I am sick of my own Israeli society. Since the latest Mea Shearim riots of started, many secular and national religious Israelis are awakening and starting again their favourite haredi bashing.
The journalist Yair Borochov (Ynet) brought it to the point !
And by the way, the undercover cops mentioned in the article are here:
Further pictures:
http://www.bhol.co.il/news_read.asp?id=10451&cat_id=1
I think the comparison between Mea Shearim and Iran is disingenuous and unhelpful.
ReplyDeleteIranians are seriously oppressed and unable to freely live according to their beliefs.
Charedim in Jerusalem (and everywhere else in Israel) are free to observe every halacha, minhag and chumra to the last detail so long as they aren't doing it to the detriment of others.
This isn't about the freedom to observe. It's about their struggle to maintain their political power in Jerusalem.
I am not excusing or encouraging police aggression, but the rhetoric that comes from the mouthpieces of the eida is abominable. Things like "we will set fire to the whole country" cannot provoke anything but hatred and fury.
B"H
ReplyDeleteOf course, you cannot compare Mea Shearim with Iran but, nevertheless, I like the article. Maybe it was even meant to provoke but what it does it describing a similar situation.
The Iranian population has difficulties to express itself to the outside world, so has the haredi population. Not because the Haredim are under a dictatorship but because the many secular as well as many national religious don't even bother thinking. Their mind is already set not matter what the Haredim claim.
Many of them are on Twitter and I am either following them or they me; however, haredi society has an immense problem getting it's message over to other parts of Israeli society.
You say: haredi society has an immense problem getting it's message over to other parts of Israeli society.
ReplyDeleteAgain, in Iran the protesters truly cannot easily or safely transmit their message to those who need to hear it.
In Israel anyone who wishes to say anything can do so, safely, legally, openly.
It's the charedi leadership itself that seeks to prevent interaction with secular Israelis and thus ensuring that the press has the final word.
If more truly God fearing and honest charedim would be prepared to come and join the conversation on Twitter or the likes, the more their voice would be heard by others as an accurate representation of their society.
B"H
ReplyDeleteAs I said, many are on Twitter but those are more rather American style Haredim than Mea Shearim.
First of all, the computer is a big problem in Mea Shearim but lets assume that they were on Twitter or elsewhere: Who from the outside world would really listen to them ?
The reaction would still be:
"Go to work / the army and leave everyone else alone !"
A few months ago, I read an article about a female Israeli student who wrote about haredi society. She mostly met haredi women and interviewed them. After a short while, however, she understood that haredi society and the people are not as the press loves them to present.
I think one also has to take some time and deal with that part of society a little deeper.
Jerusalem is The Holy City of the Jews. The Charedim want to keep the Shabbat Holy--OK. It is 24 hours, think of the gasoline saved, the pollution avoided? When I was young they used to close things on a Sunday, but now everything is open 24/7 and you know, I am willing to walk for one day--just to enjoy the quiet and the clean air. Try it--you don't have to be religious to enjoy clean air and a pleasant walk!
ReplyDeleteI know, I'm also on Twitter. That's how I found out about your blog.
ReplyDeleteI disagree that people would be so dismissive so long as people make a sincere effort to converse rather than just broadcast.
I've been on the fringes of charedi society for close to 10 years now, in different communities in Israel. For three years I studied in kollel in the heart of Mea Shearim and I've had the opportunity to see some of the best and worst sides of it.
My experience teaches me that before we deal with the question of who would listen on the outside, we need to deal with the pervasive attitudes of ignorance, indifference, hostility and fear that characterise the charedi outlook towards the rest of the world.
B"H
ReplyDeleteI agree that some Haredim have a weird look onto the outside world. But what about the outside world looking at them in a weird way.
Both groups should change but, reality is, they probably won't.
We are speaking about Haredi Bashing. What about the males physically bashing females? For example, a woman sat down on a non-religious bus (which was not a synagogue),a haredi man jumped on her and beat her up. Nobody, not even the cowardly bus driver stood up in her behalf.
ReplyDeletethe sad thing about right-wing judaism is that it's basically fascistic because jews are seen superior to gentiles. the kabbalah also contains a lot of racist stuff that isn't talked about. however, because of the holocaust israel keeps its special status of being untouchable and critics are denunciated as antisemites. that's true democracy.
ReplyDeleteB"H
ReplyDeleteFact is that G - d chose the Jews as His favourite nation !
Does it make the Jews superior to other nations ?
First of all, Jews have a special task in this world. Rectifying this world by doing Tikunim and fulfilling Mitzwot. Gentiles only have the Seven Laws of Noach to keep.
Chassidut and Kabbalah teach that Jews have a Jewish soul and a special connection to G - d. It doesn't mean that they are superior but what it means is that Jews and Gentiles have different tasks in this world.
Whoever doesn't want to believe that Jews do have a Jewish soul, let me ask you one question:
Do Gentiles have an additional soul (Neshama Yeterah)on Shabbat ?
It is not a matter of democracy but a matter of what G - d decided.