Ads for Sunday's demonstration have reportedly been canceled, as has the demonstration itself – not because of the Boston Marathon terror attack but because Israeli haredi leader Rabbi Aharon leib Shteinman is opposed to holding it.
Originally published at 11:38 pm CDT 4-16-2013
Yeshiva World reports:
…[S]ources tell YWN that the Yom Tefillah which was being scheduled for this coming Sunday in Lower Manhattan, has been cancelled.
Ads which were scheduled to go into the newspapers have been pulled, and a Kol Koreh with signatures of Rabbonim will not be released.
Some speculate that the reason for cancellation was because of the Boston terror attack, but our highly credible sources in Eretz Yisroel confirm to YWN that Maran Hagon Harav Aharon Leib Shteinman Shlita was against it.
Still, there are others who tell YWN that there was a strong difference of opinion among Gedolim in America if Satmar should be allowed to participate – in light of the recent comments made by the Satmar Rebbe of Kiryas Yoel, that the drafting of Yeshiv[a] Bochrim to the army is worse than the Holocaust.
As previously reported, Gedolim in America would like to create awareness among Frum Yidden in America about the unfolding situation in Eretz Yisroel, where most of the funding for Mosdos Hatorah will be cut by the Government, as well as the possibility of Yeshiva Bochrim being drafted to the Army.
Final confirmation on the cancellation will be forthcoming.
I think the real reasons are as follows:
1. No matter how hard haredi leaders tried to spin it, the "Yom Tefillah" was properly viewed by almost everyone as an anti-Israel protest, further tarnishing the already poor image of haredim in the US and Israel.
2. Many US haredim viewed the planned event as anti-Israel and a lot of them who work to support their families resented the idea of demonstrating against Israel for failing to allow Israeli haredim to, a) not work and, b) not serve in the military.
3. If Boston turns out to be a Middle East connected terror attack, haredim will look especially foolish complaining that Israel "unjustly" wants them to help it defend itself.
4. Haredi leaders fear they will not be able to control Satmar hasidim who will certainly attend even if not invited, and who will take the character of the event out of the control of haredi leaders.
5. The embarrassment of having to share a stage with the Kiryas Joel Satmar Rabbi Aharon Teitelbaum (or, for that matter, his Williamsburg brother Zalman).
6. The long-lasting problems that could easily come from not inviting the Teitelbaum brothers and their followers to the event.
Related Post: Haredim Plan Massive Anti-Israel Demonstration For NYC.