Judaism, Democracy, and Israel

On the surface that may not seem like such a big deal. Haifa has been doing that since the very beginning of the State of Israel’s founding. Tel Aviv is about as secular as Haifa. Why should anybody care that much?

Secular Israelis living in Tel Aviv can now go wherever they choose on Shabbos via public transportation. The point is that what was once a policy of a city to be Shomer Shabbos has now been abandoned by city officials.

This breaks the precedent set at the very beginning of Israel’s statehood. There was an agreement between secular and religious forces at he time to allow a status quo balance between religious and secular interests to remain as it was at the time. In that way each side would get a little bit of what they want. Tel Aviv has just broken that agreement.

This development is a bit of a surprise to me. I am a firm believer in the old adage ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Now the secular side has been given a ‘win’ while the religious side has been handed a ‘loss’.

The status quo ought to be left alone.

It’s a surprise based on the fact that in Israel, being Jewish means something. Most Israelis are traditional. Meaning that that at some level they express their Judaism in identifiably Jewish ways. This is unlike America where Tikun Olam was how most heterodox leaders defined it. Tikun Olam is a term that most of them used as a substitute for social justice. Which easily explains why so many secular Jews see no value in being Jewish at all. Social justice is not an exclusively Jewish value. If being Jewish is meaningless they can see no  problem with marrying a non Jew.

Not so in Israel. While there are a few Jews in Israel that are totally secular with little in their lives that is identifiably Jewish, most value their Judaism and as noted express it in identifiably Jewish ways.

This is why this new development in Israel is so puzzling.

Or maybe not. People want their freedom. If they do not see Judaism for what it really is –  a religion of obligations to God, then why wouldn’t they want the freedom to do as they choose - even if they are traditional?

I understand that mentality. Israel is after all a Democracy. Which means that it is a government for the people - by the people. Not defined by obligations but by rights.

But Israel is also a Jewish state. If Judaism is a religion of obligations, how can it be a classically defined democracy? Obligations mean that we cannot fully choose how we want to live if it violates God’s word - which is what defines Judaism.

That is the conundrum that is Israel. And why the status quo was established. While it makes Israel neither fully religious nor fully democratic, it does allow for a bit of both.

In my view the best of all possible worlds right now would be to leave individuals alone to do as they please, but as a matter of public policy to keep the state as true to it’s definition of a Jewish state as possible. Meaning for example that there ought not be public transportation. But if someone uses private transportation, he should be left alone. That is how it’s been so far in most of Israel. (…with the exception of Haifa because of the original status quo compromise agreement.)

It’s a shame that there are some of the more radical elements don’t understand that. How often have I heard stories about rocks being thrown at cars passing through neighborhoods like Meah Shearim on Shabbos? Or simply residents (usually children) yelling ‘Shabbes, Shabbes’ at them until they pass through? If there is a better way to chase fellow Jews ways from observance I don’t know what it would be. I understand that a car passing through a fully observant neighborhood on Shabbos is a disturbing to the residents that live there. But that does not justify their reaction. That only makes things worse by exacerbating the enmity between secular and religious Jews.

That said, how sad that Shabbos -the very Mitzvah that has always defined who is and isn’t observant is not appreciated by secular Jews for what it gives us. While it’s true that he only reason to observe Shabbos is because that is what God requires of us, his treasured people, that does not diminish the tremendous benefits we get by observing it. All of which is lost on secular Jews that do not observe it fully.

It might be counter intuitive to see a bunch of restrictions as something positive. But that is precisely why Shabbos is such a glorious day. I can’t count the times I’ve described a typical Shabbos to non Jewish friends where the reaction was one of pure envy! They wanted to have that for themselves, but didn’t because they couldn’t. Based on their lifestyle of complete freedom they could not tear themselves away from many of life’s distractions which – for observant Jews are forbidden on Shabbos.

What these restrictions do is create a environment that is conducive to family interaction. No internet, no computers, no smartphone, no texting, no TV, no movies, no means of transportation (other than walking)… all of which favor staying home and interacting with family.

Add to the requirement to have at least 2 formal meals  - one Friday night and one Shabbos afternoon - and you have the perfect prescription for family bonding. Something that is increasingly getting away from modern man as technology has taken hold of the majority of our time.  When that technology is removed a whole new world opens up. (Or perhaps an older and wiser world reemerges.)

The feeling on Shabbos is an elevated one. By itself - getting dressed up in our finest clothing (referred to colloquially as our ‘Sunday best’) gives one an elevated feeling. As does sitting down with family at table covered with fine linen; set with good china; where a multi course meal is partaken of by all - sitting together without distraction. And let’s not forget that special dish that is the epitome of fine cuisine, Cholent! Where else can one get such a sublimely delicious dish?

Without Shabbos, how common is such an event? Rarely? Or maybe even never these days? For the vast majority of observant Jews that happens every single week.

Shabbos also gives us more time to pursue Torah study. Not to mention visit with close friends living near enough to walk to who are similarly observant. Or simply the ability to relax around the house read a newspaper or magazine... or even catch a nap. No worries about things that take up your time during the week. Like paying bills; or issues with work. It is just a day to relax and not focus on the mundane.

Speaking for myself, I become a different person on Shabbos. I absolutely feel more elevated. I do not think much if at all about weekday concerns. And I feel lucky to have this special day to escape the technology and distractions of the everyday world. 

Just to be clear, the everyday world is one that I inhabit quite happily. The advantages of which are beyond enormous. I am the last one to deny its many benefits and take advantage of them. I would never give any of them up. But at the same time I would never sacrifice Shabbos just so I can get one more day of immersion into it.

I only wish I could impress the value of that day on all the secular Jews in Tel Aviv that are now celebrating the  new availability of  public transportation on Shabbos. It is yet another step away from the ability to enjoy the fulfillment that Shabbos offers – that could be theirs.

If only they would give it a try.  A try that by definition requires commitment to be Shomer Shabbos. Without that feeling of obligation, it simply will not work. The draw of technology is very seductive and probably impossible to discard without that kind of commitment. Even if only for one day a week. No matter how positive it is made to otherwise sound. I get it.

It is so sad, that secular Jews simply do not know what they are missing. They may have complete freedom. But it comes at a hefty price. A price  (never having experienced it) they may not have any real idea about.