Belz Representative Compares Haredi Situation to Holocaust at Beit Shemesh Rally

Eliyahu Stark, the newly appointed representative of the Belz Hasidic dynasty who replaced Yisrael Eichler on the Agudat Yisrael electoral list, declared during an election conference in Beit Shemesh on Thursday that the situation of the ultra-Orthodox community is "close to what it was during the Holocaust."

Stark Highlights Travel Restrictions and Judicial Criticism

Stark addressed the ongoing crisis surrounding yeshiva students who cannot leave the country due to military draft orders. According to him, this legal barrier prevents young men from traveling abroad for matchmaking meetings, forcing the brides' families to fly to Israel instead.

"When people want to arrange a match outside the country, they have to come here because traveling out is impossible. I initially vowed not to speak about the Holocaust in my early years, but I have no other definition. Our situation is close to what it was during the Holocaust; it reminds me of stories from our grandfathers," Stark stated.

Furthermore, Stark launched a scathing attack on Supreme Court Deputy President Justice Noam Soberg. He coined the term "Sobergism" to describe what he views as systemic hostility towards the Haredi population within the judicial system, claiming that the legal climate treats religious Jews more harshly than security threats.

Political Context and Background

Deputy Minister Yisrael Eichler, who also attended the conference, warned the audience that this might be the last election in which ultra-Orthodox citizens are permitted to vote, reflecting deep anxieties within the community regarding the upcoming Knesset elections.

Stark, 34, was born in Belgium and grew up within Belz institutions in Europe and Israel. Tasked by the Belz Rebbe to step into public service several years ago, he has largely operated behind the scenes until now, managing political affairs and community needs alongside senior Hasidic figures.