The Street Gangs of Jerusalem

Toldos Aharon Rebbe addressing  the audience at a Siyum in 2016 (Hamodia)

I didn’t think I was ever going to talk about these reprobates again. I truly believed that I had made my point about their lack of human decency and civility (to say the least). But every time I see something like this (see video below) I just want to scream out loud.

Their derisive shouting and screaming did not even sound human. Some of it did not even sound human. And as if that weren’t enough, there’s more. From YWN: 

At some point, young men from the protest began shouting “Shiksa” and “Get out of here you are impure” at the girls. When one of the girls pushed a protester who was accosting her, the situation escalated and the girls were chased down the street. 

What was that protest all about? More from YWN: 

(A) fringe group of Chareidim … were protesting the alleged enlistment of a Baalas Tshuvah into the IDF. 

I don’t even know where to begin. To say that this kind of behavior is pure evil for the sake of evil is an understatement. To say that they think they are being Mekadesh Shem Shmayim (sanctifying the Name of Heaven) while involved in a Kiddush HaShem is also an understatement.

To say that this behavior is that of a fringe group of Charedim that most residents Meah Shearim do not approve of, is probably also true. Each of these statements have been said by me and by others many times before – whenever one of these protests fire up.

What is also very true in my view is that despite the disapproval of their peers and leaders, there is not a scintilla of doubt in my mind that this fringe group has been inspired by the rhetoric of their leaders who oppose the government, its army, its soldiers and specifically any Charedi that dares to join the army – even if it is one of the Charedi units!

That is what one constantly hears from these quarters. The haranguing is constant. So too is their view of modesty. Now they do have a right to their own standards of modesty. But to call two religious girls Shiksas (a derogatory name for a non Jewish female) even though they're clearly dressed modestly by most Orthodox standards – just not by theirs – is also a function of their education.

They are taught as very young children what modesty means by their standards. They are not told that other legitimate Poskim might disagree with them. They are simply told that if a female is dressed in anything other than their standard, they are in violation. So these religious girls did not fit their bill. Obviously. And these thugs are not going to let them get away with it. Especially while they are involved in the 'holy task' of berating a Baalas Teshuva for joining the army!

I don’t know what can be done about these people, They are constantly making a Chilul HaShem. And no one in their community seems to care enough to stop them.

One might say that these people are thugs and won’t listen to anyone.  They may be thugs. But if their leaders really cared enough, I am 100% convinced that could stop them. These communities are very tight knit and their leaders are venerated as living saints. The closest thing to God on the face of the earth. I believe they could do something about it.

It is because this kind of thing keeps happening that I believe they don’t really want to do anything about it. Maybe they believe that this behavior keeps up the pressure on the rest of the Chaeredi world many of whom do not think much of the government or army either. In the hopes that they will do more to oppose them. I don't know. (On that score - it would help if their leaders were not treated with such deference by other more mainstream Charedi leaders - as was the case at a Siyum a couple of years ago.)

What about the rest of the world – those that are not Charedi or even observant? I don’t think they care about anyone else. They think their ways are the ultimate in service to God and nothing else matters! Chasing away potential Baalei Teshuva must be completely meaningless to them. Because I can almost guarantee that anyone who sees this video, which is typical of the kind of thing that goes on in the world of Meah Shearim - will run as far away from Judaism as humanly possible. I know I sure would!