JERUSALEM — The Israel Defense Forces apologized Monday to a Haredi man arrested as a draft dodger after he was prevented from wearing tefillin for several hours during his detention.
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Avraham Ben Dayan, 23, a recent yeshiva graduate and newlywed, was taken into custody Saturday night at a police checkpoint in southern Israel. The IDF said he remained in detention overnight and was only allowed to don tefillin late in the afternoon.
“The detainee was ultimately unable to wear tefillin due to an unexpected delay in processing,” an IDF spokesperson said. “This is an extremely rare case and not in line with IDF regulations. We regret the distress caused and have clarified procedures to prevent similar incidents.”
Ben Dayan’s family said they were repeatedly denied the ability to deliver his tefillin during transfers between detention facilities in Netivot, Ofakim, and Sde Teyman. They described the delays as a severe violation of religious practice.
Lawmakers and religious leaders criticized the handling of the case. MK Moshe Gafni, chairman of the Degel HaTorah party, called it “hatred towards everything Jewish” and said he would raise the matter with the defense minister.
Ben Dayan was sentenced to 10 days in military prison. His attorney, Shlomo Hadad, has filed an appeal seeking his early release.
I propose blaring horns every time the Muslims in jail want to pray. Also steal their prayer rugs and serve the best food of the Year during Ramadan only by day
Reality kicks a slogan in the *ss. “Better jail than giyus.” Be careful what you wish for. First, it was no mehadrin food, now tefillin. I’m not justifying the behavior of the prison officials/guards, but don’t complain when you get what you boldly claimed you’d prefer, and all of a sudden you’re surprised at the lack of accommodations. Israel isn’t the US and the prisons are like Otisville.
The IDF should arrest all those nah nach and shuvu bonim clowns. Those guys ain’t leraning. let them fight and make them mentchin
Why should he be allowed to put on tiffilin.
It is like ‘Tovel V’Shertz B’yudoh”. He wants to go to the mikvah with the unclean insect in his hands.
He defrauds all Israeli’s and did a great SIN, by nor joining his brothers in defending the country. Why should we let his do a mitzvah while he is doing an averah (sin)