In violation of national containment regulations aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, thousands of people attended a funeral procession on Sunday for a prominent ultra-Orthodox rabbi who died overnight after battling COVID-19 for several months.
Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik, head of the Brisk yeshiva in Jerusalem and a descendant of the Soloveitchik rabbinical dynasty, died early Sunday morning at the age of 99.
He had contracted the virus last year, and his condition is said to have deteriorated considerably over the weekend.
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Known as “the oldest yeshiva leader,” Rav Soloveitchik was recognized as a powerful voice in ultra-Orthodox Israeli society.
Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik attends an event in Jerusalem, August 10, 2020 (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
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The funeral procession left his home in front of his yeshiva in the Sanhedria neighborhood of Jerusalem at 11 a.m. His body was to be transported to Har Hamenuhot cemetery in the Givat Shaul neighborhood, where burial is scheduled for early afternoon, and thousands more are expected to attend.
Police asked the public not to join the procession or funeral and said they were in “negotiations” with community leaders to prevent mass gatherings linked to the funeral, the website reported. Ynet information.
Israel is several weeks away from its third national lockdown to fight the virus, but infection rates remain high, with thousands of new cases diagnosed every day.
There are rule violations in all communities across the country, but repeated reports point to blatant rule violations in some ultra-Orthodox communities, including the opening of schools, the organization of parties, and the celebration of weddings.
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox men attend the funeral of the late Rabbi Meshulam Dovid Soloveitchik in Jerusalem on January 31, 2021 (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
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Infection rates in the ultra-Orthodox community are disproportionately high, possibly due to containment violations as well as overcrowded living conditions and other factors.
Police trying to enforce regulations in some ultra-Orthodox areas have encountered sometimes very violent resistance, including riots and attacks on officers, especially in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv. The leaders of the ultra-Orthodox communities accused the police of using excessive force.
A burnt down bus in Bnei Brak on January 25, 2020 (Israel Police)
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The question of non-compliance with the rules by the ultra-Orthodox sparked negative reactions from the population and infighting within the ruling coalition. Ultra-Orthodox parties allied with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party oppose increased fines for violating containment rules, while Blue and White party says hikes and other stricter enforcement measures are necessary.
The political deadlock has blocked the government’s votes on extending the embargo, which is due to expire overnight from Sunday to Monday, but which is expected to be extended.
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