Watch: Sherry Roth 'exploded' from the whipping in the Braslavs from a trained man and this is how she responded

September 10, 2022   

Matan Khudorov: As if there were no war in Ukraine, as if there were no severe travel warning, thousands of Breslov Hasidim have already arrived in Uman to visit the tomb of Rabbi Nachman. Among those who heeded the instructions of security officials, we also found Omri Ratsavi. How does it feel in Uman? Do you feel the war with Russia there? Omri Ratsavi: The truth is, not really, it's calm and peaceful here, I would even say a little sleepy... Matan: To that extent? Omri: To that extent. We arrived on Tuesday night, two days ago... Matan: Let me remind you, you did this in complete contradiction to the serious warnings of all security officials, because they asked, almost begged you, to avoid visiting Uman this time for fear that you would be hit by the Russian bombing. Omri: True, but because we call it "experience studies," we decided to check it out for ourselves by people who are here, including my friends, Ukrainians, who live here in Uman, residents of Uman, and also people who come and go here, from Uman. Matan: But what does it mean for 'experienced students', do you have experience in mapping combat zones and tactical security maneuvers? Omri: Not in mapping battles, but in... the gap between what is reported in the media and the reality on the ground. Your eyes see that everything here is calm and peaceful. Matan: But I wasn't talking about the media reports, but about the state's official directive not to come to Ukraine in any way during these sensitive days. So what? From your perspective, these things have no meaning? Omri: It has meaning, but never, once we checked with people who are here what the situation is, then it doesn't really matter. We are here and see what's happening here. Matan: Right now. Right now everything is calm. But you know, everything can change. That's the nature of wars... (A shofar is blown in the background) What is that, a shofar I hear behind you? Are they rehearsing there? Omri: (smiling) Yes, yes. Blowing the shofar, yes, practicing. Matan: We're training for the big Rosh Hashanah festivities, and the question is, what would you do if you suddenly found yourself under a Russian attack, God forbid? Is there even a protected area where you could escape in case of need? Omri: Look, there are protected spaces here, the authorities here prepared in advance for the arrival of less than 10,000 Hasidim. Matan: Yes, but with all due respect, the principle of 'and you shall be very careful for your souls' does not apply in this case, in your opinion? Omri: Yes, look, you're asking this question because you're assuming that this is a dangerous place. Matan: Right. Omri: Halachically, there is no dangerous place here. There is no such fence here. And in the end, we are Breslov Hasidim, and that is what interests us. Matan: I mean, you know better than the security officials whether this is a danger zone or not? Is that what you're saying? Omri: Look, the security officials can say X, the situation is Y. I myself am a permanent Border Guard officer, I was permanent for several years, I am not some person who does not understand what that means. I understand what it means, nevertheless I made an informed decision, based on all the information there is and the reality here. Once again, you see where I am coming from, I am not in a shelter. We are talking and it is all birds and sunshine here. Matan: For now. For now, birds and sunshine, let's hope it stays a yes and not an no... Like you said, over time... Omri: With God's help. Then he surprises, and squeezes smiles from those sitting in the studio. "I just wanted to, with your permission, express my gratitude and congratulations to my dear wife Achinoam, for the third year in a row that I haven't been with her on her birthday, and she is a hero and a champion, and I love you (and blows a kiss in the air)"' Matan to Micah Friedman and Sherry Roth: "We received a greeting with a song, that's what Sherry says, religious is religious and he has no God"... Sherry Roth: That's what you say. I'm not saying. I felt like he was standing here like a defendant, that you were pelting him with questions. Listen, come on, there was a travel warning for Turkey, come between us, when no one is listening... How many Israelis packed their bags and went shopping? Matan: It's forbidden, it's dangerous, and people could complicate the security forces' rescue efforts there. Sherry: So there's something about Israelis, first of all, that they don't always obey orders. Well, you have to drive on the roads to see that Israel doesn't always obey the 80 kilometer point? Matan: So everyone will do whatever they want? Shari: No, no, I'm just saying that when it comes to Haredi, it's photographed nicely and nicely. He ended up saving the honor of the Haredi when he said he was serving in the IDF. So, I guess that took the indictment off him a little bit. But you know, you slammed him, you have 'and you were protected' and you don't obey. Matan: You said yourself that the Israelis flew to Turkey, so we also made claims about that. Sherry: Listen. And your protection is a supreme value. That's true. So he tells you, listen, we checked. Now, let me ask you a question. Let's say I tell you that as a journalist, a holiday reporter, I want to work in the fields in Ukraine. You'll say, wow, what a brave journalist. Right? Matan (fairly): True. Sherry: Great. And I might do that. I'm considering it, by the way. Matan: But they come, and gather together, at the event. Sherry: So I'm not saying, but listen, they have their own thing, which I may not fully understand, but once, during Corona, they tried to explain to me that for them, Rosh Hashanah and Uman are sacred. So I have nothing to say to them. For them, it's a supreme value. Matan: Micah, maybe this is elitism and arrogance on the part of people to whom the world of Torah is foreign? Sari: This is not the world of Torah, this is a value of Breslov Hasidism. Micha: Those who put a stop to the instructions are not just them. And those who travel to Sinai, the masses, and so on? And Nuweiba? They are not exactly from the Haredi community. Matan: We also talk to them. Micha: It's very Israeli, it's true for secularists and it's true for the ultra-Orthodox.