Tel Aviv bans Tefillin

[Israel Chai]

https://collive.com/tel-aviv-ban-on-tefillin-stands-elicits-unlikely-response/?fbclid=IwAR1c-f6ggBCbioDBrNtyuYTQE--fULpIGI_DsN6l-x1NpzCyJ3GiuUbM33E#.XkTjQ_POcE8.facebook

Tel Aviv Ban on Tefillin Stands Elicits Unlikely Response
February 12, 2020

Tel Aviv's anti-religious Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladiansky banned Chabad's Tefillin booths near schools. A secular student leader Elchanan Felhimar announced his unlikely response to be enacted beginning Wednesday.

By COLlive reporter

The municipality of Tel Aviv has announced that religious stands, including Chabad’s iconic Tefillin booths, are now illegal.

The new law stipulates that the city will not issue permits for “stands in general and prayer stands in particular” near educational institutions.

The required distance is 1000 feet from schools, kindergartens, community centers and “any other institution that primarily serves minors.”

Israel’s Channel 20 reported that the new legislation was written by Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladiansky, leader of the “Chai – Secular Greens” known for its anti-religious positions and activities.

An unexpected response to the decision came from the student union of the Ono Academic College, among Israel’s fastest-growing institutions of higher education located in Kiryat Ono, a city in the Tel Aviv District.

Elchanan Felhimar, Chairman of the student association, wrote a post on Facebook titled “Live and let live – action and talk.”

“Following the Tel Aviv Municipality’s decision to deny the possibility of placing tefillin booths near educational institutions, starting tomorrow as a sign of protest, the student union will place a permanent stand on the lawn offering Tefillin to whoever wants to put them on,” he wrote.

“While people are trying to exclude the Jewish people and its commandments, the Union will strengthen and give the right and ability to as many Jews as possible that wish to put on Tefillin.

Felhimar emphasized that “the Student Union is a pluralistic association that respects every person according to their religion and belief and allows all students – Arabs as Jews, haredim, religious and secular to live their lives without any restriction.”

[Ulli]

There is imo two things seriously wrong with the decision.

1. I think it violates the right to religious freedom.
2. It sends the signal that orthodox Jews are a threat to young people. This paints a very wicked narrative, that goes contrary to reality. Chabad members are usually very well integrated in society and contribute much to the economy. The values that they spread help lots of people to make their life better. Even if you look on it from a non-religious angle. This is pure hate for no reason.

I think if any other town in the USA or Europe would make this rules, everybody will see anti-semitism in it. Hope so there will be no bolschewik or nazi copycats.