Hareidi London storms: Kiddush Hashem or Avoda Zora?

London is storming: the hareidi suburb of Stamford Hill is in an upheaval as a result of the words of Hagaon R' Yosef Binyamin Wazner, Rav of Kehillas Chassidei Satmer who expressed his view yesterday against Efraim Goldstein – the hareidi public figure who carried the Olympic torch, as part of the Olympic march which will end at the end of the week with the opening of the Olympics in London.

Harav Wazner gave a Drosha in his Beis Midrash in the suburb yesterday, in which he hinted at Goldstein. He said that holding the Olympic torch and running with it by a hareidi person is considered Avoda Zora, and this is the Greeks' custom. According to part of the listeners at the talk, "The Rav did not explicitly come out against Goldstein, but everyone understood that this was said regarding him".

As a result, a few of the 'Hashomrim' organization leaders, to which Goldstein belongs, brought out a letter which denounces his behavior, and they claim that he has no connection with the organization. "Declaration and clarification", was written at the head of the letter. "We would like to perform hereby "Ve'hayitem Neki'im" regarding what was published in the last days in a few places denouncing Hashomrim organization, about one of the residents of our city who carried a torch by the Goyim. And this act is related as the view of Hashomrim organization, and that seemingly this act was performed by us.

"We hereby declare and clarify in public that this person has no connection to the Hashomrim organization, and his activity was done of his own accord and his personal view. We have no part nor aid his personal deeds. Therefore one should not see his personal deeds as having any relation to the organization, moreover, we hereby protest about the use of the organization's name and as B"H all our activity is done under the instruction of our Rav shlit"a."

The letter was hung up by the organization members in a few Batei Midrash around the suburb.

Goldstein's acquaintances did not stay out of the picture, and they responded to Behadrei Hareidim: 99% of the city members support him. The announcement which was hung up in the morning in shulls was disseminated by a small group of Kanoim, and their aim against him is out of jealousy alone". It also came to the knowledge of Behadrei Hareidim that within the organization there exists a dispute regarding Goldstein's involvement in the organization, "therefore they found a way of putting an end to his activity", say his acquaintances.

They also claim that more Rabbonim who were asked to come out against Goldstein explicitly – refused to do so, since he was a full partner in founding the organization, and their few is that walking with the torch was a "big Kidush Hashem".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!