In a Bizarro World, Ultra Orthodox Cult Keeps Anti-Independence Day
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Members of Netorei Karta gathered last year to burn the national flag on Israel's Independence Day.
Photo Credit: Yaakov Nahomi/Flash90
In the neighborhood of Meah She’arim, stronghold of the vehemently anti-Zionist sect of Neturei Karta, Israel’s Independence Day is traditionally kept as the inverse of the country’s national celebrations.
Many ads of all sizes have been posted around the neighborhood in recent days, in preparation for the anti-holiday. Nearly all of them are calling for prayer vigils and fasting on “The day the State of Israel and Zionism came into being.”
The website BeHadrei Haredim cites an ad signed by Neturei Karta, that says: “It has been sixty-four years of extreme taunts and reviling. Every day they taunt and revile at the heavens, crying ‘Who is there for me in Heaven.’ Even today, their desire is burning in their heart as they’re about to celebrate their day of independence, and raise their national flag to commemorate their festival, to immortalize their Zionist idol.”
The organizers are planning public mourning events on Thursday, in 18 synagogues across the country and around the world, in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Bnei Brak, Monsey, and Williamsburg.
The Jerusalem procession will meet at Mea Shearim square, and then march through the streets of the city “clad in sackcloth.”
tell a friendAbout the Author: Tibbi Singer is a veteran contributor to publications such as Israel Shelanu and the US supplement of Yedioth. Invite Tibbi to visit your blog. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of The Jewish Press
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One Response to “In a Bizarro World, Ultra Orthodox Cult Keeps Anti-Independence Day”
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Really, too much is made out of this phenomenon. You are talking about 1 in 10,000 Jews. These people should just be ignored, as opposed to a cheap way to make news. And that's all it is.
You’re not entirely off the mark, Max, Yom Ha’atzmaut is not a big news day. But as phenomena go, I don’t think we can ignore it. It’s definitely dog-bites-man, but what a strange dog.
Also, in a couple of months we’ll be dealing with the Tal law, and I’ll bet you some of the reactions will be disturbingly similar to this one.
I totally agree Max. We should not dignify these people with a response. Let them rave, so that man know them mad.