A Climate of Hate

There’s an old joke (albeit not such a funny one in my view) about the Brisker Rav, and Netruei Karta leader, R’  Amram Blau. It goes something like this: Both of these rabbinic leaders were vehemently opposed to the State of Israel seeing its leaders as Reshaim – evil people.  One time, R' Blau saw Israeli tanks entering his community and in protest  laid himself down in front of a tank. The Brisker Rav saw this and said to him, “R’Amram, you are a bigger Zionist than I am!’ ‘You trust that they won’t run you over!’

I have no clue if this ever happened. But the story still makes the rounds today. Mostly in Charedi circles.  

I realize that the vast majority of Charedim do not have the vehement opposition to the State that those 2 leaders of the past had. In fact most of them have mellowed. Charedim have now joined the Israeli government as Knesset members (MKs). The Charedi MKs have even joined governing coalitions and taken ministerial portfolios. The current Health Minister of Israel is Yaakov Litzman, a Gerrer Chasid and a member of the Charedi party,  United Torah Judaism.  

Lying down in front off Israeli tanks is not anything any of them would dream of doing today. There is however a sizable minority of Charedim that will do something quite the opposite. Instead of risking their lives for a principle the way R’ Blau did, they come close to risking the lives of innocent people. Or in other ways inconveniencing people that have done nothing wrong. They have no compunction about using other people for their own purposes. They will block roads; stand in front of ambulances; yell insults and get physical with passersby they don't like. Just as they did in a recent protest.  Lying down in front of a tank?! No way! They might get hurt!

But what about the vast majority of Charedim that are not only not part of this crowd, but whose leaders have actually condemned these people? As did R’ Chaim Kanievsky recently - calling it a Chilul HaShem? Do they have any blame in this? Not directly of course. 

But one cannot absolve them of any guilt at all. Because even though they are moderate and generally comply with laws even when they don’t fully agree with them (e.g. registering for the draft), they still have an underlying attitude of contempt for the government that permeates the thinking of virtually every single Charedi in Israel - moderate or not. 

How often have I heard those that condemn Peleg (the Jerusalem faction of Charedim led by R’ Shmuel Auerbach) for protests like the recent one say that they really agree with them about the draft. They just don’t agree with their tactics. Not to mention the fact that every time the religious parties don’t get what they want, they resort to the worst kind of name calling against government leaders or other Knesset members.

When a 'joke' like the above mentioned one still gets a smirk from fellow Charedim, it shows a widespread underlying contempt for the Israeli government that makes it a lot easier for Peleg’s people to stage protests like that recent one. Are they not really just standing up for their overall principle of contempt for the state? The way R’ Blau did?

It is more then high time for the Charedi leadership and its political arm in the Knesset to stop the vilification of the State of Israel. Even if some of their complaints against them about past misdeeds are true – that has nothing to do with what is happening now. Even if they believes that Ben Gurion was a Rasha, Netanyahu is not Ben Gurion.   And today’s Knesset is not the Knesset of Ben Gurion’s time. 

There are more observant Jews in the Knesset today than at any time in Israel’s history. The army now has units that cater to the needs of Charedim who choose to serve. Draft deferments for Charedim who chose to learn full time have been the status quo - and will  likely continue to be for years to come - and they know it. There are more people learning Torah in Israel that in any time in its history - including the days of Chazal. Not qualitatively. But certainly quantitatively.

The Charedi leadership must end its underlying hostility and replace it with a sense of Hakoras Hatov that can be seen by the entire population of Israel - and even the world. Hakoras haTov for what the State has enabled them to accomplish in ways they never dreamed they could. 

When there is disagreement about policy with respect the Charedi community, it ought to be done without the name calling – either form the leadership of the political parties. Even if there is name calling form the other side. 

There ought to be far more participation in national events like Yom Ha’Atzmaut or Yom Yerushalayim. Prayers for the welfare of the soldiers ought to be an integral part of of their public prayer services. Moments of silence for soldiers lost in battle or for victims of the Holocaust ought to never be disparaged – even privately – just because it is not a Jewish way of remembrance. I could go on. But I think I’ve made my point.

This will not change Peleg. But it will change how the rest of the world views Charedim in Israel. And there will no longer be the need for anyone to apologize to the ‘silent majority’ of Charedim and say that Peleg does not represent them. Because by changing their attitude about the state - it will be obvious.