It is so interesting that the Charedi world has taken this turn. Apparently telling lies is now acceptable as long as ‘the goa’l is achieved. That is what happened in the Jewish Observer article, ‘Adults at Risk’.
But that is small potatoes (...OK, maybe not so small) compared to what the Charedi newspaper Yated Ne’eman did. Remember that this is the newspaper founded by Rav Shach. It is a newpaper that represents the views of ‘the Gedolim’. What did they do? They actually featured racist cartoon that insulted every Sephardi in Israel including… and perhaps most importantly… Rav Ovadia Yosef.
“The cartoon showed a man dressed in shorts and sandals wearing a skullcap and trimmed black beard, representing a Shas follower, in cahoots with a secular person representing Kadima. Wearing a big grin, the two were dumping a rock labeled "2008 cuts" on the head of a Haredi man.”
“The symbols appear obvious, lacking sophistication, and according to Shas, loaded with anti-Semitism and racism of the sort Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox feel about Sephardi Haredim. MK Yakov Margi, chairman of the Shas faction in the Knesset, said Ovadia Yosef was deeply offended.”
Of course Charedi representatives dismissed it claiming no racism was intended and that they were just protesting Shas’s involvement in the current Kenesset… and thereby complicity with the government’s new budget cuts... cuts that virtually halve the allotments given to Charedi institutions. That’s pretty upsetting to the Charedi leadership in Israel. Their very existence is dependant on outside financial sources. But that doesn’t excuse the cartoon.
Shas resigned from the religious lobby in the Kenesset. And I don’t blame them one bit. Shame on the Yated and on those who authorized that cartoon!
But the fact is that the core issue IS the money. Charedi institutions can barely survive as is. Budgetary cuts will strangle them. Charedi charity organizations are already maxed out and using questionable tactics in fundraising. Knowing this, Charedi leaders strike out at anyone who they feel has contributed to their misfortune.
In the meantime Charedim are seen by secular Israelis as a bunch of parasites that extort money form the government in exchange for their votes. And while in power they shove religion down everyone’s throat.
What has this achieved? They have not only NOT increased funding, they have lost funding. And in the process, have become hated and vilified by many Israeli citizens.
I have maintained in the past that the fault is in the Charedi system of education and on the reliance of political clout.
There are two things that ought to happen.
One is that there should be an end to the religious parties. Instead religious Jews in Israel ought to adopt the very successful American model of lobbying. American Jews have accomplished much here that way, without breeding the kind of enmity the religious parties in Israel do. Religious Jews who want to serve in the Kenesset can run for office in the major parties. That would strengthen the Israeli political system itself, and give religious Jews influence, without being perceived as parasites that extort money for votes.
The other thing is to stop treating every Charedi child like he is the next Gadol HaDor. Secular programs, both academic and vocational, ought to be introduced into the Charedi educational system so that young people will be given choices. That way a Charedi society will develop that will actually be able to contribute to their own material well being. Those with ‘Gadol potential’ will find their niche. They will not be ‘lost’ or distracted by the new system. On the other hand those who do not have ‘Gadol potential’ will have real choices. They will be trained to contribute to Klal Yisroel in ways that are unique to them. The Charedi Hashkafa about Torah learning will not be destroyed. It will be enhanced.
Are either of these options ever going to happen? The way things are going now, I doubt it. I wonder what the next political cartoon will be like...
