Today, the Israeli secular newspaper "Yediot Acharonot" is publishing a huge article about the war between the two chassidic groups BELZ and MACHNOVKE. The article also speaks about beatings and telephone threats on either side.
Now there are three questions coming up:
1. Why is an Israeli daily like "Yediot Acharonot" dealing with the subject at all ? Did either Belz or Machnovke inform the press ?
2. What is the Israeli public going to think about the chassidic war ? Has anyone thought about it ?
The moment you start publishing such an issue, the secular are going to think that you (the Chassidim) are a tax waste and totally out of your minds.
Some answers from my humble perspective:
ReplyDelete1. The source of information is not necessarily from within Belz or Machnovke. The Israeli police sometimes informs the press directly about cases currently under investigation in exchange for certain favours. The rules here are very complicated as is
the fragile relationship between authorities and and the press. But you need to play by those the rules if you want first-hand information.
2. No one seems to pay it a lot attention so far. The public image of some Hassidic sects is already al ha panim. It can hardly get any worse. And it's not that any one cares about it that much.
B"H
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the wider public is interested in the subject. Belz is more or less know, but Machnovke ? Who has ever heard of them ?
It is always a disaster when the secular press starts explaining haredi society. And the case "Belz / Machnovke" is rather complicated, as it has a long history.
By the way, the police are trying the same in Mea Shearim in order to find out who the Sikarikim are.