Shocking Incident In Manchester: 3 Sifrei Torah R”L Fall To Ground During Birchas Kohanim
A disturbing incident occurred in Manchester on Shabbos, the first day of Rosh Hashanah, when three sifrei Torah fell on the ground in the Chabad shul on Singelton Street.
The shul was holding tefillos outdoors in the courtyard of the shul due to the coronavirus. The sifrei Torah were placed within an Aron Kodesh on a table but apparently the makeshift arrangement was not sufficiently secure as a strong wind blew the aron with the sifrei Torah onto the ground.
The incident, which would have been disturbing at any time but was especially distressful due to it occurring on Yom HaDin, was a source of great shock and tzaar to the mispallelim.
The shul’s Rav, Rav Mendel Cohen, announced that he will consult with the community’s Rabbanim to decide what tikkunim the mispallelim should undertake in wake of the incident.
Ukrainian border guards block the road on the Belarus-Ukraine border, in Belarus, Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020. About 700 Jewish pilgrims are stuck on Belarus' border due to coroavirus restrictions that bar them from entering Ukraine. Thousands of pilgrims visit the city each September for Rosh Hashana, the Jewish new year. However, Ukraine closed its borders in late August amid a surge in COVID-19 infections. (TUT.by via AP)
Higher Education Minister Zeev Elkin (Likud), who was appointed to a governmental committee on the Uman issue, announced on Thursday morning that Ukraine has issued its final official answer on the matter and is not allowing additional visitors to Uman to enter the country.
“Despite our great efforts to assist Israelis who tried to enter Ukraine through Belarus or Moldova, a final negative answer from the Ukrainian authorities arrived this morning,” Elkin stated. “The Ukrainians announced that they will not allow any entry through border crossings and no reduced delegations.”
“I call on our citizens to return to Israel and adhere to quarantine regulations upon your return. Shana Tovah.”
Thousands of chassidim have been waiting at the Belarus-Ukraine border due to rumors that Ukraine would allow them in. Ukraine and Belarus traded angry accusations on Wednesday over the cross-border issue.
Ukraine’s presidential office urged Belarusian authorities to stop issuing misleading signals to the Jews that they could eventually cross the border.
“We are asking Belarusian authorities to stop fueling the tensions on the border and refrain from spreading false encouraging statements that could leave the pilgrims with a feeling that the Ukrainian border might be opened,” it said. “Belarusian authorities have deliberately or unintentionally helped spread those rumors.”
Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz shot back at Ukraine, accusing it of “inhumane” treatment of the Jewish pilgrims.
Ukrainian authorities said about 2,000 Hasidic Jewish pilgrims converged on the border in hopes of crossing over and reaching the Ukrainian city of Uman.
Ukraine closed its borders in late August amid a surge in COVID-19 infections. Belarus, which shares a long border with Ukraine, hasn’t barred foreign visitors from entering.
As the Jewish pilgrims have gathered on the border, Ukraine has deployed additional forces to protect the frontier and sent aircraft and drones to patrol it.
Glaz, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry spokesman, accused Ukrainian authorities of being reluctant to find a solution and trying to shift blame.
“We persistently urge Ukrainian authorities to respect fundamental human rights, religious rights and internationally recognized norms and follow humanitarian principles,” he said.
Late Tuesday, the Belarusian government said it was offering to help Ukraine set up a “green corridor” for the pilgrims to get to Uman and back to Belarus.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s spokeswoman, Natalia Eismont, said Belarus was ready to provide buses to drive the pilgrims to Uman and back and make all the necessary precautions to prevent a spike in new infections.
Ukraine’s presidential office hinted that Belarusian authorities’ actions could be rooted in the latest tensions between the two neighbors following Belarus’ presidential election.
Ukraine has joined the United States and the European Union in criticizing the Aug. 9 vote in which Lukashenko extended his 26-year authoritarian rule as neither free nor fair and urged Belarusian authorities to end their crackdown on protesters.
In Wednesday’s speech, Lukashenko accused Ukraine of working in cahoots with the U.S. and its allies to foment the protests demanding his resignation.
I AND LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE NEVER WEAR MASKS, DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE RIDE ELECTRIC SCOOTERS AND BICYCLE ON THE PAVEMENT, IT IS AGAINST THE LAW.
I WOULD ADVICE THE GOVERNMENT TO STOP MAKING LAWS THEY CAN NOT ENFORCE.
EVERYTHING IS MONEY A FINE, FOR THIS, AND A FINE THAT, THE YOUNGSTERS DO NOT CARE, THEY JUST GO OUT AND ROB PEOPLE OR BANKS.
A RICH PERSON TOLD ME HE DOES WHAT HE WANTS PARKS, WERE HE WANTS , DRIVES ON BUS LANES, HE GOES IN TO THE CITY, HE TAKES NO NOTICE OF THE RULES, MOST OF TIMES THE CAMERA DOES NOT GET HIM, AND IF IT DOES HE DOES NOT PAY TILL THEY COME TO THE DOOR.
SO IT MIGHT COSTS HIM A BIT BUT HE IS FREE TO DO WHAT HE WANTS.
THE WHOLE LIFE IS MONEY, MONEY, MONEY. FINE, FINE, FINE.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO AND THE ADVERTS ALL THEY WANT IS MONEY
WHEN I WATCH THE VIDEOS OF THE BRESLOVERS STANDING AND DANCING ON THE BORDERS WANTING TO GO UMAN .
IT DOES NOT MATTER THAT AUTHORITIES DO NOT WANT TO LET THEM GO THERE EVEN THOUGH RABBI NACHAMAN SAID 215 YEARS AGO BEFORE THE MESSIA COMES THOUSANDS WILL COME TO UMAN FOR RHOS HASHANAH.
IT DOES MATTER THAT THEY DID NOT GET THERE, THERE WILL TO GET THERE RABBI NACHAMAN WILL TAKE ON RHOS HASHANAH TO HASHEM.
LOOK AT THE EFFORT YOUR CHILDREN ARE DOING TO GET NEAR TO YOU
THERE IS NO RABBI IN THE WORLD WHO HASS SO MANNY FOLLOWERS,
THE CHASSDIM SHOULD NOT FEEL BAD THAT THERE EFFORT WENT TO WASTE.
