Outrage in Haifa as Bereaved Brother Detained During Mivtza Tefillin
A troubling incident took place in Haifa on Friday, when authorities summoned multiple police units to detain a bereaved brother who was doing Mivtza Tefillin in memory of his fallen brother HY”D, a Chabad chassid who was killed in combat • Read More, Watch
Menachem Cohen, brother of Hatomim Shneur Cohen HY”D – a Chabad chassid and IDF soldier who was murdered in Gaza during the Iron Swords war – established a tefillin stand as an initiative to honor his brother’s memory and find strength following his devastating loss. The stand was set up for the purpose of enabling Jews to put on tefillin in his memory.
According to eyewitnesses, while Menachem was peacefully putting tefillin on passersby beside a sign displaying his brother’s photo, a municipal enforcement vehicle arrived and subsequently called in five additional police units, treating the scene as though it involved a serious criminal offense.
Police confiscated the tefillin stand and the memorial sign bearing the fallen soldier’s image. Menachem alleges that he was physically assaulted, forced into a police vehicle, and that video documentation of the incident was deleted from his phone. He was released only after significant public pressure.
Local residents note that the Haifa municipality has repeatedly acted against tefillin stands in recent months. While many expressed shock at the apparent insensitivity shown toward a bereaved brother engaged in a memorial mitzvah activity.
A Haifa resident told ChabadInfo: “Instead of supporting initiatives that honor fallen soldiers, the city has done nothing to commemorate them. This kind of behavior explains why so many residents feel alienated and are leaving the city.”
Rabbi Yehuda Ginzburg, The Rebbe’s shliach to Haifa, responded:
“For over 50 years, Chabad chassidim have conducted Mivtza Tefillin throughout Haifa in a positive and respectful atmosphere. Unfortunately, there are those who try to inflame tensions. We regret what occurred and expect the Haifa municipality to issue an apology and coordinate properly with this important activity. We believe this was a one-time mistake and not an ongoing policy.”
In response, Israel Police stated:
“Contrary to claims made in misleading publications, the individual was briefly detained following a confrontation with municipal inspectors. The detention was unrelated to the tefillin stand itself. The incident involved noise disturbances and verbal altercations, after which the individual was released within minutes. The matter will be reviewed with the municipality.”
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