Protest of Persecution of
Torah-observing Jews in "Israel"
On the Jewish fast day of the ninth of "Av",
commemorating the
destruction of the historic Jewish temple in Jerusalem, thousands
of Jews gathered opposite the Israeli consulate in New York City to
protests against the existence of the state of Israel and its ongoing
persecution of religious Jews, Tuesday July 24, 2007.
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Orthodox Jews Denounce Israel and Its Policies
New York -- July 24
Today, on the ninth date of
the Jewish month of "Av", the saddest
day in the Jewish calendar, which commemorates the
destruction of the historic Jewish temple in Jerusalem,
all the religious Jewish people around the world
fast and pray a full 24 hours period. On this sorrowful,
day an estimated five thousand Jews assembled today,
while fasting, outside the Israeli consulate in
Manhattan in protest against what speakers described
as "the illegitimate Israeli state and its
cruel persecution of religious Jews." The crowd,
spread out over two city blocks, listened peacefully
to around a dozen Rabbis, each of whom stated
that the notion of a Jewish state while the Jewish
people "are under the decree of exile" strikes
at the "roots of our faith."
The issue which drew the cords today, was the
recent imprisonment of five Orthodox Jews in the Israeli city of
Beit Shemesh, on the outskirts of Jerusalem, where a series of peaceful
protests have recently been held against the municipal government.
The spark which ignited the protests in Israel was the city's insistence,
backed by baton wielding police, that a large sign calling upon those
who visit the ultra Orthodox neighborhoods, to dress modestly, be
taken down.
Spectators claimed that the state of Israel has
been "a great tragedy for the Jewish people and all mankind." They
repeatedly called for its "peaceful dismantling."
- For background information of the Israeli Police
persecution of religious Jews that is currently
happening in Jerusalem, please visit: www.israelversusjudaism.org/oppression/index.cfm
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