A wave of public outrage has turned into a surge of tzedaka donations after a Channel 12 journalist published an outrageous video publicly humiliating two young Chassidish boys that sparked widespread criticism across Israel.
The video, posted by the journalist on her Instagram account, showed her and her husband confronting two young Chassidish boys, one age 13 and one age 17, who were collecting tzedaka for their siblings for hachnasas kallah. In the footage, the couple is heard interrogating the bochurim in a mocking tone and accusing them of draft dodging, while the bochurim appear visibly uncomfortable. The video was also shared without blurring their faces, leading to harsh criticism on social networks that the video publicly shamed minors and turned tzedaka into a subject of ridicule.
Following the uproar, the bank account details for the hachnasas kallah fund were widely circulated online —triggering a massive fundraising drive. Screenshots of contributions flooded social media, as many Israelis sought to express solidarity with the bochurim, who were humiliated in public.
In addition, Aryeh Ehrlich, the editor of the Hebrew Mishpacha magazine, researched the story and revealed the difficult circumstances of the kallah’s father, a resident of northern Israel. “The humiliated father of the kallah suffered a Hezbollah missile strike on his vehicle a few days ago, which suspended his parnassah,” Ehrlich wrote. “He worked as a ha’sa’ah driver.”
“In addition, he teaches in the mornings at a Talmud Torah. His salary is irregular due to difficulties the institution has encountered, but he does not leave because he feels responsible for the children’s chinuch. In addition, as a supplement to his income, he serves as a sofer stam.”
Erlich also published a photo of the sign that the father put on his damaged car after the missile strike, writing: “The sign that the kallah’s father placed on his damaged car after the missile strike. Note the play on words, ‘manhig’ = leader, ‘nehag’ = driver, which alludes to the loss of his source of livelihood as a driver. The journalist chose to shame his daughter.”
Ehrlich added: “I spoke with the father, verified all the information, and confirmed the story’s accuracy and the fact that it concerns a needy kallah and chassan. By the way, one of the humiliated boys in the video is the chassan’s brother.”
Among those who donated was Shas chairman Aryeh Deri, who wrote: “Am Yisrael has always been characterized by special simanim- rachmanim, baishanim (bashful) and gomlei chasadim. This severe incident does not represent who we are, and davka now, we must act in the opposite way— to be rachmanim and gomlei chasadim. “I am donating NIS 1,000 to that needy family for Hachnasas Kallah, and I call on all my friends and all of Am Yisrael to do so. Am Yisrael Chai.”
Am Yisrael Chai.”
Public figures from across the spectrum — including journalists, politicians, and media personalities — joined in both condemning the incident and contributing to the cause.
Alongside the wave of chessed, legal proceedings are also developing against the Channel 12 journalist. The Emes L’Yaakov B’Yisrael organization sent the journalist a sharp warning letter before taking action, alleging defamation, invasion of privacy and incitement against lomdei Torah.
The letter states that the journalist exploited her public position to turn a noble Jewish act of chessed into an object of ridicule and media persecution, while distorting facts and presenting the young men as “draft dodgers.” The organization demands a public and immediate apology, and clarifies that if the demands are not met, legal action will be taken without further warning.
Donations can be made to the Y family: Bank Hapoalim, Safed branch 714, account number 680516 in the name of Miriam.
ניתן לתרום למשפחת י’: בנק הפועלים סניף צפת 714 מספר חשבון 680516 על שם מרים
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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