Akiva Greenzig, a 36-year-old Gur Hasid, a resident of Haifa, was beaten this evening (Monday) in the Gur beit midrash in Jerusalem because he was suspected of disloyalty to the Rebbe.
A group of Hasidim beat him, he said, with punches and kicks, until he bled - and broke his nose. He said his pockets were emptied, his belongings were taken and his phone was stolen.
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He was taken by ambulance to Shaarei Tzedek Medical Center and then to Hadassah Ein Kerem.
Haredim 10 spoke with him at the hospital about the sequence of the attack, the frequent visits to the Rebbe, the terror and the trauma.
The rift in Gur: A Hasid suspected of disloyalty to the Rebbe was beaten and hospitalized
What happened?
"I have been regularly coming to the Rebbe of Gur for advice, for many years now, because of my sickly daughter. The Rebbe advises me in every area - I came for advice today as well.".
Several avrechims came to me, one of them an usher, and told me, "On behalf of the committee (the Committee for Retirees' Affairs), that I was not allowed to enter the Rebbe's." I asked: Who on the committee said I was not allowed to enter? They told me: Rabbi Israel Pinchas Gottesman. I called Rabbi Gottesman. He was the one waiting.
I told them: Whatever Gottesman says, I will do, I will try to get him or I will ask Yosef Schiff, the Gabbai, whoever says, I will do.".
And what happens then?
"I waited for Rabbi Gottesman to answer me, he didn't answer. I waited there. Until suddenly they started attacking me, I called the police, they told me they would come.
They attacked me again and again, until a guy, one of the leaders of the terrorist operations, arrived, knocked me to the floor and attacked me severely, kicked me in the head, and several other young men joined him.
He told them: Take what he has. They took my kippa, my hat, tear gas. I regularly carry tear gas, because I was in a lynching in East Jerusalem.
They took my glasses, my phone. Everything I had. Then a security guard came and escorted me out. I asked them to bring me my items. They told me: Forget it, don't come in here again, we will kill you.
I said: I want to come in. The incident commander told the security guard: Show him what this is. They both knocked me to the floor and kicked me hard.".
Where were the police at this time?
"The police arrived after I fell and they took me inside and beat me. The police chased away the rioters.".
Did they give you back all the details they took?
"No, they didn't give it back to me. I asked the police, they said: File a complaint, we're not going in. I said: Come with me, I'll show you...
If you live in Haifa and it happens in Jerusalem...
"I have no way to go back. I have no way to go back, I don't have glasses, a kippah, a phone.".
What did you do?
"Nothing, I'm in the hospital. I went to the hospital in an ambulance.
What did you do about the dome and the other objects?
"I don't have it. I don't have it, it's in their hands. What worries me more are my fractures, I have a broken nose. And very severe pain all over my body. I'm bleeding all over.".
What time did this happen?
"At 5:30 PM. And I've been in the hospital ever since.".
How did they react there to what happened?
"They said, kill him. From their perspective, it's justified, they said: Come again - we'll kill you. They said that now too.".
How long will you stay in the hospital?
""I don't know. It depends on the treatment.".
Are you traumatized?
"The most difficult trauma is that it happened at the door of my father and teachers, His Holiness the Rebbe of Gur, whom I love with all my heart.".
"I didn't believe that while I was waiting to talk to him, they would do that. I didn't believe that ultra-Orthodox people would do that. I never dreamed in my life that Torah-observants were capable of doing such a thing, and even more so in the Holy of Holies, when I come to my teachers and rabbi from Haifa to Jerusalem, to ask a medical question, as I usually do every month.".
Do you know the attackers?
Yes. I know.
Did you ask why they do this to you?
"I told them, they said we will eliminate you.".
They didn't say what the reason was?
""No. They said, we'll take you out on a stretcher to the Jewish community.".
One of Greenzig's associates tells Haredim 10: "Last year, on Shabbat Teshuva morning, even before the schism was actually carried out - as is known, this happened on Simchat Torah - Greenzig was approached by several avrechim from the same team of activists against those who are not fully loyal to the system, and forced him to leave the Beit Midrash. What was the reason? Because he went to a drink on Shabbat night - Shabbat Achim of Haredim Alter.
""They then poured tahini and the like on him until he came out.".
""The next day he went to the Rebbe of Gur and said that he was being threatened and informed that he would have to take the boys out of the institutions. The Rebbe said to him: What's the matter? And told him that everything could continue as usual.".
Gur Hasidism and the Gur Hasidism World Center Association responded:
""We categorically reject Mr. Greenzig's baseless accusations. Gur Hasidism condemns all violence of any kind and strongly opposes it. Contrary to Mr. Greenzig's statements, it was he who resorted to violence against the Hasidic community.
Mr. Greenzig chose to leave the Gur Hasidism and join a handful of its defectors, who are trying to arouse public outrage in every way possible. Mr. Greenzig arrived at the Beit Midrash equipped with tear gas and body armor and insisted on going to the room where the Rebbe was staying. When asked to leave the Beit Midrash, he tried to run towards the Rebbe's room, and when one of the Hasidim present tried to stop him, he pulled out the tear gas and sprayed it at the Hasidim present, causing them harm. As a result of the tear gas spraying, several Hasidim required first aid treatment on the premises of the Beit Midrash.
The Hasidim, who were terrified, called for help. One of the Hasidim who arrived at the scene grabbed Mr. Greenzig, in order to prevent him from continuing to harm the Hasidim, and called for calm. Mr. Greenzig refused to calm down and used physical force against the Hasidim, apparently with the aim of continuing to harm them. It is regrettable that Mr. Greenzig is not satisfied with the physical and mental harm he caused the Hasidim in the Beit Midrash, which is considered the Holy of Holies, and is now slandering them in the media.
"We do not intend to serve the handful of frustrated retirees and be dragged into arguments and debates in the media. We wish them success in continuing their path and urge them to desist from a path of violence and threats that is contrary to the values of Judaism and the spirit of Hasidism.".
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