Upset Girls Allowed To Drive, Haredi Rabbi Starts "Go Kart War"

"He stormed the course, forced the girls to get out, lifted the go-karts, and simply broke them," one eyewitness said. "He turned the cars over and slammed them on the floor while uttering quite a few curses." Other eyewitnesses said the rabbi's followers later arrived on his orders and removed all the go-karts from the course.

Angry rabbi launches 'go-kart war'
Rabbi upset at notion of go-karting girls storms course, damages cars; his vehicle later vandalized
Aviel Magnezi • Ynet

Go-karting outrage: An Emmanuel rabbi upset at the sight of go-karting girls stormed the course and caused damage to the facility; the rabbi's vehicle was later vandalized in apparent retaliation for the incident.

The confrontation ensued after several girls arrived at the go-karting course in the religious community. "Usually this doesn't happen, as I respect the spirit of the community, but one of my employees brought some young relatives who really wanted to try it out so I let them do it," said Amram Gutman, one of the facility's owners.

However, not everyone in Emmanuel liked the idea of girls sitting behind the wheel, and one resident present at the site informed local Rabbi Yehoida Gadasi of the breach.

"He stormed the course, forced the girls to get out, lifted the go-karts, and simply broke them," one eyewitness said. "He turned the cars over and slammed them on the floor while uttering quite a few curses."

Other eyewitnesses said the rabbi's followers later arrived on his orders and removed all the go-karts from the course. Only after a verbal dispute with the facility's owners, the rabbi agreed to place the cars at the warehouse on site.

"I just arrived at that time and tried to talk to the rabbi, but he told me there was nothing to talk about," co-owner Gutman said. "He was yelling that I opened a brothel and we couldn't do a thing. He simply removed three go-karts from the course. There's nothing more infuriating than this."

Gutman said he and his two partners plan to file a complaint over the incident in the near future. He added that as result of the damage caused to the go-karts, he cannot operate the facility at this time.

"I called the police, but the community police officer called it off, claiming there as no violence involved," he said.

However, the retaliation to the incident soon followed, with Rabbi Gadasi's vehicle vandalized a few nights later. The vehicle's tires were slashed and a windshield was shattered. According to local residents, the perpetrators of the "revenge attack" were teenagers upset over the rabbi's acts. Gutman said he was blamed by the rabbi for the act of vandalism and was taken in for interrogation before being released.

However, Rabbi Gadasi's associates present a different version for the events. The rabbi's assistant, Ophir Shlush, said Gadasi and his followers shut down the facility only after the violation of an agreement whereby only boys would be allowed to drive the go-karts.

"The cars were indeed overturned, but they were not broken," he said, adding that the matter was clarified and resolved.

Emmanuel is the haredi West Bank town recently in the news because hasidim there refused to let their girls go to school with Sefardi haredi girls unless the Sefardim adoped hasidic dress and customs.

[Hat Tip: David Rosenberg.]

Comments

[A. Nuran]

Religious fanatic assaults girls, vandalizes private property.

In other news, fish swim, birds fly.

[rabbidw]

Vos't shtait? Where is it written that girls cannot ride a go cart? Can they drive a car? Sue the Rabbi for every penny he has? He may very well be insane.

[David]

Investigate the rabbi for vandalism.

[chaim1]

it seems from the story that it was a mixed event. And that was the reason for disrupting it not because the girls were driving

[Eliezer]

Kick them all out and give the land back to the Palestinians.

[harold]

Is this the actual picture of the go-kart or some stock photo? If this is the actual go-kart there could be an issue of tzinus especially if one peddles quickly and the resulting air friction lifts their skirts. This is not the same as driving a car. I did however find it amusing that his vehicle was later vandalized. An eye for an eye.

[Shmarya]

Is this the actual picture of the go-kart or some stock photo? If this is the actual go-kart there could be an issue of tzinus especially if one peddles quickly and the resulting air friction lifts their skirts. This is not the same as driving a car. I did however find it amusing that his vehicle was later vandalized. An eye for an eye

1. It's a stock photo.

2. Go Karts are motorized.

[seymour]

s this the actual picture of the go-kart or some stock photo? If this is the actual go-kart there could be an issue of tzinus especially if one peddles quickly and the resulting air friction lifts their skirts. This is not the same as driving a car. I did however find it amusing that his vehicle was later vandalized. An eye for an eye.

Posted by: harold | August 09, 2010 at 12:42 PM

these girls wear long skirts all the way down to their ankle nothing would be exposed.

[Mr. Apikoros]

Chaim1: In case you haven't noticed, perhaps because you're not old enough to have gotten your license yet, the roads in the United States are co-educational. Men and women drivers can bump into each other on any street, and in fact, frequently do.

