A tragic incident cast a dark shadow over a massive protest in Jerusalem on Thursday, as a young man, identified as 20-year-old Menachem Mendel Litzman, fell to his death from the 20th floor of a high-rise building under construction.
The rally, which drew hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox demonstrators, was organized to protest the proposed conscription of yeshiva students into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—a contentious issue that has long divided Israeli society.
According to reports, the fatal fall occurred during the height of the demonstration, as crowds filled the streets near the entrance to Jerusalem. Witnesses said that Litzman was among dozens of protesters who had climbed onto the under-construction building to gain a better view of the rally.
Moments later, he tragically fell from the 20th floor to his death. Emergency medics who arrived on the scene were unable to revive him and declared him dead. Initial police investigations are exploring whether the fall was an accident or a deliberate act.
Hebrew media reported that Litzman had left a farewell message on his Instagram account, suggesting that he may have taken his own life. “To all my dear and true friends, I love you, I ask for forgiveness, I can no longer cope, I say goodbye to you with tears in my eyes and we will meet together with the Messiah,” the post reportedly read.
The message has since circulated widely online, sparking waves of grief and disbelief within the ultra-Orthodox community. The demonstration itself was one of the largest in recent memory, drawing enormous crowds who filled roads and climbed structures in defiance of the government’s proposed draft law.
Protesters chanted prayers and slogans, holding signs denouncing what they described as an attack on religious freedom and Torah study. Many demonstrators were seen scaling billboards, rooftops, and even a construction crane, prompting safety concerns among authorities.
Following the fall, rally organizers urgently appealed for those perched on dangerous structures to come down immediately. In addition to Litzman’s death, the rally was marred by several other serious incidents.
At the Moza Interchange on Route 1, a bus carrying protesters reportedly ran over a police officer, leaving him with moderate injuries. The officer was rushed to the hospital, and police have since opened an investigation into the circumstances of the collision.
Emergency medical teams from Magen David Adom and Ichud Hatzalah reported treating over 140 people during the event. Many suffered from fainting, breathing difficulties, dehydration, and minor injuries amid the densely packed crowds and emotional intensity of the protest.
While the rally officially concluded as planned, violent clashes erupted afterward between hundreds of protesters and police officers, further heightening tensions in the capital.
