99-year-old haredi leader Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman was teaching a class this morning when the student reportedly leapt to his feet, screamed “change your religious outlook and return to the correct path!”, rushed to Shteinman and struck him at least once while screaming “I’ll kill you” before being subdued.
SHOCKING: Haredi Yeshiva Student Assaults 99-Year-Old Haredi Leader
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
A 28-year-old married yeshiva student from Modi’in Illit reportedly went to the Bnei Brak home of 99-year-old haredi leader Rabbi Aharon Leib Shteinman this morning and assaulted him, Yeshiva World reported.
Shteinman was teaching a class when the student reportedly leapt to his feet, screamed “change your religious outlook and return to the correct path!”, and rushed to Shteinman and struck him at least once while screaming “I’ll kill you” before being subdued.
Along with the direct effects of the blow, Shteinman reportedly suddenly felt ill, and his personal physician came to examine him. There is no word at this time on his condition.
Shteinman’s grandson, who was in the room when the attack happened, reportedly passed out, collapsing from shock.
The alleged assailant was arrested, and police are keeping a patrol car near Shteinman’s home to – hopefully – prevent further attacks.
Shteinman had ordered haredim to vote for his Degel HaTorah Party’s candidates in local elections held throughout the country yesterday, saying that doing so – rather than voting for the rebel haredi party led by his rival, Rabbi Shmuel Auerbach – was a Torah obligation.
Last week, the number two rabbi in Shteinman’s faction, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, said that haredim who vote for any party other than Degel HaTorah deserve the biblical punishment of stoning.
Shteinman did not distance himself from Kanievsky’s remarks, although it is unclear if he was made aware of them.
There have been several violent incidents in recent years in the non-hasidic Ashkenazi haredi Bnei Brak community, including at least one stabbing, a riot, fistfights and rumbles between factions vying for control over Ponevezh Yeshiva, the preeminent yeshiva in the haredi city.
Ponevezh Yeshiva was once headed by Rabbi Eliezer Menachem Man Schach (d. 2001), and the Jerusalem-based rebel leader Auerbach claims to be Schach’s spiritual heir.
[Hat Tip: Burich.]