Police, mourners clash as thousands crowd funeral of rabbi who died of COVID
Cops say procession for Pittsburgh Rebbe Mordechai Leifer was approved — but for far fewer numbers
Thousands of people gathered Monday at a funeral in Ashdod for a Hasidic rabbi who died overnight after contracting COVID-19, despite a national lockdown aimed at curbing infections that forbids such gatherings.
The ceremony ended with clashes between mourners and police seeking to disperse the crowds.
Video from the funeral showed that although most participants were wearing face masks, they were not keeping to required social distancing.
The Pittsburgh Rebbe, Rabbi Mordechai Leifer, 64, died overnight after a two-month battle with the virus. His title stems from the Hasidic dynasty founded in the US steel town some 100 years ago, and which today is centered in Ashdod.
He was buried in Ashdod, areas of which have been declared virus hotspots due to high infection rates.
Police said in a statement that the funeral procession had been approved in smaller numbers, and that attendees were expected to keep distance between each other and wear masks.
Police had permitted around 300-400 to take part in the event but estimates put the number of people who actually turned up at around 5,000, Channel 12 reported. According to the network, angry confrontations developed between police and participants.
Channel 12 said the overcrowding led eulogies for Leifer to be cut short.
Kan news published a video showing policemen in the midst of the massive crowd, making efforts to tell people to keep their distance from each other.
Opposition lawmaker Avigdor Liberman, who leads Yisrael Beytenu party, blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies for the scenes, writing on Facebook that “the images we are seeing are a spit in the face of the entire country.”
“The ultra-Orthodox sector is trying to reach herd immunity because of surrender by Bibi and [Gantz] to the Orthodox parties,” he wrote, using a nickname for Netanyahu. “No leadership, no budget, no decisions, no policy, no enforcement.”
Criticism of the ultra-Orthodox community has been growing in recent days, with reports showing that a significant number have been disregarding lockdown restrictions during the Sukkot holiday, including by continuing to host mass gatherings.
As police have stepped up enforcement, there has also been increasing anger within the ultra-Orthodox community and accusations of disproportionate force, including against children.
Sunday saw violent clashes between police and ultra-Orthodox in Jerusalem and in Bnei Brak, where 13 people were arrested as officers broke up mass gatherings for the holiday. Besides violating the restrictions on gatherings in enclosed spaces, police said most worshipers were not wearing masks or adhering to social distancing rules. After cops started handing out fines, the worshipers “began resisting and disturbing public order,” according to police.
The ultra-Orthodox community has seen high coronavirus infection rates, with an assessment last week finding that the rate of infection in the community is 2.5 times that of the national average. The country’s coronavirus czar Ronni Gamzu said last week that 40 percent of recent virus cases were in the ultra-Orthodox community, which constitutes some 12% of the population.
18 comments:
What's pshat Cuomo is still scared of the heimishe, giving warning after warning after warning? It's like the old Jackie Mason joke: "if he vould've said vone more vord!" Does Satmar have shmutz on Cuomo or something? Like when Schneidermann was taped taking baksheesh unteren tisch of the Forshayer Rebbe?
The Governor is acting appropriately with restraint. First, he shuts down the schools, if the shuls are in violation, he'll close them too. For now, the Modern Orthodox, for the most part, are keeping the guidelines, no need to punish them. Make no mistake, he will force the fake frumma to their knees if he needs to.
The Modern Ortho neighborhoods also have high infection rates. Part of that is from the anti-vaxxer types dismissing medical advice & hoping for herd immunity. There are also many who got infected despite taking precautious being that the virus has mutated to being much more contagious.
Frankly, I bet there are also selfish Modern Ortho parents who send sick kids to day school as child care, instead of paying double for a babysitter or staying home from work. This is a significant problem in the gentile world which has been proven as happening in Wisconsin.
And there may be profiteer Modern Ortho school owners imitating heimishe shtick to hide infections. Unlike in the heimishe velt, Modern Ortho parents can sue to recoup tuition if the school is closed.
https://gothamist.com/news/orthodox-neighborhooods-seek-downplay-coronavirus-rates-covid
As threat of lockdowns hang over Orthodox Jews, community leaders scramble to contain the growing rate of infections & artificially downplay the severity of transmission.
