Israel – Bnei Brak Residents Fall for Purim Prank [video]

Israel – “Oil exploration drillings in Warsaw Park,” ZAKA announced on roving loudspeakers this morning (Sunday) in Bnei Brak, drawing large crowds. But later the onlookers discovered the heavy “drilling” equipment brought in was merely part of a Purim prank in which the weekly Hamishpacha, ZAKA, a construction company and even the municipality were all in cahoots.

The public took the bait, believing declarations by a municipal official that city residents would soon be exempt from local property taxes.

First charedi weekly Hamishpacha reported a large oil well flowed under Rechov R’ Akiva, claiming that soil samples sent to a Boston laboratory had confirmed a large quantity of oil lay beneath Bnei Brak’s main street and that exploratory drilling would soon be under way.

Construction company Z. Landau was also in on the gag. Bulldozers and drilling equipment were hauled in, with engineers, supervisors and 15 Thai workers to play the part. A local sign company posted signs explaining the project. ZAKA’s task was to spread the word, and some claim even the municipality had a hand in the grand practical joke. Webside Bneybraki filmed the commotion.

ZAKA cars took to the streets at 9:30 a.m., “warning” residents to avoid the location due to the drilling. This, of course, drew an enormous crowd right away.

The head of the Infrastructures Department at the City of Bnei Brak announced there was indeed oil in the area and they had been waiting for the right time to drill. He said if oil was found, residents would be exempt from local property taxes.

The television news programs sent in film crews, which starting documenting the “development.”

Only at 11:00 did the municipality reveal it was all a big joke. Some of the beguiled onlookers were amused, while others were angry. The police, who had not been informed about the prank, took it the hardest. They even held a Mishpacha reporter for questioning.