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| National Day of Disruption in Israel (TOI) |
Rav Ahron Soloveichik ruled that a Shul may recite this Bracha but should leave out the phrase ‘Reshit Tzemichat Geulateinu’ – the first flowering of our redemption. He held that despite the miraculous nature of the return of the holy land into Jewish hands after 2000 years (something he personally celebrated by reciting Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut) in no way was this evidence that the era of our final redemption was at hand.
It is now well over 70 years since that Bracha was composed. Where are we in that regard? In my view, further away than we were then. There is no better evidence that we are nowhere near the ‘final redemption’ than what is happening in Israel right now.
Not because Jews are under constant attack by Palestinian terrorists. Not because of existential threats from Iran. Not because of BDS. But because of what our own people are doing. I do not recall such stark illustrations of division between various camps in Israel that what is going on now. Each motivated by their specific ideology. From the Times of Israel:
Protesters blocked roads, disrupted trains and marched in cities across the country on Wednesday as part of a “national day of disruption” against the government’s judicial overhaul plan.
Twenty two people were detained by police at various protests around the central region.
The day’s demonstrations kicked off when a group of military reservists blocked Route 1 near Sha’ar Hagai Interchange between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv...
Protesters at Tel Aviv train stations blocked passengers from boarding and disembarking from trains. Israel Railways said in a statement that trains would not be stopping at HaShalom, Savidor, or University stations because of the protests…
“We are against this coup and dictatorship. Israel won’t be a dictatorship,” he said. “Today, the entire country is barricaded.”
Minor scuffles broke out as police tried to remove parents and children who were blocking the road…Protestors also blocked the Ayalon highway in central Tel Aviv and four people were arrested on suspicion of disturbing the peace. In addition, two people were arrested for alleged disturbances near Kfar Saba.
Police said they arrested six demonstrators for rioting and ignoring police instruction at the Kfar Hayarok interchange near Tel Aviv. Another individual was detained for allegedly attacking a police officer in south Tel Aviv. Police later said nine people were arrested at the Namir/Rokach interchange in north Tel Aviv.
“Israel won’t become a dictatorship — the millions who have taken to the streets over the past eight weeks have made this clear — and we are now moving on to direct action,” the organizers said in a statement.
Extremist Charedi protestors are amateurs compared to these guys. All they can do is disrupt a couple of streets in Meah Shearim or Bet Shemesh. Today’s demonstrators are disrupting the entire country.
It doesn’t really matter why the current demonstration is about. Just like it doesn’t matter what the extremists Charedi demonstrations were about . What matters is that they are disrupting the public order in order to get what they want. Is one groups democratic rights more important than another group’s religious rights? The disruption is the same. Only in the current case it is worse because it is more widespread. For example, the chances of an ambulance on a life saving mission being hindered or blocked by the current demonstrations is increased a hundredfold over the Charedi protests that usually limited to their own neighborhoods
If one opposes disruptive demonstration when extremist Charedim do it, or when crazed Religious Zionists do it, they should oppose them when angry secular Jews do it.
To be absolutely clear, peaceful protest is everybody’s right in a democracy. No matter what the cause. However, protests that disrupt the public order can be dangerous to the public welfare. So, in my not so humble opinion, it doesn’t matter how noble you believe your cause to be, disruptive demonstrations like the one happening today - in order to get your way is both selfish and dangerous.
It is true that some demonstrations cause a great deal more damage and are more condemnable than others (witness what happened on the West Bank a few days ago). But that is only a matter of degree. Harming the public welfare is never a good idea And when laws are broken in the process, those breaking them ought to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Whether they are Charedi, Religious Zionist, or secular.