Haredi Community Faces Paradox Over Police Amid 1,000 Days Since Simchat Torah Massacre
The Israeli current affairs program "Davar Rishon," hosted by Moshe Mens, recently addressed the complex and painful relationship between the Haredi community and Israeli law enforcement, particularly in the context of military conscription and public safety. Mens highlighted a disturbing incident in Rekhasim where a yeshiva student was brutally beaten by local youths, yet his friends hesitated to call the police or seek hospital care out of fear he would be arrested as a draft dodger. Mens challenged this paradox, noting the harsh rhetoric in Haredi media and political calls to cease cooperation with the police, questioning how the community expects police assistance if they are publicly denounced as enemies. He recounted witnessing a group of yeshiva students verbally abusing police officers with Nazi slurs, only to run to them for protection when threatened by an angry driver.
The program also marked 1,000 days since the Simchat Torah massacre with an in-depth interview with Ziv Koren, a leading Israeli photojournalist who has documented the conflict from its onset. Koren described the chaos of that morning, his narrow escape from a terrorist attack, and the moral challenge of photographing victims. He emphasized the importance of truthful visual documentation, criticizing Israeli media for sanitizing images, which he believes weakened the lasting impact of the tragedy. Koren personally sought families’ permission to publish photos, viewing his work as a vital historical record against denial.
Koren recently published a follow-up book covering events from August 2024 onward, including the return of the captive Yossi Sarabi for burial in January 2026, and launched a special exhibit at Azrieli Tower in collaboration with poet Noam Horev. He stressed his nonpartisan approach, aiming to unify rather than divide, showcasing the social solidarity and selfless love that emerged in the aftermath. The program concluded with a poignant quote from Rabbi Israel Meir Lau: "We are good at coming together in disasters, but less so in routine life," underscoring the ongoing societal challenge in Israel.
