Unprecedented theft in Chebin Yeshiva: 40 pairs of tefillin

Yeshiva thefts, has long ago become a national calamity. But the theft which was carried out today (Sunday), broke all records.

Today when Kochav Yaakov – Chebin Yeshiva students on Hannah Street in Jerusalem, ate lunch in the dining room, an anonymous person entered the cloakroom, where there is a large cabinet where the yeshivah students store their tefillin.

The cupboard is not protected and the thief managed to get away with forty pairs of tefillin and disappeared.

Usually a security guard is placed at the entrance to the yeshiva, but the thief took advantage of a moment of absence and disappeared from view, without leaving any traces.

Towards evening, the public phone rang and one of the yeshiva students picked up the phone: "Listen here," he addressed the anonymous student in fluent Yiddish, "Tell your Rosh Yeshiva that I took forty pairs of tefillin from the yeshiva today. If you want them back, you must place $25,000 this evening at the water fountain installed at Har Hamenuchos in Jerusalem. If not, I will sell them."

The shocked student questioned the thief. It turns out that the latter was a graduate of the yeshiva and the action was carried out in retaliation for the sum of $25,000, which he had requested as a loan of the charity fund of 'Keren Chattanim' of the yeshiva, but was refused.

The latter further explained his actions: "My financial situation is bad and I got involved with the black market. I owe them seventy-five thousand dollars. Fifty thousand I have been able to achieve, and twenty-five thousand I seek as a loan. 'This is pikuach nefesh as I got a series of threats which will cost me my life. If I don’t get the money, I will have to hurt myself or my son. I have no other choice."

As a former student of the yeshiva he knew perfectly well when and how to carry out the theft.

The student hurried to involve the Rosh Yeshiva on the case. The mashgiach Reb Shmuel David Shneurson, the son of the Rosh Yeshiva Hagaon Reb Yosef Moshe Shneurson, turned to one of the Rabbanim of Jerusalem who ordered him to try and raise the money from a number of donors in order to return the theft.

In the meantime the police were summoned. Two policemen, who arrived at the scene, checked out the place but did not bother taking finger prints. After questioning the Yeshiva staff the police said. "The students should file a complaint at the police station and then we will open the case."

At this point the yeshiva is in turmoil. Forty students do not know where they will get tefillin to put on tomorrow morning.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!