Headline: Social Journalist Urges End to Attacks on Chabad Followers, Calls for Unity in Face of Greater Threats
Date: July 4, 2023
In light of recent videos depicting attacks against Chabad followers, social journalist Guy Lerer took to Twitter to address the secular public and appeal for an end to these hostilities. Lerer emphasized the need for unity and directed attention toward more pressing struggles and threats in the public sphere.
The most recent video, which surfaced earlier today, featured a woman verbally assaulting a Chabadnik in Tel Aviv after he proposed that two young boys put on tefillin. Lerer, in his message to the secular and liberal community, implored them to refrain from targeting Chabad followers and their booths, stating, “There are so many important struggles to be waged, so many threats in the space of public life – leave the polite Chabadniks alone.”
Responding to a commenter who claimed that Chabad was worse than the conservative Mea Shearim community, Lerer defended the Chabad community based on his personal experiences, highlighting their kindness and involvement in significant actions.
This incident caught the attention of Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, who condemned the act of hatred witnessed in the video. He stressed the urgency to combat the spread of hatred, which he argued has the potential to destroy all that is good. Ben Gvir extended his support, declaring, “Haredi is my brother!”
As tensions continue to rise, Lerer’s plea for unity and awareness of more critical issues seeks to redirect energy towards productive discussions and actions. The focus on Chabad followers and their booths diverts attention from larger societal struggles and perpetuates unnecessary animosity. With the support of influential voices like Lerer and Ben Gvir, promoting empathy and understanding can help build a stronger and more compassionate society.