"What, He’s Sephardi?”: Arrest of Yeshiva Bochur Ignites Firestorm in Haredi Politics

Charedi journalist Chanani Breitkopf has sparked fierce backlash following a sharply worded op-ed and a candid radio interview, in which he accused the Charedi political leadership of abandoning a Sephardi yeshiva bochur [student] who was arrested earlier this week. His central claim? If the bochur had been Ashkenazi and better connected, the system would have rushed to help. But because he was Sephardi, the silence was deafening.

“If his last name was Shapira or Goldstein, the response would have looked very different,” said Breitkopf during the interview. “But since his name was Buzaglo, he’s on his own.”

Arrested for... Trying to Help His Family

The incident began when a young man from a Sephardi yeshiva visited the police station in Petach Tikva to obtain a standard “certificate of good conduct”, a routine requirement for short-term jobs during yeshiva vacation.

To his shock, he was arrested on the spot, allegedly flagged as having failed to appear at the IDF draft office, marking him as a deserter (“עריק”) in the system.

Breitkopf, known for his bold and sometimes controversial opinions, published a fiery column titled “What, He’s Sephardi?” arguing that the bochur’s ethnic background played a decisive role in the indifference he encountered.

“I called one of the askanim who usually helps with draft-related issues,” Breitkopf told JFeed. “He asked if the bochur was ‘regular,’ fair question. But then came the second one: ‘Wait… is he Sephardi?’ That was it. The silence that followed said everything.”

“If He Were from Gafni’s or Deri’s Family, Things Would Look Different”

Breitkopf didn’t hold back in his criticism of Charedi leadership:

“Let’s be honest, if this boy had been part of Gafni’s extended family, or someone close to Aryeh Deri, the reaction would have been immediate. But he wasn’t. He’s a regular Sephardi bochur who went to help his father during bein hazmanim and now? No one cares. No one even flinched.”

He was particularly sharp in addressing Ashkenazi politicians:

“They sit in the Knesset for jobs, power, and control over Chinuch Atzma’i. But when a real issue comes up, like a bochur sitting in jail, they vanish. It’s a disgrace.”

And What About Shas?

Breitkopf also criticized the Sephardi political party:

“Where is Shas in all this? Not a single protest. Not a speech. Not even a statement. It’s not that they couldn’t help, it’s that they didn’t even try. That’s the tragedy.”

Coincidence? Bochur Released After the Article

Shortly after Breitkopf’s column went live, the bochur was released. Some attributed the timing to the pressure generated by the public exposure.

Breitkopf, however, remained skeptical:

“It had more to do with technicalities, how many days he was held. But don’t think the leadership did anything. They’re not elected in primaries. They’re not afraid of voters. Nothing moves them.”

“They’re Full, Comfortable and Numb”

Breitkopf closed his remarks with a scathing rebuke:

“They’re well-fed. Comfortable. Completely detached from the pain of the street. The Torah world is under attack and they’re doing nothing. They’ve grown numb. And that’s the real danger.”

Bottom Line: Breitkopf’s words, raw, emotional, and deeply provocative, have sparked intense debate inside the Charedi world. Is this about ethnicity? Class? Political apathy? Or has the system simply stopped listening to the cries of “regular” bochurim?

One thing is clear:

“Even if his name was Buzaglo,” Breitkopf told JFeed, “he deserved to be helped. But only if someone in leadership still remembers what their tafkid really is.”