Even in merdeholes like Monsey, New Square, and Lakewood.

[the usual chaim]

it may well be that the gokarts are not tzniut. however, this is irrelevant. they are not illegal and it is up to their parents to set limits they deem appropriate. it is not for anyone to come and destroy private property regardless of his evaluation of their religious propriety. this is what we call the rule of law.

[Mr. Apikoros]

Harold, they generally wear pants. And go-karts have engines, except on "The Flintstones." Check out the back of the vehicle.

[steve]

Total insanity.

[itchiemayer]

As many problems as we have here, I am glad to be living in the U.S. of A!

[effie]

I use to go to the pier and watch the little girls in the tiny bumper cars. They absolutely love them.

[chaim1]

while youre on the subject.
the chasidim dont believe in women driving.
as usual their over frumkeit brings them into much worse aveiros. Their women use cabs instead driven by ...... where there is an issur of yichud.
also their husbands instead of working or learning or praying are on the streets all day driving them around.

these rabbis never get it right.

the gemoro in baba metsia talks about a woman riding a horse i cant see the difference. but the gemoro is not kosher enough for them

[Tonda]

Actually, I live near Lakewood, and I've seen the women drivers there. For general public safety issues, maybe the Rabbi does have a point. But then again, you're just as likely to get run over by a Ford LTD station wagon driven by a man there.

[Yonah]

chaim1 is absolutely correct.

And people need to stop rationalising and defending this craziness.

[Mr. Apikoros]

I actually believe this story, because you can't make stuff like this up.

[David]

Jewish Taliban.

I always thought we could not produce fanatics of this nature. I was wrong. They have distorted and corrupted the Jewish religion to an almost unrecognisable degree.

They are making us a laughing stock to our enemies, and even our supporters. They will be Israel's (and the rest of world Jewry's) downfall.

[Moshe aron kestenbaum, Williamsburg ODA]

obsessive-compulsive, psychotic Ignorant maniac rabbi with nothing elese to do.GO TO WORK RABBI, GO TO WORK AS I DO. LETS STOP GIVING MONEY FOR THESE SHNORERERS THEN THEY WONT TURN OVER A THING

[Bill]

I agree with the good rabbi.

Haredim drive like maniacs.

They should not be driving cars or otherwise operate heavy machinery while under the influence of Haredism.

[David]

Haredim drive like maniacs.

This is symptomatic of their general refusal to follow the rules. Whether it is driving rules, financial laws, building codes or anything else.

As to the driving, I keep a good distance away from anything being driven by someone wearing a black hat or sheitel.

[Bill]

Just drive though Monsey, Boro Park or Lakewood.

There are thousands of people driving while under the influence of Haredism each day.

[Streimel Shmuley]

Not so fast, Yidden! These "goy" karts are not safe and can cause an accident in which a girl suffers a tare and then this causes more problems on her wedding. So how can a proper shiduck with a decent torah yiddle be made for her? Clearly it cannot.

[David]

Even in merdeholes like Monsey, New Square, and Lakewood.

Posted by: Mr. Apikoros | August 09, 2010 at 12:52 PM

Actually, I don't believe the ladies in New Square are allowed to drive.

[danny]

I think that a Rabbi who attacks inanimate objects that belong to someone else, while cursing in the presence of young girls is certifiably insane.

Someone needs to step in and get the Rabbi some help. His bochurs? His peers? The Rabbinate? Can someone play the role of an adult and get this man some help?

[Adam Neira]

Lenore Terr writes about the super importance of unstructured play for children. Psychopaths in later life display one common characteristic...They rarely engaged in such play in their early childhood. Go-Kart Rage in Emmanuel ! If the girls want to zoom around on the little racetrack so be it.

[David]

Lenore Terr writes about the super importance of unstructured play for children. Psychopaths in later life display one common characteristic...They rarely engaged in such play in their early childhood. Go-Kart Rage in Emmanuel ! If the girls want to zoom around on the little racetrack so be it.

Posted by: Adam Neira | August 09, 2010 at 10:50 PM

Perhaps the lack of proper childhood and later adult socialisation of the Charedim explains their numerous dysfunctional and often illegal behaviours.

[Seraphya]

This is just as disturbing to me as any other part:

"I called the police, but the community police officer called it off, claiming there as no violence involved," he said.

1) The community's police (who is employed by the National Police Force, under the government as there are no local police in Israel) can nonchalantly just not respond and cover up crimes if they happen to be on the side of the community rabbi.

2) That assault, battery, theft and destruction of property can be termed non-violent!!!

someone should make sure micha lindenstrauss gets involved!!!