Wednesday night, thugs affiliated with Asra Kadisha, the haredi organization connected to
the Mea-Shearim-based haredi umbrella organization Edah Haredit that
ostensibly “protects” graves but which often does little more than
extort developers, went to the home of haredi developer Aryeh
Golovnititz (גולובנציץ) and savagely beat him in front of his wife and daughter. Golovnititz is in his 70s and was hospitalized with a possible fractured skull and other injuries.
File photo: Haredim throwing stones at police in Mea Shearim, July 2011
Yeshiva World reports:
Thugs affiliated with Asra Kadisha [the haredi organization connected to the Mea Shearim-based haredi umbrella organization Edah Haredit that ostensibly “protects” graves but which often does little more than extort developers] on Wednesday night the eve of 2 Elul 5773 [i.e., August 7 2013] visited the home of chareidi businessman Aryeh Golovnititz (גולובנציץ) and gave him a real beating, so bad that he required hospitalization. The beating appears related to his dealings with land sales in Beit Shemesh, the land where some feel construction is compromising Jewish graves.
Eight thugs identifying themselves as members of Asra Kadisha arrived at his Bayit Vegan[, Jerusalem] home late in the night. They simply beat him without mercy, promising him this was only a first visit because of his real estate dealings with the controversial area.
The thugs knocked on the door presenting themselves as schnorrers collecting for hachnasas kallah [helping a bride pay for her wedding and then stock a home]. When the door was opened for them they knocked Aryeh on the ground and began beating him with a blunt object as the victim’s wife and daughter looked on in horror. Baruch Hashem [Thank God] the two got a good look at some of the attackers and they provided police with a detailed description.
Aryeh was transported to a local hospital with a possible fractured skull and other injuries from the beating with the blunt object.
A Jerusalem councilman who is quoted anonymously by [the haredi news website] Kikar Shabbos calls on police to crack down on this “chareidi underworld” and bring these criminals to justice once and for all. He added that it is unbelievable that R’ Aryeh, known in the community as a major bal chessed is targeted by these thugs and the time has come to put them away once and for all.
Despite the efforts of Eida Chareidis Ravaad [#2] Rav [Rabbi] Moshe Sternbuch[,] Shlita, Asra Kadisha appears to insist that the building site is indeed desecrating Jewish bones and they appear to be ignoring his [Sternbuch’s] piskei Halacha [legal rulings].
Friends of the victim accompanied Reb Aryeh to Bnei Brak a few short hours before the beating. He met with HaGaon HaRav [the genius the rabbi] Chaim Kanievsky[,] Shlita, wishing to ask him how to proceed with the Beit Shemesh [project]. R’ Aryeh explained how he consults with Gedolei Torah [important haredi rabbis] to make sure nothing wrong is done. The friends explain Rav [Rabbi] Kanievsky gave him an exceptionally warm bracha to continue with the project, wishing him much success.
It should also be added that in recent weeks, senior Eida officials including Gavaad HaGaon HaRav [i.e., the chief rabbi, the genius] Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss[,] Shlita [of Edah Haredit,] have been quoted calling for a halt of the [Beit Shemesh] project and “to do everything possible to stop the [“]chilul kevarim” [destruction of graves].
Kikar [Shabbat] quotes an Eida official on Thursday morning following the beating saying[,] “To our sorrow, there appear to be some who took the Gavaad’s words too far and too literally – to the point of unacceptable violence.”
The victim, Aryeh Golovnititz, is more than 70-years-old and the thugs claim this elderly man attacked them, justifying their violence:
Ahrila Yahkter, who heads the Vaad Against Chilul Kevarim [the organization affiliated with the non-hasidic haredi yeshiva community tasked with preventing graves desecration – i.e., Asra Kadisha’s younger rival] has had enough. He called the attack nothing less than attempted murder and feels the Asra Kadisha hoodlums involved have crossed all lines and must be held accountable. Smeidal the criminal” he explained during a Kikar Shabbos interview, referring to the head of Asra Kadisha, Rav Dov Smeidal.
Yahkter explains that together with his people they visited the Beit Shemesh site to evaluate the situation. He reports that the Asra thugs threw [concrete] b[l]ocks at them and attacked them, adding “this is the same group that goes against [non-hasidic haredi leader] Rav [Rabbi Aharon Leib] Shteinman.”
Yahkter explains they are simply out of control and “blood thirsty”. He calls for their arrest and prosecution, comparing their violence with Hamas tactics. He points out their latest victim; Aryeh Golovnititz is over 70-years-old. He emphasizes he and others like him are adamantly opposed to violence and that he consulted with rabbonim [haredi rabbis] who concur, that they [sic] attackers must be placed behind steel bars.
Yahkter blames the Eida rabbonim [rabbis] directly for he feels the Gavaad [Weiss] and others have remained too silent, resulting in silent complicity. “Someone called up Rav [Rabbi] Amram Shapira the gabbai of the Gavaad [i.e., the chief assistant of Edah Haredit’s chief Rabbi Yitzchok Tuvia Weiss] and told him ‘do you known that your son Dovid was there [participating in the beating].’ The gabbai responded ‘I don’t tell the Gavaad [Weiss] since there is always two sides [to every story]. Golovnititz says they attacked him and they maintain he attacked them.’”
Ahrila adds that even murderers standing trial in court insist their actions were in self defense.
The two "graves protection" organizations have been feuding for some time.
[Hat Tip: APC.]