In The Wake Of Karlin Tragedy, Two Other Chasidic Weddings Change Their Venues

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A week after the tragic collapse of bleachers at the Karlin shul in Givat Zeev led to the deaths of two chasidim with hundreds more injured, the Chareidi world is beginning to take stock and to adopt more stringent safety measures at mass events. Rabbi Chaim Kanievski responded recently to the tragic events in Givat Zeev and Meron by stating that “on the one hand we need to strengthen our spiritual level in Torah study and prayer and on the other hand we need to be stringent in maintaining safety regulations.” Rabbi Chaim added that in any future event which he himself would participate in, the safety requirements would first be thoroughly checked.

This week two chasidic weddings are planned in Jerusalem but both changed their venues as a result of the new safety requirements and in order not to use bleachers at their events.

The Belz chasidus is celebrating the wedding of the grandson of the Admor and thousands were invited to the wedding which initially was supposed to take place in the huge Belz shul, which has bleachers installed all year round. Despite the fact that these bleachers fulfill safety requirements, it was decided to relocate the wedding to the Arena sports stadium in southern Jerusalem, as this will allow thousands of chasidim safe entry to the wedding celebration.

At the same time, the Gur chasidim are planning a wedding for one of the Admor’s grandchildren and they too decided not to use bleachers at the event. This led to the wedding being split into two parts with the bachurim (unmarried men) being invited to the initial part of the wedding, which will take place outside the Gur center in Yirmiyahu street, Jerusalem,  and the rest of the invitees will participate in the actual wedding celebrations in the old section of the Gur center, since the large new Beis Midrash being built has yet to receive its occupancy permit.