The omission at the funeral of the Supreme Judge of the Generation, Zt"l - And the lessons • The thousands who attended the sad funeral of the groom Yitzhak Samet, the late 18-year-old who was trampled under the feet of the mourners at the funeral of the late Rabbi Wasner last Saturday night in Bnei Brak, proved that his tragic passing is burning the minds of the entire Haredi public, which this week made its second sacrifice, in the same mistake for which those responsible have not yet been found.
I spoke with one of the Toldot Aharon Hasidic practitioners about the disaster, drawing lessons, and the upcoming events that are already around the corner, such as the event of lighting the bonfire on the night and at the end of Lag BaOmer in Meron - and I was surprised to hear that in his opinion there are clear culprits responsible for the constant danger that accompanies Hasidic events.
What is the mood among Hasidism after the difficult event?
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""What they say doesn't matter, and what was doesn't matter either. What worries me is what will be.".
What will happen next month on Lag BaOmer? At the lighting in Jerusalem? At the lighting in Meron? At Simchat Beit Hashoeva? At the second laps? Or at any event in the community? Lag BaOmer is already over the horizon, and I am terrified of what might happen there...
Isn't it time to think? The public has grown without the evil eye. Will we forever be eaten by the sword? The culture of urgency will only grow and endanger public peace. Will we even then be able to wash our hands and say: 'Our hands did not shed this blood'?"'
Where do you identify the main problem?
""I will surprise you and tell you that we have excellent organizational people in the community. You may be surprised, but they are the ones who organized the funeral of Rabbi Elyashiv zt"l, as well as many other events outside the community.
When there is a hall with so-and-so seats, numbered tickets, excellent organizers, and above all, a lot of divine help - you can organize an event.
After all, the size of the synagogue is known, the audience is predictable, and therefore usually at internal events held in the synagogue complex, there is pressure, but it is reasonable.
Where's the problem? With the help of the women. That's why in recent years, the 'Simchat Beit Hashoeva' events have been open only to the women of the community.
Even on Simchat Torah, the men's service is open only to members of the community, and there is a guard at the door. With the women's service, each woman was allowed to choose to participate in the night laps, the morning laps, or the second laps. So that in each order of laps, only a third of the women of the community participate.
The greatest danger comes at all other events, such as second-round celebrations, Tish Purim, and weddings. The synagogue is open to the public, and there is immense pressure, which often reaches the point of endangering lives - also with the help of men, but mainly with the help of women.
The same is true every year on Lag BaOmer, when the Rebbe of Meron lights the lamp. Anyone who was there knows that the fact that no disaster has yet occurred there is simply a miracle...it is time to solve the problem as quickly as possible.
Try doing a simple calculation: the community is growing, every year 100 married couples are added, and if we multiply them by 10 years we get 1000 families. In the younger grades today, there are already 200 boys in each class.
"This account is relevant not only to 'Toldot Aharon,' but to any large Hasidic community.".
Where is the root of the problem?
""Of course, everything starts with education. Just as educators need to get close to the Rebbe to see his work of God, so too must educators not push or be pushed. More than once I saw that there were pushy people near the Rebbe, and he stopped handing out 'songs' and the like, until they stopped pushing each other.
Another problem is the practice of participating in events. This participation is an integral part of community life, and when people cannot participate in major events due to lack of space, it creates frustration, etc.
Moving on to the question of education, we must also create solutions that will allow everyone to participate in the community's main events.".
And are there any solutions?
""Of course there is. There are enough smart and creative people for this, they just need to sit down and decide.".
The lighting ceremony in Meron, for example, can be broadcast live to screens outside the area of the lighting ceremony, as with the lighting ceremony of the Bayan Hasidim.
The ceremony can also be broadcast to Hasidic centers in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, and even abroad, so that even those who cannot make it to Meron, as well as vulnerable populations such as pregnant women, will feel like they are part of the event.
The same goes for Simchat Beit Hashoeva, the Purim tish, second laps, weddings, and major events in Hasidism. If they were broadcast live in the community halls, especially for women, it would take the pressure off and allow everyone to participate.
So why isn't this happening?
""Because we are afraid. We are afraid of the Sicariks and their ilk.".
In almost every good thing that you want to do for the benefit of the community, 'zealous' types come and fight from both the outside and the inside...
It's time to understand that just as today we use buses to Meron and not ride donkeys for three weeks, or just as we write ads on a computer and use the Internet, it is also possible, or more precisely, mandatory, to utilize technology to save lives.
Will we not act for the good of the community because we are afraid of a few boys who are being shaken from their holiness? At the end of the day, no matter what we do - they will always publish ads against us.
"I hope that for the sake of the soul of the 'step victim' we will come to our senses now, and from this moment on we will begin to prepare to sanctify the name of God without fear, to care for others out of respect, and not reach a point of danger, or a situation where we will be forced to involve the police in every Hasidic event.".
