The leader of the Shuvo Banim community, who pleaded guilty and was convicted of serious crimes against women, will officially light a bonfire at the Rashbi's Lag BaOmer celebration in Meron.
The police, the Ministry of Religious Services, and the National Center for the Development of Holy Places - those responsible for the festivities, which will begin tomorrow (Wednesday) evening, are shirking responsibility, with each body shifting responsibility to its next.
Throughout the entire 24-hour celebration, only 20 rebbes and rabbis light bonfires on Mount Meron, with the list including the rebbes from Bayan, Karlin, Toldot Avraham Yitzhak, Toldot Aharon, Matamidim, the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, the late Harsham Amar, and more.
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Rabbi Eliezer Berland, one of the leaders who in recent years has led his own fireside, has not participated in the Lag BaOmer celebration in Meron for six years, following his flight from the country due to the suspicions against him, and then following his trial and imprisonment.
This year, the public scrutiny and the incitement he will lead is drawing harsh criticism.
Adele, one of the complainants against Rabbi Berland, says in a conversation with Yaki Adamker from the 'Walla' website: "It is shameful and disgraceful that a convicted felon and obsessive womanizer dares to appear on a stage of honor at the grave site of someone who, more than anything else, symbolizes in Jewish tradition the sanctity of modesty. Is there really no limit to the absurd?"'
Adele added: "I demand that the Israel Police and the Ministry of Religious Services act to cancel this lighting as soon as possible, and preferably one hour earlier.".
The Israel Police said in response that it "does not determine the identity of the participants in the event and the ones lighting it, especially since there is no violation of the laws of the State of Israel in the matter, and therefore the claim in this context is inappropriate and not at all clear." The police added: "The Israel Police is committed to the safety and security of the public and therefore only sets safety conditions for the various Hasidim to hold the lightings expected during the celebration in Meron.".
Haredim 10 has learned that opponents of the leader of the "Shuvu Banim" movement, who had requested a permit to hold a protest march during the lighting ceremony, withdrew their request today. "We were not prepared to take responsibility," they say. "In light of the police's incompetence in the past and the police's lack of ability to protect the protesters, it was decided to withdraw the permit.".
The Ministry of Religious Services is budgeting the revelry with millions of shekels, but it too is denying responsibility for the lightings.
The legal advisor to the Ministry of Religious Services, Attorney Israel Pat, was quoted as speaking out strongly against the lighting of Rabbi Berland's bonfire: "We would have liked to throw him down all the stairs, but we are not the party that decides who will light bonfires in Meron. This issue is being handled by the Israel Police.".
The National Center for the Development of Holy Places, a government company operating under the Ministry of Religious Services and responsible for managing the event, said in response: "The issue has been legally reviewed, there is no reason to disqualify Rabbi Berland's lighting.".
Benny Machlab, a close associate of the leader of "Shuvo Banim," said in a conversation with Walla: "Who does it bother? I'm trying to understand what the problem is with the rabbi turning it on?"'
MK Ayelet Nachmias Verbin from the Zionist Union appealed to the Attorney General demanding that Rabbi Berland's lighting of the central bonfire be prevented. "How is it possible that a convicted person, who holds the title of rabbi and carries with it a responsibility to the public, would take part in an event with many participants, which is partly funded by the State of Israel? His very participation indicates a motive for desecration and a serious violation of the values that symbolize the spirit of the holiday, especially the women who have been harmed by it over the years. I call on you to act immediately and prevent Rabbi Berland from lighting the central official bonfire.".
The chairwoman of the Knesset Committee for the Advancement of the Status of Women and Gender Equality, MK Aida Touma Sleiman, addressed the issue and said: "I contacted both the Minister of Religious Services, David Azoulay, and the Minister of Public Security, Gilad Erdan. This is outrageous. This is something that is run by state authorities and financed by public funds. As far as I know, the Ministry of Religious Services and the Center for the Development of Holy Places are responsible for preventing this. But I saw in the pictures that representatives of the police and representatives of the Center for the Development of Holy Places came to Berland's house.".
According to her, "I was approached about the issue by women and men, especially from the Haredi sector, who said that it humiliated them.".
It is important to note that members of the 'Shuvo Banim' group have been involved in recent months in incidents of clashes and riots in various locations, where they held gatherings and a complaint was even filed with the police on the matter.
