n another incident demonstrating the escalating tensions between rival camps within the haredi community, the son of United Torah Judaism MK Meir Porush was beaten and knocked to the ground Monday.
Yisrael Porush confirmed that he had been attacked but added that he did not want to provide details of the incident for fear it would lead to the desecration of God's name.
The Ger hassidic sect, the nation's largest, has been embroiled in a serious dispute with a constellation of smaller hassidic sects represented by Porush's Shlomei Emunim faction in Agudat Yisrael.
The tension between the two groups intensified after Rabbi Ya'acov Aryeh Alter, the Gerer Rebbe, did not support Porush in the Jerusalem mayoral elections. Many Ger hassidim actually voted for his secular rival, Nir Barkat, helping him win.
Porush's followers, who feel the Ger hassidim broke an unwritten rule to uphold haredi unity, have called for a revamping of Agudat Yisrael's political leadership. Currently Ger effectively controls Aguda.
Porush's followers are also trying to establish a new haredi daily to compete with the Ger-controlled Hamodia.
Ger hassidim say that Porush forced himself on the haredi public without receiving rabbinic backing for his candidacy. The Lithuanian rabbinic leadership has also criticized Porush for the same reason.
The tension between the camps has led to violent incidents. UTJ faction chairman Ya'acov Litzman was beaten and had food thrown at him during a family event in Me'a She'arim on Shabbat.
Perhaps the saddest thing of all about this is that it is the winners administering the beating. I think a sore winner is worse than a sore loser.
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