Netanya police were asked this week to patrol a lecture by former rabbi Yaron Yadan, who now is involved in activities meant to encourage Jews to leave religion.
This week representatives of Daat Emet, the organization which Yadan heads, distributed invitations to the lecture, which was held at the Palace Hotel on Thursday (after this paper was put to bed). On the invitations it was written that the lecture would be on the topic of "Separating state and religion and national obligations," and that Yadan would tell his life story. During his lectures Yadan relates how he became the head of a Litvishe kollel in Bnei Brak and the process which led to his leaving religion. Yadan also uncovers contradictions in the Talmud and in Jewish law.
Invitations to the event, entrance to which is free, were also distributed in the Charedi Kiryat Sanz neighborhood and in other religious areas of the city, and created an uproar. At the same time, the Netanya police were notified about the lecture, for fear of clashes at the event.
The police alert stems from an attempt at a similar event, held in Hadera two months ago. An organized group of Charedi arrived to interrupt the lecture and to try to stop it. The lecture did, in the end, continue, but only after police intervened and removed the protestors from the area. A half a year ago, at a lecture in Herzliya, some 40 Charedi protesters threw stones at the audience.
The Shinui branch of Netanya, who had hosted Yadan about a year ago, made a hurried announcement that they had nothing to do with the present event. Head of the Netanya Shinui branch, Adir Binyamini: "Yadan may be a member of the Shinui steering committee, but in this case the event organization was done by Daat Emet. Yadan is an awesome speaker, and I highly recommend that everyone come and hear his fascinating personal story. At the same time, I am not a partner to what I see as a provocative move, distributing invitations in Charedi neighborhoods. I don't see what use that served. Unfortunately, I have come to the sad conclusion that no discussion or dialogue can be held with the Charedi society. If Charedi come to this event it will only serve as an unnecessary provocation, which I want no part of."
Kobi Levi, who has returned to religion and who heads the Forum to Preserve the Jewish Character of Netanya and is principal of a religious school: "I think that Yaron Yadan, as much as he knew of the Torah, gave in to physical desires and wanted to live a licentious lifestyle. That's why he crossed the boundaries. That's nothing new. I have to say that his event bores me, and I won't be protesting outside the hotel. No Charedi who fears G-d will go to hear his nonsense. At best, a small group of Shinui activists and some secular high school kids will be his audience. None of those will leave religion, because they aren't religious."
Eitan Solinski, representative of Daat Emet: "We alerted the Netanya police about the lecture date so they'd be prepared if needed."
Netanya station chief Commander Avi Biran: "We received information about Yaron Yadan's arrival in Netanya and possible disturbances at the venue. We are preparing accordingly."
From Emtzah Netanya, October 25, 2002