A bochur from Eretz Yisroel was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while traveling to spend Tishrei at 770 and sentenced to 20 days in military prison. “The Iron Curtain of the State of Israel against chassidim who wish to travel to their Rebbe has begun to fall”, said Knesset member Meir Porush.

By Anash.org reporter

A bochur from one of the Chabad yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel was arrested at Ben Gurion Airport while traveling to New York to spend Tishrei at 770. He was quickly tried and sentenced to 20 days in military prison.

Earlier the same day, another bochur, age 23, a student at the Breslov Chut Shel Chessed yeshiva headed by Rabbi Shalom Arush, was also detained at Ben Gurion on his way to Uman. He, too, was transferred to military prison.

“The Iron Curtain of the State of Israel against chassidim who wish to travel to their Rebbe has begun to fall”, said Knesset member Meir Porush. “At the instruction of the Attorney General, an unprecedented operation was launched to prevent Jews from celebrating Rosh Hashanah in their traditional way. It is unbelievable that in a Jewish state such a thing is happening. This is an international disgrace.”

As reported by Anash.org, the original arrangement between the IDF and bochurim traveling abroad has collapsed, leaving many facing arrest either upon departure or upon return.

In response, Beis Din Rabbonei Anash issued a letter stressing that, as the Rebbe said, the role of bochurim is to study Torah. This, they wrote, is not shirking responsibility but a vital part of Klal Yisroel’s defense. However, they urged bochurim to refrain from traveling for Tishrei if such trips could jeopardize or disrupt their ongoing learning afterward.

On Tuesday, Brigadier General Shay Taib, head of the IDF’s Military Police Corps, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee: “We will increase enforcement at Ben Gurion Airport against draft evaders during the holiday season.” 

Indeed, it appears enforcement is already underway. Military Police soldiers have been stationed daily at Ben Gurion Airport since stepped-up enforcement began last year, with additional deployments at Haifa Airport, the Haifa seaport, and land crossings with Jordan and Egypt.