Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews pack streets in Israel for rabbi’s funeral under heavy guard
- Authorities had voiced fears of disaster from overcrowding as around three quarters of a million people filled streets in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, to mourn Chaim Kanievsky
- Thousands of police provided security for the funeral held 11 months after a stampede disaster at Mount Meron pilgrimage site, where 45 people died
An estimated three quarters of a million ultra-Orthodox Jews packed the Israeli city of Bnei Brak for the funeral Sunday of influential rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, known to followers as the “Prince of Torah”.
Authorities had voiced fears of disaster from massive overcrowding as a sea of men and boys in black suits filled streets, pavements and balconies in the city near Tel Aviv to mourn the Belarusian-born Kanievsky, who died Friday aged 94.
A separate women’s section had been created ahead of the event that the Magen David Adom rescue agency estimated would be one of the biggest gatherings in “Israel history”.
After Kanievsky was buried at a Bnei Brak cemetery, the MDA said the funeral procession had been completed with “no serious incidents”.
Police put the crowd at 750,000-strong, roughly eight per cent of the Israeli population.
It included Shlomo Lugassi, who said he had earlier unsuccessfully tried to push his way through the masses to reach the late rabbi’s flat.
“I cried when I heard he was dead,” the 41-year-old told Agence France-Presse ahead of the burial.