Knife, attack, curses: The security guard of the Jewish leaders in the Bible on incitement and miracles

March 11, 2021   

Jewish elders threatened for calling for vaccination against the coronavirus? On Wednesday, police arrested a strange anti-vaccination activist on suspicion of trying to attack the head of the yeshiva, the Rabbi Edelstein, while he was walking down Rab'd Street in Bnei Brak from a class he had given at the Ponivez Yeshiva on his way home. In recent months, the head of the yeshiva has called on the ultra-Orthodox community to get vaccinated against the virus. About two weeks ago, another strange activist tried to enter the home of the Rabbi Kanievsky on Rashbam Street while carrying a knife. He shouted slogans against the Rabbi, and the household members called the municipal police, who arrested him. These incidents ended miraculously, without injury. Adir Meto, the municipal inspector of Bnei Brak, who provides security for the Jewish elders living in the city of Torah and Hasidism, was the one who showed up at both events. About two weeks ago, there was an attempted attack on the head of the Kanievsky Brigade and yesterday on the head of the Edelstein Brigade. What do you think about the recent events?  "In the past month, there were people who tried to harm the great men of the generation, two very big symbols of the Haredi and Jewish public, in Israel and around the world. This has a meaning and a statement, especially since the first one who arrived at Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky's house was found with a knife in his hand. Also what happened yesterday, a person was found who came with the aim of verbally and physically attacking the Rosh Yeshiva. "Recently, there has been a discussion around the statements of the rabbis - the statements about vaccines, about elections. This is what we hear from the people who are arrested and captured, during the attack on the rabbis. As the great men of the generation know, their statement is very decisive in the Haredi and general public regarding vaccines and elections. "These stories are miracles. A small mistake and it can be a very big story.". How do the rabbis react to this? ""In the last three years, I have had a very strong connection to the homes of the great men of the generation, with all the security and exits from the homes, at events of this and that, both Rabbi Kanievsky and Rabbi Edelstein and also the Rebbes. As soon as they arrive at the event from the end, to go up to the grave for a few minutes - it attracts a lot of people. Both Hasidic and other people. It causes a very large gathering around the Rabbi. "Recently, because the names of the rabbis appear in videos, the incitement is mind-numbing. In the two recent stories that happened in Bnei Brak, people who are not 100% in their minds were caught, people who are fed by the media or all kinds of incitement. "In the attack on Rabbi Edelstein, it was a person in Haredi clothing, in the case of Rabbi Kanievsky, it was a person who was not Haredi and not a resident of the city. [Gallery]

With Rabbi Kanievsky and at the event

""This is about incitement that has been happening lately. As someone who is looking from the sidelines, there is talk about rabbis and rebbes, a lot of disdain, especially regarding the coronavirus, after the rabbis' houses and rebbes made very strong statements. "Every statement they make has a very strong meaning. There is no doubt that this causes unrest among the opponents, and causes us to work harder when the rabbis go out. "I'll give you an example. A few days ago there was a Shmita event at the house of Rabbi Kanievsky. Usually the event is secured by simple ushers, who come and maintain order, the entry and exit of the rabbis. We have reached a situation where we need to bring in more guards and not take a risk, so that a bad situation doesn't happen the moment the rabbi leaves the house.". People come to be blessed. Is Rabbi Kanievsky, for example, protected enough? "I'll tell you in my name, not in the name of the rabbi's house. There is no direct entrance to the rabbi's house, there are gatekeepers, screening at the doors. Not everyone can enter the rabbi's house. A man came to Rabbi Kanievsky who said he was the Messiah and another said he was God. Usually, the people who stand at the door are people who have been at the public reception times for years, and they smell and recognize such people. "The recent cases are very unusual cases. One of the cases ended in a real miracle, a man who comes to the door of a rabbi's house and constantly emphasizes with his mouth, 'I have a knife' and 'I have a message for the rabbi' - and he has a knife not the kind you use to cut tomatoes and cucumbers with, but a knife that kills, if such a person stands by the door... It is clear that the public reception was closed, the doors were closed, we immediately received a call from the rabbi's house and we sent in police forces. "We are more prepared during public reception times, to be in the area, check, look. "The person suspected of being under the house of Rabbi Kanievsky or Rabbi Edelstein or any Rebbe who comes into contact with a congregation, we keep an eye on it, supervise and check. Seeing that everything is okay, that's part of it, learning a lesson, and being grateful for the miracle.". How do the police treat those who come to harm? "I am the first source in terms of the security of the rabbis, they are in daily contact with me. In constant contact regarding the security of the rabbis, in one place or another. In the Israel Police, both the commander of the Bnei Brak police station and the regional commander and the commander of the Bnei Brak municipal police - look at the homes of the greats of the generation with great importance. "The police are handling this in the most difficult way possible, the police are not sparing and are investing all the efforts they have, and I say this as someone who is going to file the complaint and that it be an organized complaint.". Isn't there a fear that the same disaster will happen again?  "Anything can happen. A single threat is everywhere. We are conducting more questioning in the area around the rabbis' homes, and are making sure there is more vigilance, and the rabbis' household members have also learned how to deal with these things, and we all hope that nothing happens.".