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'Rabbis Need To Speak Up' RB religious leader proudly protested
By John Burton
RED BANK - Rabbi Yerachiel Shapiro was arrested on Sept. 23 - just as he expected.
Shapiro, 28, is rabbi for Temple Beth Shalom, a modern orthodox Jewish Synagogue, 186 Maple Avenue, where he has tended to his congregation for about a year and a half.
Two weeks ago he took the train to Manhattan to join approximately 100 other rabbis intent on demonstrating their opposition to the appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly.
At that time Shapiro said, "It is something I feel very strongly about."
The rabbis had intentions of blocking the roadway in front of the U.N. seeking to prevent - or at least delay - Ahmadinejad's speech before the world body.
In the past, Ahmadinejad has made comments extremely offensive to Shapiro, his fellow Jews and many thousands of other Americans. Ahmadinejad has denied that the Holocaust occurred and expressed his desire to destroy the nation of Israel, Shapiro said, adding that the Iranian leader is also guilty of numerous human rights abuses.
"It becomes personal given the history of the Jewish people," he said. "What could happen when people who are irrational want to wipe you out? For me it brings up feelings of another Hitler."
The rabbis, who were from the New York and New Jersey area, knew their protest action was likely to land them in the clink given the level of security that the visit by Ahmadinejad and other world leaders required. They understood that police were going to take a dim view of any disruption, Shapiro said. "It's kind of a scary thing. It's not the thing you want to have in the headlines," he said.
But allowing Ahmadinejad to proffer his brand of hate speech without protest was for Shapiro and many others "too scary to ignore," he said.
The New York Board of Rabbis organized the demonstration Vice President Yakov Kermaier said later in the day, "We achieved what we intended," said Kermaier after the event. "If we, by gathering these rabbis so close to the Yom Kippur holiday, communicate the urgency of the situation," Kermaier said, "I hope people take note."
New York Police did approach the group and order them to disperse, and most did, Kermaier said. But, "There were a handful of individuals who did stay in the street and were arrested."
Shapiro was among the group that was arrested. Last week Shapiro said he and about 15-20 of his fellow protesters "stayed put." The police were very reasonable, telling the group if they didn't move they would be arrested. The rabbis in turn, were respectful but steadfast, Shapiro said.
"So, they put us in handcuffs," he said. "We didn't fight at all," and were peacefully taken by a police van to the local precinct where the rabbis were booked for disorderly conduct, issued court appearance tickets and released.
The police were supportive in some instances with officers offering their appreciation for the rabbis' actions, Shapiro recalled. "They were very encouraging," he said.
This is not the first time Shapiro has been arrested. About three years ago, he and others were arrested for appearing before the U.N. to condemn the Iranian president. That time they pleaded guilty and were told by the judge if there were no further offenses within a six-month period they would have their records expunged of the charges.
"I think we'll probably plead (guilty)," to the charge, when the court day arrives. But, "with all these rabbis you know we'll have a good lawyer," he joked.
On a more serious note, Shapiro said his actions and those of his fellow rabbis were well founded. "When you are someone who cares about justice or human rights, then you should be out there whether it's against Israel or another country," he said. "When it's people that are being murdered by dictators or evil men, rabbis need to speak up, whether it's affecting the Jewish people or not."
Shapiro said his congregation has been very supportive of his actions.
