The leaders of one of Israel's most extreme Haredi sects, the Bnei Torah or Jerusalem Faction movement, have come out in support of vaccinations for coronavirus.
On Friday, yeshiva head Rabbi Asher Deutsch and Torah scholar Rabbi Azriel Auerbach put out a special letter that read: "The opinion of expert doctors … is that it currently does not appear that there is any concern about harm or danger [from the vaccine]."
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Despite coming down in favor of the vaccine, the Jerusalem Faction has flagrantly violated public health regulations since the start of the COVID epidemic in Israel.
Last Tuesday, thousands of members of the sect protested in Jerusalem after one of its yeshiva students was arrested for failing to report to the IDF induction office. The protesters blocked streets and clashed with police.
A message released by the protest organizers earlier on Tuesday read: "Masses of Jews are making their way to Jerusalem for a stubborn and uncompromised struggle demanding the release of the yeshiva student and canceling his mandatory service immediately."
Head of the IDF Ground Forces Command, Maj. Gen. Yoav Strick, found himself caught up in last week's protests and was forced to brandish his sidearm after members of the sect recognized him, surrounded his car, and threatened him.
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