Tens of Thousands of Shekels Per Prisoner: Three Yungeleit Receive Cash Gifts After Military Detention

A public recognition ceremony was held in Yerushalayim honoring three yungeleit who were arrested, declared draft evaders, and incarcerated for extended periods in an Israeli military prison.

At the event, the three received cash grants calculated at 1,000 shekels for each day they spent in custody.

The gathering took place at the Beis Medrash Shaarei Tuvia, the bais medrash formerly led by the late Gaavad of Yerushalayim, Rav Yitzchak Tuvia Weiss.

The case dates back to Tammuz, when the three were arrested during protests in the city of Yehud against alleged desecration of graves. After their arrest by police, they were transferred to military police custody due to their failure to report to draft offices.

The three detainees were identified as Elazar Tzadok Kaufman, Aryeh Mordechai Rabinowitz, and Dovid Menachem Mintzberg. All three were incarcerated in a military prison for significant periods of time.

Associates of the detainees said that throughout their imprisonment, the three were held in complete isolation after refusing to wear military uniforms, a stance they said reflected unwavering adherence to their principles.

The last of the three, Elazar Tzadok Kaufman, was released approximately two weeks ago after spending more than 130 days in prison. Prior to his release, Aryeh Mordechai Rabinowitz was freed after more than 90 days of incarceration, while Dovid Menachem Mintzberg was released after more than 30 days in custody.

At the center of the ceremony, the three received what organizers described as significant financial presents, presented “as an expression of appreciation for their steadfast resolve and inner strength.” Donors from around the world contributed to the effort, pledging 1,000 shekels for each day an individual spent in military detention.

As a result, Kaufman received 130,000 shekels, Rabinowitz received 90,000 shekels, and Mintzberg received 30,000 shekels. The funds were distributed in cash, in U.S. dollar bills.

Among the rabbonim who attended and addressed the gathering were Rav Yehoshua Dovid Turtchin; the Rebbe of Mishkenos HaRo’im; Rav Chaim Tzvi Teitelbaum, Av Beis Din of Satmar Yerushalayim; the Krechnif-Sigheter Rebbe; Rav Nesanel Peretz Meirzan, rosh yeshiva of Chochmas HaTorah; Rav Shlomo Zalman Weiss, rav of the Shaarei Tuvia Beis Medrash, and others.

{Matzav.com}