Rabbi Yitzhak Grozman, Chabad emissary in Rishon LeZion, came up with a brilliant idea in the shadow of the 'Corona crisis': he set up a 'virtual bonfire' on the roof of his house - to bring the joy of the Rashbi's holiday to all residents of the city.
The plan worked as planned: around 8:00 PM on the evening of Lag BaOmer, the messenger 'lit' the bonfire located on the roof of his house. This is a point overlooking a wide radius of the surrounding area, and can be seen from afar.
He began a program that included Torah readings, poetry and singing, and encouraging messages to residents standing on their balconies, via a public address system.
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But then the police showed up and ruined the celebration.
Rabbi Grozman described what happened to the COL website: "We started the program a little after 8:00 PM. It is a virtual bonfire that is lit by lighting fixtures and presents a beautiful spectacle of a bonfire - from a distance. Our message is actually to encourage residents to stay on their balconies, and not go out into the streets.
""Around 9:00 PM, police broke into my house without prior notice, broke the entrance lock, and ordered the event to stop immediately, despite all the explanations.".
He said that many residents accepted the shutdown of the festival in such a brutal manner.
The Israel Police stated:
The police were called to the scene following repeated reports received at the 100 police hotline and the municipal hotline from local residents who complained about very loud noise from speakers placed on the balcony of the rooftop apartment.
Upon the arrival of the police and their impression that it was indeed a loud and unusual noise in violation of the law, the police knocked on the door in order to stop the crime, but those who were in the apartment and were making the noise did not open the door and ignored it.
The police also tried to call the apartment owner, shouted at the people on the balcony from the police car, and signaled at them with headlights, but were completely ignored.
The police were forced to break down the door of the house in order to stop the noise, and despite the above, the police were content with issuing a warning and stopping the noise, without filing any reports.
