Gabai of Tahash apologizes: "I was forced to be in Knesset"

The visit of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper during the last days in Israel, accompanied by a large entourage, infuriated the Tahash Hassidim living in Kiryat Tahash in Canada. The reason: visit of the Rebbe' gabbai Rabbi Moshe Segal Rothman to the Knesset.

Rabbi Rothman who joined the entourage of Canadian Prime Minister participated in the visit of the Prime Minister to the Knesset and sat in the visitors' gallery. Rothman, who belongs to Tahash Hasidus which is zealous against Zionism in the Satmar way, was beside himself with the publication of his picture as a visitor in the gallery of the Zionist Tabernacle.

Rothman subsequently wrote a letter of apology from the depths of his heart, in which he explained the reason for his participation in the Knesset and asked for forgiveness from his community and his family.

In a long and detailed letter Rothman writes: "I was called and I was personally invited by the Prime Minister of our country Canada to attend his trip with his entourage, and after consultation with public officials and lobbyists of the pure Haredi Jewry and they all unanimously answered and said that because of the honor of kingdom could not dare not to accept this invitation."

"Well I had to respond and participate and I could not refuse and it certainly did not cross my mind, G-d forbid to go anywhere which is not befitting and as our holy Maran the Rebbe Shlita (the Tahash Rebbe, M.O.) in the method segregation by our holy sages and I grew up this way in my father's and my father in law's home".

"But to my great dismay and pain that I joined the Prime Minister, I was with the entire procession accompanied by heavy guarding without any possibility of leaving from the above and they also did not reveal the visiting places for security reasons, and at last I was forced to be at the entrance of the house of infidels, to my regret and heartache."

"And since I failed in such a serious matter I cannot find peace, and in particular that I offended the Holy of Holies… to serve in the holy place for the k"k the Rebbe Shlita who has clearly revealed his holy view several times in the theory of zeal and is going to the light of the Satmar Rebbes, therefore I came to reveal my grief in public and confess that I have failed indeed in serious matters, please and please judge me favorably because I failed involuntarily and not out of will."

"And I shall lay my plea before the holy Maran our father and shepherd shlita, and head of our holy community, and the whole holy congregation who take shelter in his holy shadow, if I caused them shame, sorrow and aggravation, that they should forgive me."

Rothman concludes his letter "and as a son atoning before his father, I shall lift my eyes to the mountains to ask forgiveness from my father shlita and all my family that they should forgive and accept my repentance and the good Hashem will atone for me.
Signed Moshe Segal Rothman, meshamesh bakodesh for the Tahash Rebbe".

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!