Dozes of Belzer hasidim on Thursday demonstrated outside the Jerusalem municipality, protesting a mall planned for the outskirts of their community in the city’s Romema neighborhood.
The hasidim protested with shouts of, “Shamgar Center, don’t destroy our neighborhood.” During the protest, the hasidim broke out dancing, singing, “And all the horns of the wicked I shall cut off.” (Psalms 75:11)

A few weeks ago, the hasidic sect’s rabbinic judges wrote a letter attacking the mall’s opening: “We sat and spoke with great gravity about the issue of the shopping center which is being planned to open in a neighborhood populated by Jews who observe the Torah and its commandments, as strictly as possible.”
“We heard from all of the sides and parties to the matter, about the plans which were presented to us, and we have come to the conclusion and unanimous agreement that opening the shopping center may present a great spiritual obstacle for our youth and adults who live in the neighborhood.”
The letter also called to halt the initiative: “Therefore, we hereby state our opinion, the Torah opinion, that it is prohibited to open this shopping center in a haredi neighborhood, and our holy obligation is to stop the progress of opening this shopping center.”
“And the merit of all those who lend a hand, in any way, to preventing the opening of this shopping center is great, and it has the merit of saving souls deteriorating into corruption.”