Ultra-Orthodox Protest Jerusalem Light Rail Construction with Midnight Mourning Ceremony

On a hot midday during the intermediate days of the Three Weeks mourning period, dozens of ultra-Orthodox residents of Jerusalem gathered at the corner of Adoniyahu HaKohen and Bar Ilan streets near the Jerusalem Light Rail construction site. The event, organized by local community activists, served as a spiritual protest against the ongoing light rail works within ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. Participants, including elders, yeshiva students, and community members, wore sackcloth and ashes and sat on low chairs as mourners, symbolizing deep sorrow over the destruction of the Temple and the spiritual state of Jerusalem.

The ceremony featured the renowned Jerusalem cantor Rabbi David Kalatskin, who led the crowd in heartfelt kinnot (lamentations), stirring strong emotional responses. Following the kinnot, rabbis and community leaders delivered powerful messages of encouragement and spiritual awakening. The gathering continued with the recitation of "Tikkun Chatzot" and "Tikkun Rachel," prayers traditionally said at midnight, performed here with intense emotion and cries.

Due to the hot weather, organizers set up extensive shading, provided low chairs, and installed a sound system to accommodate hundreds of passersby who joined the event. Men gathered on Adoniyahu HaKohen Street toward Bar Ilan, while a separate area for women was arranged on the opposite side near Yechizkel Street. Throughout the event, police and Border Police forces maintained a strong presence to prevent any escalation toward the active light rail construction site, but the protest concluded peacefully without incidents.