Rav Yisrael Landau, the Rosh Yeshiva of Heichal Yitzchak in Jerusalem, sharply censured those who disregard health regulations and engage in confrontations with the police in a sicha he delivered to yeshiva bochurim in the Chevron “coronavirus hotel,” Kikar H’Shabbos reported.
“We can’t have a situation where an extremist declares that he doesn’t recognize the laws of the state,” HaRav Landau said. “Uniform laws are necessary for public order and police are needed to enforce them.”
“Regarding police violence, in my opinion, there’s an issue here of a shocking hefkeirus of the Chareidi media which incites and hurls unnecessary accusations, directly causing destruction to the Chareidi public. It’s a lack of adherence to laws, a lack of responsibility. The fact is that people are dying because of the disregard for health regulations.”
“When a policeman sees a group of people attacking him and throwing things at him – he came to close a shul according to to the law and according to daas Torah – he needs to be a malach [not to engage in violence].”
“The Pittsburger Rebbe, z’tl, passed away a week ago. What should have been written was: ‘The Pittsburger Rebbe was murdered by bnei avla.’”
“Two days ago I didn’t daven Maariv in a minyan because I came to shul and there were 15 people without masks. I already had the coronavirus and I’m not afraid. But I couldn’t daven there and I got up and left. This is a shocking situation. We’re busy with a few stray policemen who were violent. The real problem is the lawlessness that leads them to violence. The entire community needs to carry out a chesbon nefesh.”
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
