Why are haredim ("ultra-Orthodox") hated?

Jerusalem Post ^ | Aug. 7, 2003 | Jonathan Rosenblum

[Alouette]

As a rabbi in Moscow, my son is doing 100 times more for Judaism, Israel and aliyah than the "Jewish Agency" bureaucrats who get paid a bounty for every non-Jew they recruit.

This is what is meant by the prophecy in Zechariah 14:14: "Also Judah shall make was with Jerusalem" meaning, the religious Jews ("Haredim" and "settlers") will rise up against the secular government.

I don't always agree with Jonathan Rosenblum (I am a "modern" Haredi) but he hits the nail on the head with this one.

[Alouette]

"Useless hatred" alert. I told you so on Tisha B'Av (yesterday)

[Mamzelle]

I'm so Tolkein-addled that I thought this was a LOTR thread, and we were debating the "Haradrim"....

How many days till the TTT DVD comes out, anyway?

[dennisw]

I am not so religious but have utmost respect for the Haredim. They have been nice enough to me in America and in Israel when I went for a Haredim wedding, my cousin. I am smart enough to know that the prayers of the religious Jews are what saves Israel from the Arab Jihad. The IDF is very helpful too/

[onedoug]

Thanks for posting.

Good Shabbes, guys.

[Scubes]

I was friends for two years with an Israeli guy who served in the Shayetet commando unit with distinction. He fought for Israel in Lebanon while Israel was still there, yet he felt no enmity at all towards Palestinians or Arabs in general, but, he absolutely hated the Haredim. His view was that they should all be shot or gassed. He called them leeches. I could not, and still don't, understand why Jewish Israelis like him feel that way. On a spiritual level perhaps that is why suicide bombings and such occur in Israel...to waken the Israeli psyche out of its hatred of its own people. Much in the same way as 9/11 caused New Yorkers to "come together". But I still don't understand it. Anyone have an explanation?

[Zionist Conspirator]

(I am a "modern" Haredi)

???

Say it ain't soooooo!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tax-chick]

Fascinating! A similar double standard is applied to noticeably religious Christians in the United States. Maybe it's a perception that "publicly" religious people ought to be above the standard self-interest and corruption? Or maybe the majority just can't stand people who are striving for holiness? A curious social phenomenon.

[OldFriend]

During the Crown Heights riots in NY, the hasidic jews were mercilessly attacked in what could only have been considered a pogrom.

The 'secular' jews in the city and indeed the nearby communities turned their backs on the jews who were under seige.

Shame shame.

[mlmr]

Amish and other plainclothes Christians are equally villifiend in their communities.

[Alouette]

He fought for Israel in Lebanon while Israel was still there, yet he felt no enmity at all towards Palestinians or Arabs in general, but, he absolutely hated the Haredim. His view was that they should all be shot or gassed.

That is so sick. I've had secular Jews say the same thing to me. I have a college degree and 17 years of IT industry experience, and yes, I've been laid off several times because of "outsourcing".

Unemployment sucks. I have to bust my butt every 6 months for another contract. How does that make me more of a "leech" than the hundreds of thousands of other displaced tech workers in the U.S.?

What I don't understand is why "Jews" like him stay in Israel. Why don't they just move to a country where they won't be offended by the sight of Jews actually observing Judaism. Like France or something. Still, I don't wish on him to be gassed or shot or blown up by a terrorist. I pray that he should come to his senses. Quickly, by G-D.

[OldFriend]

Notice that there is now a letter made public written by Peter Jennings objecting to the oldest jewish synagogue in NY attempting to build an apartment building in 'his' neighborhood. His complaint.....it will change the character of 'his' neighborhood.

[Alouette]

Notice that there is now a letter made public written by Peter Jennings objecting to the oldest jewish synagogue in NY attempting to build an apartment building in 'his' neighborhood. His complaint.....it will change the character of 'his' neighborhood.

Revoke his new citizenship and send that putz back to Canuckifrance. BTW, the synagogue he's so opposed to happened to be founded by HISPANIC Jews. So that makes him a double racist.

[OldFriend]

As always, the elites are anti semitic.

Heed these ugly winds before it's too late.

[Tax-chick]

I'm not familiar with the laws of Israel, but this also seems like the kind of hatred triggered by government policies based on group affiliation. We're seeing it in the U.S. with affirmative action - people turn into maniacs when favored groups are given handouts, even when they had nothing personal against blacks, Mexicans, etc.

[Alouette]

I'm not familiar with the laws of Israel, but this also seems like the kind of hatred triggered by government policies based on group affiliation.

The difference is that in Israeli law, the secular elites get a much greater share (for their proportion of the population) than the haredim. For example, if the treasury is so busted, why is Tommy Lapid (the ultra-secularist haredi-hater) handing out Israeli tax money to his elite "artiste" patrons to produce anti-Israeli, pro-Palestinian propaganda, while agitating that impoverished haredi families should be shoved from poverty into downright destitution. Because he thinks that in a "Jewish state", Judaism is worthless.

The mind boggles.

[Scubes]

Well yeh it is sick I agree with you. The reason why he won't leave Israel is because he sees himself not as a Jew but as a Hebrew by race and as such Israel is his country. He would rather the Haredim leave Israel. You know what Jewish Tradition says about the Jews leaving Egypt? That 4/5 Jews did not leave Egypt at the time, and perished. And so it will be at the End as well, where 4/5 Jews will not desire Israel whether they live in the country or not.

[Nachum]

Why does it boggle? They were much worse before. Because the Arabs have murdered so many Jews since Oslo/Wye/Roadmap these types have been more afraid to speak up. They can't blame the failures of Peres/Rabin/Barak/Netanyau on the "Dati".

[Salem]

"I am smart enough to know that the prayers of the religious Jews are what saves Israel from the Arab Jihad...."

Amen.

"...The IDF is very helpful too."

Actually, the two are synonymous! In America, after 9/11, any Christian body in America who still had any sense of justice beseiged Heaven's Gates with petitions for justice against the murderers, and the U.S. Marine Corps deploys and rolls two whole countries. In Israel, the cries of the innocent who are victimized by PLO terrorism reach the the Throne, and the IDF rolls on the terrorist infrastructure.

I think the whole concept works pretty good. You would think the little barbarian terrorists would "get the message."

[Salem]

"Our Sages tell us that the Temple was destroyed because of the internal enmity and hatred of the Jewish people. If we want to understand why we did not merit to celebrate Tisha Be'av this year in a rebuilt Temple, we don't have far to look."

This is a very profound statement. There is much internal reflection for a culture that, after so many centuries being dispersed throughout the globe, find themselves right back in The Land they were promised from the beginning. Like I have said, the modern day existence of Israel as a viable nation is nothing but a tangible miracle, for anyone who can get past the spiritual/faith killer of "Modernism."

How long will it take for the Jewish people to get to where He wants them to be, internally as a nation? Who knows. But we see it happening.

I think that's a wonderful thing.