They are both interested in getting their way through violence and will attack whoever stands in the way. That New York street gangs have selfish motives while the religious zealots in Israel have religious motives doesn’t make much of a difference. The point is that both of these vile groups will stop at nothing to get their way.
In the case of religious zealots, they will even attack
religious Jews whose values are entirely Charedi. That doesn’t matter to them,
since those Charedi Jews do not accept the fullest extent of extremism that
these zealots adhere to. This is the reason the following widely reported, sickening
event could have happened:
A shocking incident unfolded in Beit Shemesh as a group of Charedi extremists launched a violent attack on Mayor Shmuel Greenberg, his family, and his vehicle. Sources tell YWN that the assailants targeted the mayor due to his efforts to support various Charedi groups in establishing schools and securing funding for programs that include secular studies such as math and history - moves that have apparently sparked outrage among the extremists.
The assault took place as Mayor Greenberg was leaving a family chasunah. According to a statement from the Beit Shemesh Mayor’s Office, the situation quickly escalated into chaos.
“Mayor Shmuel Greenberg was attacked by extremists as he was leaving a family celebration. His vehicle was smashed and vandalized, but the mayor and his family were rescued from the scene. The mayor’s son required medical treatment,” the statement read. “Mayor Greenberg trusts that the Israel Police will bring the lawbreakers to justice.”
The mayor’s vehicle was reportedly destroyed in the attack, and while the mayor and most of his family were safely extracted, medical attention was needed for his son.
Police in riot gear had to rescue the mayor from the out-of-control group of hundreds of violent extremists. He was forced to wear a helmet as he was rescued.
Mayor Greenberg is a member of Degel HaTorah, the political
party that represents the Lithuanian Yeshiva world. This, of course, means that
he is a card-carrying Charedi who actually supports the right of yeshivas to
teach Torah only, without so much as a minute of the day spent on Limudei Chol
(secular studies). Something the Charedi world is fighting for and willing to
sacrifice for. A position with which I strongly disagree for reasons beyond the
scope of this post. But it is also a position that these Charedi zealots
obviously support.
Mayor Greenberg’s ‘sin’ was in his efforts to ‘support various
Charedi groups in establishing schools and securing funding for programs that
include secular studies’. That was a bridge too far for these zealots - a ‘sin’
worth violently protesting.
The reactions are worth noting. Arutz Sheva reported the
following:
President Isaac Herzog declared: “I would like to encourage and say to you: ‘Fear not, nor be dismayed.’ You have undergone a terrible and horrible assault by thugs while performing your duty—violence that should never happen under any circumstances.”
The mayor thanked the president for his support and added: “We will continue with all our might and will not be deterred.”
The Charedi Degel HaTorah movement strongly condemned the assault, calling it “a brutal, unprecedented attack and a terrible desecration of God's name. We support Rabbi Greenberg for his activities on behalf of the city’s residents and emphasize that we will continue to assist him in his public endeavors.”
UTJ MK Yaakov Asher added: “The dangerous violence perpetrated last night by unscrupulous elements against the mayor and his family is grave and deserves the strongest condemnation. I commend the mayor for his work on behalf of the residents of Beit Shemesh and call for disputes to be conducted in the spirit of peace and dialogue. Violence and thuggery are not the way of the Torah and have no place in our camp.”
All good and well. Except for one minor little question.
What will prevent these thugs from doing it again?
The answer? Nothing. They will do it again and again in
pursuit of their hard core views of right and wrong.
This is not the first time I have discussed this problem. I
have suggested some pretty harsh measures that the government needs to use to
deter them from ever doing it again. Many times! But I don’t think any of them
were ever implemented. I believe this is due to the protectionist attitude of
the Charedi leadership, which tends to minimize the legal consequences. It’s
almost like a “get out of jail free” card. Charedi government officials will
run interference for them with law enforcement and judicial officials. That
results in little to no consequences to them. They will plead for mercy on ‘humanitarian’
grounds – such as not separating a father from his family. So, at most, they
will get a slap on the wrist and go home.
This cycle of violent protests followed by a ‘get out of
jail free’ card has to stop. They need to pay the maximum penalty provided by
law for their actions. No exceptions. No mercy.
We are long past the time for mercy. If they ever deserved
it in the first place. The cruelty by which this attack was perpetrated does
not argue for mercy. As the Medrash Tanchuma, on Parashas Metzora tells us:
'He who is compassionate to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the compassionate.'
At present, they know based on past experiences that they
will not face any serious repercussions. It’s time for that to change. The
Charedi leadership or their representatives in government ought to be in court
when these people are sentenced and argue for the maximum penalty. Which – hopefully
- is serious jail time.
If it were up to me, I would take a page from the Trump
administration and deport them all. Get them out of Israel! ...where they won’t be
able to hurt anyone again. They can then choose to live anywhere else they please (that will have them). Iran might be a viable option for them since they will surely find kindred spirits to their religious
zealotry there. Especially since they probably feel the same way about the State
of Israel as the Ayatollah does.
