Once again, Rabbi Yakov Horowitz hits the nail on the head. As indicated in one of his multiple choice answers, he deserves a great deal of credit for addressing matters that need to be discussed. So too does Mishpacha Magazine for having the courage to publish it in its Pesach edition. It is posted on his website today.
Rabbi Horowitz poses some interesting questions. Many of them are on issues that are often discussed here. I think they should make us all think about our own personal prejudices and their impact on how we see the world. With his permission and without further comment - here they are:
1. Most secular Jews worldwide personally interact with charedim …
a. often
b. not very often
c. hardly ever if at all
2. When secular Jews worldwide see charedim in the media, they usually see …
a. the finest charedim
b. average charedim
c. people who are less than flattering; those who do not represent the majority of charedim
3. Secular Jewish newspapers, such as The Jewish Week in America and Ha’aretz in Eretz Yisrael – and to some degree, media overall:
a. are very biased against charedim
b. are slightly biased against charedim
c. just report the news. It is just the nature of media to focus on negative news.
4. Assuming that the media is portraying charedim in a negative light, this …
a. has little effect on our children as they don’t partake in secular media
b. has some effect on our children
c. does adversely affect some or many of our children
5. The entire matter of our public image/public relations is
a. not very important in the scheme of things
b. somewhat important
c. should be an issue of significant concern to members of our community
6. Assuming that the media is portraying charedim in a negative light …
a. it is hopeless to try and improve things, as their bias is too ingrained to ever change
b. we might make some headway, but things are unlikely to change
c. things can always improve, and we ought to be seriously thinking about what we can do to make that happen
7. Charedim who live in insular communities – where the vast majority of the other residents are charedi, are …
a. more likely to portray a positive image of a Torah lifestyle than are charedim who live in more integrated communities
b. less likely to portray a positive image of a Torah lifestyle than are charedim who live in more integrated communities
c. makes no difference
8. Boisterous protests in response to violations of halacha or injustices to the charedi community …
a. are effective ways to convey our feelings when our Torah values are challenged
b. are partially effective in conveying our feelings
c. often distort the Torah values that the protesters are championing
9. The ‘average’ secular Jew thinks that the ‘average’ charedi is …
a. a deeply spiritual person, one who is to be admired for living with a profound moral compass
b. a person just like him/her, just with different religious standards.
c. a judgmental person who looks down on others who don’t share his/her religious standards.
10. Reading this questionnaire makes me …
a. committed to reflecting about what I can do to improve relations with secular Jews
b. frustrated at how misunderstood our charedi society is by the secular media
c. upset that the impression is given that this is somehow our fault
11. Rabbi Horowitz, you …
a. deserve a great deal of credit for addressing matters that need to be discussed
b. make me uncomfortable by giving credence to those who regularly disparage us
c. should apply for a job at The Jewish Week or Ha’aretz
