Thousands of Gur Hasidim Protest Military Prison Detention of Yeshiva Student

Thousands of Gur Hasidim are set to gather this Monday evening at 9:30 PM for a major prayer rally and protest outside Military Prison 10, led by the Gur Rebbe. The demonstration responds to the detention of Israel Reuven Fein, a student of the Shafat Emet Yeshiva, who was imprisoned after appearing three times at the military recruitment office to regularize his status. The event will open with evening prayers, featuring Motty Babchik, a community activist in mourning for his father, followed by a speech from Rabbi Meir Plekser, head of the Chidushai Harim Yeshiva.

Ahead of the rally, Rabbi Itche Meir Tauman, the head of the Gur study hall, urged participants to attend peacefully, warning against any violence and instructing elders to supervise younger attendees. He emphasized promises made to avoid entering private courtyards or damaging property, and called for a quiet dispersal after the event. The organizing committee described the rally as a collective outcry against the imprisonment of yeshiva students whose sole wish is to study Torah.

Fein was sentenced to 20 days in prison after being classified as a draft dodger. His original draft date was last Monday, but due to confusion over recruitment office locations, Jerusalem instead of Haifa, he missed the proper processing. After multiple visits and delays, military officials declared him absent without leave because two days had passed since his official draft date.

Simultaneously, the Gur community is preparing for an expanded campaign against yeshiva student detentions. In a rare meeting between the Gur Rebbe and Shimon Shisha, a leader of the Edah HaChareidis, plans were discussed to broaden protests to other recruitment offices and military units, including the Meitav unit. The Rebbe reportedly sent a strong message to military authorities: "We are going to war without gloves." This rally is the second in a month at Prison 10 protesting yeshiva student arrests, following a similar event that included thousands of participants and prayers. The protest aligns with recent large-scale demonstrations by the Sanz Hasidim at the same prison, which led to the release of one detainee while another remained imprisoned.