Prominent Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Fivelzon Attacked in Modiin Illit Amid Rising Violence
A disturbing incident took place in Modiin Illit last night when Rabbi Eliyahu Meir Fivelzon, head of the 'Patei Olam' yeshiva in Jerusalem and a leading Torah scholar, was violently and verbally assaulted by an extremist group. This attack marks a dangerous escalation, as Rabbi Fivelzon has previously been targeted by similar harassment. The episode began when Rabbi Fivelzon arrived to give a lecture at a student's home on Avnei Nezer Street. Two extremists, opposing his visit, started shouting and causing a disturbance outside the house.
Within minutes, dozens of bored yeshiva students gathered, shouting and attempting to break into the home during the lesson. The violence peaked when Rabbi Fivelzon tried to leave and enter his car; about twenty youths surrounded the vehicle, blocking its path, throwing objects, verbally abusing him, and damaging the car. The rabbi was physically pushed and brutally beaten in the street by these rioters, who shockingly invoked God's name during the assault.
Police failed to arrive promptly to restore order. Instead, local residents intervened, forcibly dispersing the rioters and helping Rabbi Fivelzon escape the hostile crowd. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation across the ultra-Orthodox community, accompanied by deep disgust. Questions are being raised about how such violent behavior could emerge among youths claiming to be God-fearing. Calls for serious introspection by community leaders and parents in Kiryat Sefer have intensified, emphasizing the urgent need to curb these dangerous elements before the situation worsens.
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