Chareidim Blame Mayor Barkat for Increase in Secular Activism
Yechiel Spira • Yeshiva World News
Chareidi askanim are pointing a finger of blame for increased anti-chareidi activities in the capital on Mayor Nir Barkat.
The allegations come following a shabbos protest held by secularists, who gathered in Kikar Tzion to decry what they are calling increased “religious coercion” in the capital, blaming the chareidi community.
Rabbi Yosef Rosenfeld of the Vaad L’maan Shabbos told reporters that he blames the mayor, stating the incitement comes directly from City Hall. He explained it began last week with the Eida Chareidis protest outside Intel, when they say Hashem’s name written in paint on the street in the area.
Rabbi Rosenfeld feels the chilonim feel that they are supported by the mayor, explaining the chareidi protests are focused against chilul Shabbos and not against the general non-shomer shabbos community while the secularist protest on shabbos was directed against the entire chareidi community.
It appears that the chareidi leaders are not willing to accept this and a major pro-shabbos rally is planned in Yerushalayim in the coming days.
UPDATE 3:40 am – FailedMessiah reader Warren Burstein, who was at the anti-haredi violence protest Saturday night comments:
I was at the protests (if you see an "Intel Inside" sign, that was me) and I am going to dissect "the secularist protest on shabbos was directed against the entire chareidi community."
secularist. the protesters were a mixture of secular, and religious - orthodox, conservative and reform.
on shabbos. unlike many charedi demonstrations, it took place well after Shabbat was out, even according to Rabbenu Tam, it started at 7PM.
directed against the entire chareidi community. it was directed against chareidi violence.