Brisk Yeshiva Students Pray at Western Wall for Detained American Student Accused of Arson

An American student from the Brisk Yeshiva in Jerusalem has been detained for several weeks on suspicion of damaging light rail infrastructure. The arrest followed an incident in which a construction vehicle was set on fire on Bar Ilan Street in Jerusalem. Police raided the student's apartment at midnight, arresting him in pajamas. The student denies any involvement, and his friends assert he was not near the scene at the time. Police, however, presented footage they claim shows a yeshiva student setting the tractor ablaze.

The student's lawyer argues that the police have a history of targeting the ultra-Orthodox community, often mistaking individuals due to similar attire and appearance, and insists the student is innocent. The family alleges mistreatment in detention, including denial of basic rights such as access to tefillin and clean clothes, noting he was kept in the same pajamas for about two weeks.

Recently, police filed formal charges and requested an extension of his detention until the legal process concludes. In response, hundreds of Brisk Yeshiva students gathered at the Western Wall, led by the yeshiva head Rabbi Zevulun Soloveitchik, to pray and call for the student's release. They warned of a significant protest if the charges are not dropped and the student is not freed.