[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.

[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.

[txzman]

The answer is obvious - liberal antogonism towards those deeply relegious who follow G-d;s laws, not those of men.

[Bobby777]

As a rabbi in Moscow, my son is doing 100 times more for Judaism, Israel and aliyah

Ezekiel 34:13 and 36:24 being fulfilled too ...

[American in Israel]

Why are the Haredim hated so rabidly, and without reason by the secular segment of society? Because men of God always are. While as a Christian I love to argue the tenants of our faiths, (preferably over a steaming cup of coffee), I respect any man who will live a sacrificial life for God, no matter how much I think some of the sacrifices are not by God's intent but by mans.

Why are Christians hated so virulently by Gays? When you pick through the surface logic, the illogic and depth of the hatred show what you are dealing with is way beyond reason, it has a faith of its own. Hatred of God is the religion of the secular, some are just more observant than others.