Boro Park & Williamsburg residents receive anonymous robocalls urging against getting tested, "it drives up the numbers," according to a Yiddish recording shared with Gothamist. The Bobov Hasidic dynasty asks congregants who previously had the virus (less likely to be currently infected), to get swabbed at a clinic immediately.
Most alarmingly, Orthodox medical sources say Boro Park healthcare providers withhold test results from authorities, despite State-City advisories that reporting is legally required.
City Hall acknowledges underreported rapid tests not sent to labs is an ongoing problem. State Health Dept spokesman Jonah Bruno, said he's “looking into the matter.”
"It’s the rise of rapid tests all over care facilities, where there’s no reporting," said Mark Levine, City Council Health Committee Chair. "It could be willful."
A review of the state COVID report, which tracks cases by school name/district, found many yeshivas in Boro Park not reporting results at all. Some yeshiva teachers are told to avoid getting tested, even if sick, the Forward reported last week.
The effort to suppress true infection rates comes as the uptick in cases spread to 14+ neighborhoods in NYC, according to the State. Boro Park & Bensonhurst lead all city zip codes with 6+% rate. Last week they were also in the 5 least tested neighborhoods per resident of 146 NYC zip codes.
A source in Boro Park's Orthodox community said it's common knowledge local leaders — and healthcare providers — advise residents with symptoms against getting tested in order to drive down the positivity rate.
"No question they're gaming the system. It's hospitalizations they won't be able to hide."
A NYC spokesperson said there's a slight increase in citywide visits to emergency depts for COVID-like illness.
Orthodox communities were among the hardest hit during the initial months of the pandemic, Boro Park-Midwood leading infections.
Amid fears of a 2nd wave, Mayor de Blasio scaled up tests & inspections in neighborhoods. The predominantly Orthodox areas, could see shutdowns of businesses & private schools if rates don't improve.
“We need a lockdown as in Israel because they didn't control the virus,” Dr. Mitchell Katz, NYC Health & Hospitals CEO, who manages contact tracing, said.
To an extent, efforts seem to work. In Boro Park on Wed, the majority were seen wearing masks, a striking departure from widespread complacency last week. Residents attribute the shift to recent guidance from religious leaders.
"Rabbis in the community said: 'Let’s follow the rules & not get in trouble,'" a barista at Milk Crate kosher cafe, told Gothamist.
But while most on the street wore masks, the majority inside Boro Park's best known synagogue, Shomrei Shabbos, were not. Some put masks on as they walked out to the street.
A person attending shul in the neighborhood confides that religious leaders "aren't enforcing masks once the doors are closed. It's all for show."
Residents also take exception to the threat of police issuing $50 fines to those who refuse masks.
“I pass the 66th precinct every day, can’t say I see a cop wearing a mask once,” said an Orthodox man in his 20s. “If they enforce rules, they should follow the rules.”
There was no NYPD presence on Boro Park’s 13th Ave. Instead, NYC dispatched the Test & Trace Corps to pass out masks & sanitizer.
Darwin Adeniye, a Test & Trace employee, conducts outreach in Boro Park.
“We were here 2 weeks ago & had difficulty giving out masks,” said Adeniye. He noticed people discussing the return of the virus. “We gave masks on Wed & acceptance was high.”
https://vimeo.com/464497899
How did Gov. Murphy manage to surround himself with all the heimishe "winners" like Duvi Honig & Avi THE FERD Schnall?
Ridiculous
A Chasidic Rebbe from Israel was allowed to fly in & out of London without quarantining to attend shivah of a prominent member of the Stamford Hill community.
The Machnovka Rebbe, Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach was initially stopped at Heathrow Airport by immigration authorities last Thursday.
But Rabbi Hershi Vogel, Heathrow’s Jewish chaplain, who was called to the airport by the bereaved’s family, said that that after he & a non-Jewish chaplain had explained the purpose of the visit, the Rebbe was permitted to go to the shivah before returning in the evening.
A Home Office spokesman said, “We do not comment on individuals. All people coming from a country which is not exempt must isolate for 14 days.” Travelers from Israel are normally required to isolate.
Some categories exempt from the requirement include: diplomats, elite sports figures & film stars.
2nd article from London Jewish Chronicle:
Golders Green ward has the highest Covid infection rate ...
Its 71.4 cases per 100,000 people is 2.5x more than the borough average of 28.6 per 100,000 for week ending Sept 26.
