A recent survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that 45 percent of Israel’s Jews define themselves as “traditional,” meaning that they make Kiddush on Leil Shabbos, light Shabbos candles, fast on Yom Kippur, and avoid chometz on Pesach. They have not cut themselves off from all Jewish observance and take pride in being Jewish.
Protesters against judicial reform clashing with police last March (TOI)
Those words excerpted from Jonathan Rosenblum’s recent column in Mishpacha Magazine stood out. It was part of a book review wherein he offers effusive and well deserved praise of its author, South African Chief Rabbi, Warren Goldstein.
But this post isn’t about that.
Since the percentage of how many fully observant Jews in Israel is much smaller than the 45 percent - it shows how different the situation of the Israeli Jew is from that of the American Jew.
The sad but indisputable reality is that 75% of the 90% of Jews in the US that are not Orthodox intermarry. When Jewish men marry non Jewish women their Jewish line ends with them. My guess is that few if any of these highly assimilated secular Jews observe the above mentioned traditions. Religion is just not a part of their identity.
It is therefore difficult to not conclude that the future of Judaism lies in the Jewish state of Israel. Even among Israeli families that are not fully Shomer Shabbos, there is a recognition that it exists and is honored at some level. The same thing is true about Jewish holidays. Including fasting on Yom Kippur. I don’t know how many of the 75% of Jews that marry out fast on Yom Kippur. My guess is very few if any secular American Jews observe these traditions at any level.
And yet as Jonathan also notes with respect to Israel - the division between secular Jews and traditional Jews on the one hand - and Charedi Jews on the other has never been greater. This is what the recent protests have shown. While the focus of these protests is opposition to judicial reform – I believe the primary (but not sole) underlying issue is the fear that Charedi politicians will be given the power to legislate coercive religious policies upon the Israeli public. A public that is traditional in many ways and nonetheless sees Charedi politicians as the Jewish version of the Taliban.
I’m not so sure of the judicial reform would give Charedi politicians that kind of power. Or even if it did, that their legislative acts would be anywhere near like those of the Taliban. But that is how they are viewed by many secular and DL/MO Jews. Add to that the resentment of Charedim who are perceived as not contributing to the economy – instead feeding off of it; and their refusal to serve in the army (or even national service) and it becomes clear why the country is so divided.
This is not to say that judicial reform is not needed. Honest protestors would concede that it is. But they were nevertheless satisfied with the status quo since their interests were for the most part protected. Something they feel sure will be lost if reform goes forward as planned.
The idea of waiting to see how reform would work out is untenable to people - when they fear the worst. They see their ‘house’ on fire and want to put it out. That is why these protests have been so constant and so intense.
The thing is that it didn’t have to be like this. I can’t speak for the 55% of the Israeli population that is not traditional at all. Perhaps the Jewish identity of their offspring too will be lost - considering themselves instead as Israelis of Jewish descent (or something like that).
That is also a difficult pill to swallow, But unfortunately - not an unrealistic possibility if there is no tangible expression of traditional Judaism in their lives is.
But that still leaves a sizable minority - millions of Jews - that actually do care about their Judaism and live their lives that way. And yet they are among the most strident protesters of judicial reform.
Policies designed to serve the constituency that voted them into power is a legitimate pursuit of the politicians elected by them . This is true for secular as well as Charedi politicians. But that does not mean ignoring the fallout for other constituencies. So what does one do when the needs and values of one constituency contradict the needs and values of the other?
This is where politicians on both sides of the divide fail. Each sees the world through their own myopic lens. And will accommodate the general welfare only after assuring their own constituency’s welfare.
While compromise is the real solution to this problem, it has become a dirty word. The more ideologically pure one is, the less likely they will compromise.
In my view the burden lies with the Charedi side to ‘strike first’ and change the way they relate to the secular and DL/MO world. Especially when dealing with the 45% of the population that actually cares about their Judaism.
Why first? As I often say, the Gemara (Shavuos 39a) tells us the following: Kol Yisroel Areivim Zeh BaZeh. Every Jew is responsible for the welfare of their fellow Jew. Both physically and spiritually. Nowhere does it say we must care only for observant Jews. In my view that obligation applies more to the non observant Jews. And the 45% that are traditional would be the ones to start with.
How they could do that is a subject that I have discussed many times. It would include the ‘impossible’ task of changing their paradigm.
The idea of treating military service as the enemy of observant Judaism needs to be abandoned. Exchanged for the more realistic view that Charedim can serve and for the most part observe all of their Charedi values and customs.
They must abandon the idea of encouraging full time Torah study for all men for as long as possible. They need instead to reserve that approach for the most elite and motivated young people among them;.
The have to provide an education that will enable all of their young people to participate in a modern economy - which will prepare them to have better paying jobs.
Most of all they need to integrate with that 45% of the population that is traditional. If they had done this to start with, I don’t think there would be the kind of division that exists now.
Is it too late – even if it were possible? I don’t know. But it is sure worth giving it a shot. Because that is a lot better than what is going on now.
Will that happen? I doubt it. But I can dream….