New Update: The information below* following this post has been forwarded to me by a source in RBS via an email sent to him. Please note another change of location it is at: Meyerhoff Matnas. I will post the address as soon as I have it.
Hopefully the following will be a huge step forward in the direction of solving the problems plaguing what is otherwise a mostly beautiful Torah community... a problem that has made international headlines.
A source from Ramat Bet Shemesh has just contacted me after returning from a meeting about the escalating violence there.
The single most important thing that was stressed was that as many people as possible should come to a meeting on Monday at Meyerhoff Matnas at 5pm , at which the chief of police will also be present. The more people that come, the more pressure there will be on the mayor and the chief to do something.
It is imperative that as many people as possible attend this meeting. I especially urge that it be a united effort, Charedim and Datim alike in equal number. I think that a show of unity like that will impress city officials about just how serious this is being taken by the citizens of Bet Shemesh. It must be impressed upon the mayor and police chief by the good citizens of the community that they wish these animals to be hunted down and fully prosecuted. …and if convicted, to be given maximum sentences in jail. No exceptions.
R. Tuvia Stern stood up to these thugs and paid a heavy price. This is an opportunity to both stand with him in solidarity and show determination in ridding the town of these thugs and their leaders. Let not the suffering of R. Stern at the hands of these thugs be in vein. They should not be allowed to go unpunished. Law enforcement should be unleashed on these monsters until they are all caught, arrested, and locked up for what they did.
Let a lesson be learned by those who would through force of violence, impose their extreme religious standards on others. They will not succeed. They should be put on notice: They will be caught and they will be punished to the fullest extent of the law. No more ‘get out of jail free’ cards will be issued to anyone convicted of this crime. Not any more.
* The Mayor's staff has deduced that the little board room in the Mayor's office will not accomodate all of the people who will be coming to the meeting on **Monday, January 28th, at 5:00 pm**. Therefore, they are moving it to a much larger venue: Meyerhoff Matnas.
How to prepare for the meeting?
1. First of all: COME! We need everyone's support.
2. Invite your Russian, Ethiopian, Morrocan, French, non-Anglo neighbors and friends to join us!
3. Email me: Ddlipman@aol.com ...your pointed questions in advance, so I can compile a list, translate them into Hebrew, and make sure that we cover all critical points.
Updated: 1/24/08 9:28 AM CST
