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Thousands took part on Monday night in the demonstration of the Eda Hareidis against the decree of enlistment to the IDF which took place at Kikar Hashabbat in Jerusalem, as the demonstrators opened the event with prayer and reading of chapters of Tehillim.
The demonstration, in which mainly children and Yeshiva bochurim took place, was under the initiative of the Eda Hareidis in Jerusalem.
The children arrived at the rally at 17:30, straight from the Talmud Torah of the different Chassidus which compose the Eda Hareidis, including Toldos Aharon, Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok, Satmer, Dushinsky and others.
A sticker was attached to the children's clothing: "Tate! Mame! Save me so that I don't fall into the fingers of Shmad of the national, military and civil service". On other announcements it said: "Our descendants will not be victims of the Cantonistic decree of the authorities".
Other signs read: "We never took budgets from you and therefore we are not obliged to you – "not from your honey and not from your sting", "If you don't let us be Jews – we'll die as Jews", "When I grow up I'll be a soldier in the Torah of Hashem".
Some of the children were tied to each other with handcuffs, to illustrate the willingness of their fathers to be imprisoned.
R' Yitzchok Shlomo Bloi, a man of the Eda Hareidis, opened the rally with saying Tehillim and Avinu Malkeinu. Immediately afterwards, a member of the Badatz, Hagrc"y Freind, accepted Ol Malchus Shomayim on himself together with thousands of children. Hagr"s Bloi, head of the Talmud Torah of Satmer, spoke sharp words against the attempt to oblige Torah learners to enlist to the IDF.
At the peak of the rally, one of the children announced "about the obligation of Messirus Nefesh against the decree". He said: "Even if they throw our parents to jail or hit them so that they enlist to the IDF, we will be Moser Nefesh, will continue to cleave to our principles of faith, and will be Jews who are Shomrei Torah and Mitzvos". In his words he took the opportunity and related to the issue of the curriculum of the Ministry of Education: "They are empty of all content", he said.
The handcuff gimmick had its effect, and the secular media arrived to report the demonstrations.
The older demonstrators were asked not to stand in the square itself – but on the sidewalks, in order not to disturb the demonstration which was mainly meant for children.
The planned march was shortened because of police instructions, and left Kikar Hashabbat to Yeshayahu street through Hanevi'im and Strauss street, and back to the Zupnik square – where the children dispersed. At the Eda Hareidis they expressed their satisfaction of the success of the demonstration: "All the children of the Tashbar who belong to us came in order to transmit a clear message, and we are happy because indeed we succeeded in our mission".
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