By: Adina Kutnicki & Shalom Pollack
Zev Braude traveled a long way until he finally returned home. During those long, cold Soviet nights one dream sustained him-Eretz Yisrael. In Dec. ’87, Zev Braude put down roots in Kiryat Arba outside of Hevron, the city of our forefathers. He set about raising a family, thanking Hashem daily for the miracle of being able to live freely as a Jew in his anscestral homeland.
As a Jew persecuted by the Soviet Empire he had finally beaten them. Every mitzvah he performed, the more Torah he learned was sweet revenge on the fallen Communist giant that he battled for so many years.Life was wonderful until he fell victim to an Arab lynching. He was almost beaten to death, then inexplicably arrested by the Israeli police for attacking Arabs!
This is how his Israeli nightmare began – Zev Braude’s son was one of those demonstrating against the expulsion of Jewish families from their homes in Hevron in Dec. ’08. When the police became violent, Zev Braude, concerned about his son, rushed from his home in Kiryat Arba down the hill to Hevron.
Passing a few Arab houses in Hevron he suddenly found himself fending off a half dozen Arab attackers. As they surged forward, he tried to explain that he was only racing to reach his son.
Soon they were almost upon him, yelling curses and leveling threats. At arms length away from their threatening fists he fired two warning shots in the air. He knew the very strict rules of engagement dictated by Israeli law. However, the warning shots did not slow his attackers, so as they closed in on him he wounded one of the mob. Still they kept coming. He had no choice but to shoot again.Their hands encircled his neck as they threw him to the ground. On the ground now, being pummeled by the mob, he began whispering “Shema Yisroel”. Suddenly shots were fired in the air nearby by a Jewish rescue team from Kiryat Arba. The Arabs fled.
Only now, after fending off the fight for his life, did the real hell begin. Security cameras caught the entire <a href=”http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1045362.html” target=”_blank”>event on film </a>and it was unquestionably clear that it was a case of self defense. Nevertheless, this did not stop the Israeli police from arresting him for intentional grievous bodily harm and throwing him into jail. As usual no Arabs were arrested.
“Honenu” immediately provided a legal team who supported Zev and saw him through the next harrowing weeks as he faced the threat of a long jail sentence – for defending himself against Arabs in Eretz Yisroel.
Today Zev Braude is a free man and is grateful to Hashem for his freedom and to Honenu for being His messenger. Tragically, Zev Braude’s ordeal is not unusual. Surrounded by hostile, terrorist supporting neighbors, Jewish patriots often find themselves in a no-win situation. Defending themselves from enemy attacks, whether warding off physical assaults or protecting their property, their absolute right to self defense is often denied. This catch-22 nightmare is the outcome of a ‘marriage’ between the Israeli leftist legal system and their European leftist supporters. Through a myriad of worldwide leftist NGO’s, Israel’s Left exerts pressure on the already left leaning legal system.
Not only is the above contrary to the basic underpinnings of a democratic, unbiased justice system, but it creates a public atmosphere of enormous hostility towards those who exhibit patriotic leanings.
Honenu was created in 2001 by Shmuel Meidad. Its focus is aiding the defendant from the time of arrest, offering specific legal advice and consultation, each (intimidating) step of the way. Its hotline is open 24/6. If the case reaches trial Honenu has a roster of qualified attorneys to cull from who will diligently defend the accused Jewish victim. No defendant is left without vigorous assistance as a result of Honenu’s valiant efforts.
Honenu provides services to over one thousand Jews each year. They hail from all walks of Israeli life-soldiers, citizens, secular and religious. The common denominator is the “crime’ of defending Jewish rights, property and person in Eretz Yisrael.
In honor of Honenu’s upcoming tenth anniversary in February 2012, what better way to aid our brave brothers and sisters in Israel than to make sure that Honenu- literally a life saver-has the resources to continue to vigorously defend them. Honenu’s unrelenting legal assistance to our brothers and sisters in Eretz Yisrael deserves all of our support.
Let’s also send a dual message, signaling to every Jew in Eretz Yisroel that he is never alone when faced with a biased legal system while confronting murderous Arabs, as well as a corresponding signal to the Israeli legal system, that they are being watched and will be challenged when Jewish justice is trampled upon.
Honenu is a US non-profit which enjoys 501c(3)tax exempt status. For further information, please go to its website -www.honenu.org and watch the 6 minute video.
Shalom Pollack is a veteran tour guide and a part of the Honenu team in Israel. He speaks in the US and Israel on behalf of Honenu.
Adina Kutnicki is a life-long Zionist activist, having made aliyah in the summer of 2008. Her articles can be found at http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Author.aspx/451″>www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Author.aspx/451</a