The Destruction of a Miniature Sanctuary

We are shocked and shaken by the terrible destruction that occurred at the beginning of the week, when the Jerusalem Municipality, together with the authorities, decided to trample everything holy and precious—and to destroy the House of Hashem, a mikdash me'at (miniature sanctuary), the new prayer tent, which was established with great expense.

While those who fear Hashem stood wrapped in tallit (prayer shawl) and tefillin (phylacteries) and pleaded before their Creator, officers entered with wickedness and terrible cruelty, corruptly trampling everything in their path. They did not rest until they dashed to the ground cabinets full of holy books and sacred objects, and this disgrace ascended to the Heavens.

Following the destruction of this mikdash me'at (miniature sanctuary) and the terrible chillul Hashem (desecration of G-d's Name), in addition to the ongoing harassment against the Shuvu Banim community by the Jerusalem Municipality—a community that for about four years has been praying day in and day out, every Sabbath, under the open sky, without a permanent building that is rightfully theirs—thousands of community members, along with its rabbis and led by our teacher, the Rav, Rabbi Eliezer Berland shlit"a, went out to protest the desecration of Hashem's Name, the desecration of a miniature sanctuary, and the trampling of holiness.

On the day of the destruction—Sunday, the 27th of Tishrei, as well as the following day, Monday, the 28th of Tishrei—protest rallies were held at the Jerusalem Municipality plaza in Safra Square. At both rallies, our teacher, the Rav shlit"a, stood and recited the Tikkun HaKlali (The General Rectification), and afterwards delivered a special talk of chizuk (spiritual strengthening). In his words, he first blessed the Mayor of Jerusalem and clarified that we have no intention, Heaven forbid, of causing any harm; rather, our simple desire is to build a mikdash me'at (miniature sanctuary) where more Jews can pray, study, and draw closer to Hashem Yisbarach (the Blessed Hashem).