Haredi soldiers accosted by ultra-Orthodox protesters at Hanukkah candle-lighting

Over a dozen demonstrate against event in Jerusalem social hall; organizer says ‘sad to see a handful of extremists’ attempt to disrupt gathering

By Emanuel Fabian

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26 December 2022, 2:14 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

A group of ultra-Orthodox protesters attempt to enter a cultural hall in Jerusalem where ultra-Orthodox are holding a Hanukkah candle-lighting event, December 25, 2022. (Screenshot: Twitter)

A group of Haredi protesters attempted to disrupt a Hanukkah candle-lighting event Sunday night held by the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion in Jerusalem.

Footage from the incident outside a social hall in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood showed over a dozen ultra-Orthodox men accosting the organizers, calling them “impure” and “Hellenistic” — referring to Jews who adopted Greek culture during the Hanukkah story in the 2nd century BCE.

The mob attempted to enter the hall and disrupt the event, but security guards and soldiers blocked the entrance, footage showed.

Police forces eventually dispersed the protesters. No injuries or arrests were reported.

Hundreds of Orthodox soldiers and their families participated in the candle-lighting event, organized by the Netzah Yehuda Association, which helps Haredi soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces.

“It is very sad to see a handful of extremists come to sabotage [the event],” said the CEO of the Netzah Yehuda association, Yossi Levy.

קיצונים חרדים מנסים לשבש הערב הדלקת נרות חגיגית לחנוכה של גדוד נצח יהודה בירושלים. הלוחמים סיימו אימון, לקראת כניסה לקו, באירוע שהוקדש לחללי הגדוד יובל מוריוסף ויוסף כהן שנפלו בפיגוע בגבעת אסף לפני 4 שנים. מנכ"ל עמותת נצח יהודה רס״ן במיל' יוסי לוי: "עצוב שקומץ קיצוניים באו לחבל" pic.twitter.com/6o7ylpypkM

— איתי בלומנטל ???????? Itay Blumental (@ItayBlumental) December 25, 2022

Many in the ultra-Orthodox community shun the mandatory military service that applies to most Israelis, and the community has historically enjoyed blanket exemptions from the army in favor of religious seminary studies.

A Hanukkah candle-lighting event held by the ultra-Orthodox Netzah Yehuda battalion, at a social hall in Jerusalem’s Ramot neighborhood, December 25, 2022. (Courtesy)

The Hanukkah event Sunday also commemorated four years since the killing of two Netzah Yehuda soldiers in a West Bank shooting attack.

Yuval Mor Yosef and Yosef Cohen were shot dead, and their comrade, Netanel Felber, was critically hurt, in the attack by a Palestinian gunman at a bus stop near the Givat Assaf settlement outpost on December 13, 2018.