Thirteen members of the Neturei Karta sect were sentenced today to terms of up to five months on charges of wilful disturbances growing out of the opposition by the Ultra-Orthodox group to a projected swimming pool here in which mixed bathing will be permitted.
Eleven of those sentenced, including sect leader Rabbi Amram Blau and his son, Uri, had previous convictions. One member was given a sentence of only two weeks’ imprisonment when he promised at the last minute to respect law and order in the future. Another factor was his impending marriage. Five defendants were given five-month terms, two were given three months and each of the other five, two months. They were ordered to post 250 pound bonds to guarantee a year’s good behavior or serve an additional month each.
Before passing sentence. Magistrate Morenu Levy said that throughout the trial, the defendants had demonstrated their “alienation” from governments and institutions. He said they formed the nucleus of a “disorderly, undisciplined group” responsible for repeated disturbances in Jerusalem. Rabbi Blau and his son, whose new convictions will begin after completion of their Initial sentences, broke into song, in which the other defendants joined, after sentences were pronounced.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
