You know what? I’m not even angry at the extremists that physically attacked a Charedi soldier in Meah Shearim yesterday. It’s hard to be angry at people so brainwashed.
Is a pit bull at fault for attacking a human being? Or is it his trainer who conditioned it to do so? Animals have no ability to think rational thoughts. They act on instinct. Or in the Pavlovian ways in which they were conditioned to act. We have only one way to protect ourselves from these kinds of wild animals. If they are going to be anywhere near civilization, they have to be put in cages, like zoo animals.
Calling for punishment as many have done is useless. Because they are never punished. Their community protects them. The extremist rabbis of organizations like the Eida HaCharedis or communities like Toldos Aharon consider turning in one of their own to the police (read: Nazis) – Mesirah. A crime punishable by death! So even as even they might pay lip service in condemning such acts, they do zero, nada, NOTHING! …to stop them.
Instead they do everything they can to keep them out of jail. And even when they condemn them, they do so with a huge ‘but’! …sympathizing with their zeal and agreeing with their motives. Mentioning this caveat is even true of non extremist Charedi rabbinic leadership.
There were however quick condemnations from across the board in Israel. From the prime minister; from a Charedi politician (Shas leader Rabbi Aryeh Deri); from Yesh Atid’s leader, Yair Lapid; and even from Nachal Charedi rabbis: From Ynet:
Nahal Haredi rabbis condemned the attack, saying it was “an act of hatred that is un-Jewish and un-Orthodox”, “blasphemy” and “shame and disgrace”.
Let me add my own condemnation: Ready? Here goes: I condemn thee! There. That should stop them!
I am not angry at the dogs who attacked a Charedi soldier. But I am upset at the Rabbinic leadership who have thus far remained silent. I have not heard a single rabbinic leader say a word about what happened in Meah Shearim yesterday. Just so that people will know exactly what I am talking about, here is the Ynet description of events:
A haredi soldier was attacked by dozens of haredim in Jerusalem‘s ultra-Orthodox Mea Shearim neighborhood. The soldier ran into a nearby building and called in police forces, which managed to rescue him unharmed.
The haredim on site were throwing stones at the forces trying to disperse the crowds, and four rioters were arrested for disturbing the peace.
Police said that the soldier, a resident of central Israel, arrived in the Mea Shearim neighborhood to visit relatives. When he was attacked, he fled to a nearby structure, where he changed into civilian attire and contacted police to report the assault.
After clashes subsided, haredim gathered in the area, crying out against haredi soldiers and calling police ‘Nazis.’
Even if Charedi rabbinic leaders do end up voicing their condemnation, it won’t help. Animals cannot communicate verbally.
They must do more than condemn. Short of building cages for them with their bare hands (something I would be happy to help them with), they have to stop the hateful rhetoric that these animals instinctively feel which generates this kind of Pavlovian response we have all become so ‘fond’ of.They have to act! They need to do something drastic to show that their condemnations (should they ever come forth) are more than mere words. Like going out on the field during one of these confrontations and standing with the soldier. Even at their elderly ages.
Or here’s another idea. Let them organize a protest against these people. Mainstream Charedi rabbis are pretty good at calling for protests. When a Charedi rabbinic leader calls for a protest – tens of thousands of Charedim come out. Let speaker after speaker insist that these animals be put in jail… and that reporting them to the police is a Mitzvah – not Mesirah! Let these animals and their extremist rabbinic leaders see exactly who they are up against. That may not stop them. But at least it will give them food for thought.
Condemnations are mere words. They have to act! That is the mark of true leadership. Merely saying, ‘I condemn thee’ – no matter how loud and how strong – means absolutely nothing!