There is an interesting story in the Jerusalem Post that tells us the story of a Israeli Satmar Chasid originally from England who has signed up for a special voluntary police unit. It is called Yasham. Its members serve on a part time basis and have full police powers.They can arrest people and they carry police issue pistols. And as the photo indicates they wear the uniform, of the police. They are police it seems in every sense except that they are Frum and serve only on a part time basis. To those who join like the subject of the news story, I salute them as individuals who choose to serve their people in this sometimes dangerous way.
There are some who would use this to show that Satmar does indeed participate in the State institutions. Certainly a police officer is considered a part of the government establishment.
I suppose that’s true to an extent. But the fact is that despite their participation in government, Satmar is just as vehemently anti State of Israel as ever. They still curse the Medina every chance they get. That they allow some of their members to serve in this capacity is probably because it's looked at as a good job with relatively decent pay and benefits. And in the mean time they now have ‘friends in the force’. It’s quite cynical though to participate at this level and at the same time claim they do not participate in any way with the state.
They don’t take money?! Well as I said in the past, they do benefit from government protection through the military. I don’t think anyone with an objective viewpoint would disagree with that. As for the other benefits they receive, one might argue they deserve that as taxpayers. I understand that perspective although I disagree with it.
It is beyond splitting hairs, in my view, to say, police yes …army no. Here’s how they explain it:
There is a difference between serving the citizens of this country and serving the State of Israel. Serving Jews as a police officer is okay; serving the State of Israel as a soldier is not."
Right! The military putting their lives on the line every day is not serving the citizens?! Give me a break.
One point to be made here is the way Charedim and others who have had encounters with the police constantly bash the police. The epithet ‘Nazis’ is one not uncommonly hurled at them… along with acusations of police brutality and indiscriminate beatings especially of Charedim.
Yes… that’s what the police are to many people… a bunch of Charedi bashing Nazis.
There are some who would use this to show that Satmar does indeed participate in the State institutions. Certainly a police officer is considered a part of the government establishment.
I suppose that’s true to an extent. But the fact is that despite their participation in government, Satmar is just as vehemently anti State of Israel as ever. They still curse the Medina every chance they get. That they allow some of their members to serve in this capacity is probably because it's looked at as a good job with relatively decent pay and benefits. And in the mean time they now have ‘friends in the force’. It’s quite cynical though to participate at this level and at the same time claim they do not participate in any way with the state.
They don’t take money?! Well as I said in the past, they do benefit from government protection through the military. I don’t think anyone with an objective viewpoint would disagree with that. As for the other benefits they receive, one might argue they deserve that as taxpayers. I understand that perspective although I disagree with it.
It is beyond splitting hairs, in my view, to say, police yes …army no. Here’s how they explain it:
There is a difference between serving the citizens of this country and serving the State of Israel. Serving Jews as a police officer is okay; serving the State of Israel as a soldier is not."
Right! The military putting their lives on the line every day is not serving the citizens?! Give me a break.
One point to be made here is the way Charedim and others who have had encounters with the police constantly bash the police. The epithet ‘Nazis’ is one not uncommonly hurled at them… along with acusations of police brutality and indiscriminate beatings especially of Charedim.
Yes… that’s what the police are to many people… a bunch of Charedi bashing Nazis.
Is that’s why they have given Charedim jobs on the force? Because they are Nazis?
True, there have been instances where Charedim and others such as extremist religious Zionists that were beaten up indiscriminately and where excessive force was used. That can easily happen when there are mass protests that begin to get violent and innocent people start getting hurt. And it’s wrong when it does.
But lets face it. Police are trained to combat criminals. They aren’t boy scouts. In some situations they get carried away.
I am certain that in many cases the police get egged on and taunted… and as human beings that are both armed and trained to react… they reacted and in some cases there is over reaction. To call the entire police force Nazis and anti Charedi…well just look at the photo. Does this man look like a Charedi basher or Nazi to anyone?
I don’t think so. Next time anyone has the urge to call the Israeli police force Nazis, let them think twice. If they truly were, they would not have this unit and no Charedi would want to join it anyway.
I am certain that in many cases the police get egged on and taunted… and as human beings that are both armed and trained to react… they reacted and in some cases there is over reaction. To call the entire police force Nazis and anti Charedi…well just look at the photo. Does this man look like a Charedi basher or Nazi to anyone?
I don’t think so. Next time anyone has the urge to call the Israeli police force Nazis, let them think twice. If they truly were, they would not have this unit and no Charedi would want to join it anyway.
