Police on Monday summoned for questioning the apparent organizers of the Levayas of Rav Yitzchok Scheiner and Rav Dovid Soloveichik, which took place just hours from each other,
The Levayas, which were each attended by thousands of people, took place in defiance of the lockdown rules aimed at stemming the spread of COVID-19. Both Rabbanim had died of the coronavirus.
It was unclear whether family members were to be interrogated, the report said.
According to media estimates, some 8,000 people showed up to Jerusalem’s Bukharim neighborhood Sunday night for the funeral of the Kamenitz rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Yitzchok Scheiner, who died at age 98 earlier in the day.
His death was announced during the earlier Levaya of Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, the rosh yeshiva of a Brisk Yeshiva in Jerusalem and scion of the Soloveitchik rabbinical dynasty, who had died early Sunday morning at the age of 99. His Levaya was attended by an estimated 10,000 people.
Speaking Monday, coronavirus czar Nachman Ash said: “Yesterday there were two mass events… I strongly condemn these mass violations of the lockdown, I call on leaders to prevent such incidents, I call on the police to act to prevent such gatherings. The lockdown continues, and every day of adherence to all guidelines and procedures is extremely important,” he stressed.
The issue of lockdown enforcement in the Haredi communities has repeatedly made headlines recently, amid reports of flagrant violations, accusations of poor enforcement, and violent protests against police who try to ensure that the closure is being obeyed.
Ofer Shumer, a senior Jerusalem police officer, defended the force’s decision to not enforce the lockdown and prevent mass participation, telling Channel 12 that “there would certainly have been bloodshed” had police tried to disperse the crowds there.
“We prevented bloodshed,” he said. “If we had acted with force… there would certainly have been bloodshed. I personally saw 1,000 young kids aged 10-14 [at the Levaya].”
Israel is several weeks into its third nationwide lockdown to combat the virus, but infection rates remain high, with thousands of new cases diagnosed each day.
There are violations of the rules in all areas of the country, but there have been repeated reports of rule-breaking in some Haredi communities, including opening schools, holding events and celebrating weddings.