Golders Green has the largest Jewish population in any ward according to the 2011 Census - though there's nothing to link the high number of positives specifically to the Jewish community.
Officials are to study the latest statistics before deciding whether action needs to be taken.
Since the outbreak in late February, Golders Green ward recorded the highest number of confirmed cases in the borough with 899.
It's widely believed the Jewish community was particularly hit in the early days of pandemic through mixing at Purim before the disease was understood.
https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-new-york-new-york-city-andrew-cuomo-brooklyn-654a7eeeeccc82a80b435b6d4ed1c7fc
Rabbi Avi Shafran, director of public affairs for Agudath Israel of America, said a majority of the Orthodox Jewish community “is determined to do what is necessary” to combat the coronavirus
(Majority does not include Philly & all the orgs they control and manipulate: Agudah, Torah Umesorah, yeshivos that listen to Agudah hostage Rav Kanievsky. Nor does it include Satmar & all the Ingrisher & Galitzianer Chassidussen following them to flaunt all health lies. Nor does it include Peleg. Nor does it include Modern Orthodox anti-vaxxers)
“People must comply with any governmental directives that are aimed at curbing spread of the virus,” he said.
(That's what we say except when we keep issuing anti-heath directives dictated by Philly. And except when we say we follow the law bapeh but all our mosdos are flaunting health laws bamayseh)
Why the upsurge? Shafran said some community members lowered their guard with less wearing of masks & social distancing, and resumed exchanging of hugs with extended family.
(We Fressers actually said this that the Moetzes didn't wear masks for the photo op veil tze felt in "eynecha royos es moyrecha". Hugging is a davar poshut! If I defend hugs from Matis Weinberg & Yudi Kolko, then avadda it's natural for actual blood relatives to want to hug each other no matter the circumstances!)
How did my trademark get expropriated without permission?
We are fluent in Shafranese!
The Kan public broadcaster reported late Monday that acting police commissioner Moti Cohen told senior ministers that parts of the ultra-Orthodox community do not plan on ever falling in line with the lockdown, predicting many more confrontations on Saturday, Simchat Torah. The holiday of Simchat Torah, which wraps up Sukkot, is normally marked with raucous gatherings and sometimes heavy drinking among religious communities.
Police broke up another illegal mass funeral in Jerusalem on Monday night, with reports the father of the deceased was assaulted & pallbearers dropped the body during scuffles between officers and 100s of mourners.
The crackdown came amid growing concerns by law enforcement that gatherings among Charedim could increase over the weekend’s Simchat Torah holiday in violation of the lockdown.
Officers dispersed a Charedi funeral procession attended by 100s of people making its way to the Mount of Olives, arresting 11 participants & issuing fines, according to police. The burial was linked to the Toldot Aharon Chassidim, according to media reports.
Charedi media said the police dispersal of the burial caused pallbearers to drop the body of the deceased, a young man who died suddenly of a heart condition. The deceased’s father was beaten by police, according to Kikar HaShabat & Bechadrey Charedim.
Police said Monday morning they arrested 18 people overnight in Jerusalem for disturbing the peace & throwing stones at officers enforcing virus regulations in Charedi neighborhoods.
Police said 2 officers were injured, but no details were given on the extent of their wounds.
A number of vehicles were damaged during the clashes, including police cars, vehicles belonging to the city & cars belonging to private citizens.
Video aired by Kan showed a man being arrested while onlookers told officers he had special needs.
As police step up enforcement, there's increasing anger among Charedim & accusations of disproportionate force, including against children.
My Transylvanian landsmen think flattery can get you anywhere!:
A Hasidic leader hosting a large celebration for Sukkot was caught on camera trying to dissuade police who arrived to break up the gathering by showering them with blessings, praise & guilt trips.
The incident happened Saturday night in Kiryat Gat, where cops discovered a Kretchnif Chassidic synagogue event attended by dozens of people, in violation of the lockdown.
An officer who entered to explain the gathering must be dispersed came up against the movement’s rabbinic leader, Channel 12 reported as it aired police footage of the encounter.
Before the policeman could begin, the rabbi began heaping blessings on the officer, saying, “God protect you from all evil, trouble, distress, affliction & disease.”
The policeman was heard politely saying “amen” to the invocations.
