{Originally posted in author’s website, Emes Ve Emunah}
There is a lot of hatred of Charedim in Israel out there. Not by Chilonim (secular Jews). They are mostly indifferent. But by Datim… religious Jews of a more Modern Orthodox orientation. And it is an unfair hatred. Because most Charedim are fine and decent people just like most members of any other demographic in Israel. I know this from personal experience. Just about all personal contact I have had with Charedim in Israel has been positive.
This is a very unfortunate situation, considering the commonality they share with respect to Judaism. Both groups are observant of the Mitzvos. Shabbos is holy to both. Kashrus is observed by both. As is Taharas Mishpacha (Halachos of sexual matters between husbands and wives). These 3 Mitzvos are generally the defining characteristics of a religious Jew. Charedim and Datim both ft into that category.
It would seem that sharing these 3 important Mitzvos (as well as all the rest of the 613) would create a bond; a spirit of brotherhood that would bind each member of both groups to each other in ways that non religious characteristics in common with others would not. Nothing binds Jews together more than Torah observance. Or so one would think. And yet there is so much enmity between these two groups, it makes the enmity between Yaakov and Esav seem like a love fest.
This ought not be allowed to stand. And yet the more time passes the worse it seems to get. Why is this the case? There are many reasons some of which have to do with attitudes about army service and too much reliance on government welfare programs for sustenance instead of joining the workforce. But that isn’t all that separates them. When one reads a story like the following one – it paints a very ugly picture. And the reaction to it can be visceral. At least that was my initial reaction. From VIN:
Talmud Torah Zichron Gavriel was closed last week at the order of Local Council Chairman Eli Abutbul because of alleged repeated harassment of two brothers. While the student body is primarily Ashkenazi and the family in question is of Mizrahi background.
Sources say the family of the boys were not considered “ultra-Orthodox” enough to attend the school, reports Haaretz.
The father of the boys stated in a message sent to a relative that he and the boys’ grandfather were emotionally troubled by the harassment and had chosen to leave.
After a rumor spread that the father told the Education Ministry about the harassment of the children, the family was subjected to graffiti on their home, broken flowerpots in the yard and stones being thrown at them on the street.
Had I not had any personal contact with Charedim I would be inclined to think the worst of Charedim. And for good reason. This is not the first time that intolerance and harassment has shown its ugly face at a Charedi school. Racism against Sephardim seems to be entrenched in the Charedi world. Not that every Charedi thinks like that. But far too many do to call it an exception. Nor do I mean to say that it doesn’t exist elsewhere. It does – even among Ashkeanzi Chilonim. But someone who claims the mantel of being the most religious among us ought to be better than that. And they are not!
Not that they ever admit it. Whenever a Sephardi is kept out of a Charedi school – it’s always about their level of observance. The claim is that the kids being harassed, expelled, or barred from admission always has a ‘good’ reason. Their level of observance is not up to the standards of the school. This again was the excuse given by school officials at Talmud Torah Zichron Gavriel where the harassment took place. Even if that were true, that is not a reason to segregate them. Not to mention the excuses made for harassment of the students an their families. Even if they were 100% right in their claims the behavior in this case is inexcusable.