry announced that it had instructed the Orthodox district to act with full severity against the phenomenon and that any violations of regulations would be addressed. The ministry's guidelines restrict political-party activities within the education system and prohibit directing students toward specific political views, while allowing for the discussion of public and political issues with diverse viewpoints.
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