“You do your work so faithfully, I envy you,” the rabbi continued.
As the policeman tried to bring the conversation to the lockdown violation, the rabbi said, “Slowly slowly, one thing at a time.”
The rabbi mused how difficult it must be for police to enter sukkahs & tell people to stop making merry.
“It's hard,” the cop agreed, “but you need to understand. So I ask you, sir, to disperse.”
“You do your job faithfully,” the rabbi repeated.
Eventually, police were able to convince the rabbi to end proceedings & send congregants home. However, the following day, a police patrol discovered another mass gathering in the same place.
The event was eventually dispersed. According to Channel 12, if there is a 3rd incident, the synagogue will be closed.
It's not clear why a fine was not issued for the violation in keeping with lockdown rules.
Police issued a statement about the event after a photo of police speaking with the rabbi was shared on social media with a claim that cops had merely gone to get a blessing from the spiritual leader.
“In follow-up to the picture shared on social media which said commanders in Kiryat Gat went to get a blessing from the rabbi after they saw the event was according to regulation, we clarify is a distortion of reality, the picture was taken out of context.”
Police said they were initially drawn to the synagogue after reports of noise from inside & that officers went to disperse the gathering.
Bobov got the idea to flood the system with staged negatives from the Satmar Aronis in Williamsburg who put up tzettlach to go get tested.
The closure threat has been a gift to local demagogues. “The spike at 11219 & 11204 zip codes are a fake spike” claimed Heshy Tischler, a self-appointed activist, last seen bolt-cutting open locked parks during the tail-end of New York’s initial “pause.” “Jews have been very complacent” added Tischler, shortly after he issued a condemnation of “Fuhrer de Blasio” during an interview. “We’re easy targets,” he said of Boro Park Jews. “Our leaders are mice. They’re scared of actually leading.”
Maybe if all the masks were black more people would wear them.
The Agudah Fressers are still putting on the fake bellyache act in order to bash de Blasio, that he had 'no business' shutting down Yankel Bender, who they claim - with a straight face - is the most law abiding rosh yeshiva out there (!)
And one of the Chassidishe askonim is putting out spin that infections are inevitable - the heimishe version of Shafran's hug attacks:
“In the average Boro Park-Williamsburg family, the man wakes up in the morning, he has 9 children at home, there’s no place for him to shower. So he showers at the mikvah. There's no life outside of the social structure of the community.”
https://njbiz.com/nj-eyes-scalpel-restrictions-statewide-lockdowns-lakewood-outbreak/
After New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he would mandate the closures of schools and non-essential businesses in 20 of the city’s neighborhoods with new hotspots, Gov. Phil Murphy said his administration might look at a similar approach for the Ultra-Orthodox-majority Lakewood Township.
Philly & Satmar are constantly comparing notes.
http://hefkervelt.blogspot.com/2020/09/audio-message-igud-harabonim-for-corona.html
Philly had their posek boys in Lakewood instruct the oylam to go get tested on the double - only healthy people to artificially lower the infection rate. Sick people were ordered to stay home.
It was on the 6 pm news miles long lines of fools taking orders from Philly.
How is Gov. Murphy so naive to believe the double talk from Philly boys & other Agudah Fressers in Lakewood, who tell him one thing but do the opposite?
https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/10/lakewood-nj-coronavirus-cases-spike-highlights-state-contact-tracing-limitations/
Dr. Ed Lifshitz, who heads the NJ DOH communicable disease service,
talked to city & state officials from New York about potential spread between Orthodox communities in the tri-state. In 2019, a measles outbreak in Lakewood was tied to cases in Israel, Brooklyn & upstate NY.
“We hear anecdotal information that suggests this is happening with COVID, but I don’t have a hard number to put on that,” Lifshitz said.
Last week Murphy said he believed the spike in Lakewood involved “some relationship to worship” from Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur. Whether this relationship is evidenced in state data remains unclear.
Murphy underscored his team works closely with Orthodox leaders in Lakewood; he repeatedly notes people have the right to worship, but should do it safely. State regulations call for indoor services to be held at 25% capacity, or 125 people, whichever's less, and worshippers must wear masks.
“Everybody's trying to do the right thing,” Murphy said, noting Lakewood faith leaders he talks to support the regulations. However, “the man-on-the-street reality” doesn’t always reflect requirements, he said.
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