Chabad Bochur Detained While Manning Tefillin Booth In Haifa

Menachem Cohen, a Chabad-Lubavitch Chossid, was briefly arrested this past Friday after setting up a tefillin stand in Haifa in memory of his brother, St. Sgt. Shneur Zalman Cohen H’YD, who fell fighting in Gaza.

Cohen and friends established the tefillin stand l’ilui nishmas his brother, displaying his photo as part of the initiative. Shortly afterward, municipal inspectors arrived, followed by multiple police vehicles. Cohen was detained, and the tefillin stand and sign were confiscated.

Rabbi Yehuda Ginsburg, the Chabad Shliach in Haifa, stressed that Chabad has operated tefillin stands throughout the city for over five decades. “For over 50 years, Chabad has operated tefillin stands across Haifa,” he said. “It has always taken place in a positive atmosphere. Unfortunately, there are those who try to inflame tensions. We expect the Haifa Municipality to apologize and work in coordination with this important activity. We are confident that this was a one-time error by the municipality.”

Police later stated that the detention followed a confrontation with municipal inspectors and was not connected to the tefillin stand itself. Cohen was released within minutes, and authorities said the incident would be reviewed with the municipality.