But the real kicker is the response of the two Charedi politicians.
MK R’ Yaakov Litzman rejects any attempt at integration between secular and religious Jews. He claims that Halacha forbids any change from the current isolationist status qou.
MK Yaakov Asher says pretty much the same thing. For Charedim, the isolationism is intentional, he says. Charedim dare not be exposed to what he calls ‘ the defilement of Israeli society’! And he too blames all the Charedi woes on Yair Lapid.
As recently as today on Rafi’s blog, Life in Israel, we have R’ Moshe Sternbuch endorsing that view!
The secular interviewees are on the exact opposite track. They want to integrate Charedim into their world and value their contributions. They point to Charedim who have made the jump into the workplace and note that they are among the most reliable and ethical workers and have a very strong work ethic.
So there you have it. I wish it weren’t so. But I don’t think there is any other way to see it. The blame for lack of Achdus can be placed squarely on Charedi shoulders. They view of the secular world as one of ‘defilement’ – as though they worship sexual immorality thus requiring them to be isolated form it.
While it is true that some of this exists – as it does in every society, my guess is that there is a silent majority of secular Israelis that abhor such behavior as much as Charedim do.
But because of this erroneous view and their desire to stay pure, they completely ignore their secular brethren as hopelessly ignorant of Jewish law. They treat them as though they don’t exist except when they get in their way. As in what they see Lapid as doing.
That there is no Achdus will therefore be perpetuated by the Charedi world’s insistence on isolationism.
Rabbi Yaakov Rosenblatt knows better. He is a former Lakewood Avreich who had these same assumptions. Until he moved to Texas and went into business there. He now realizes that secular Jews are not the enemy. He found this out by leaving the cocoon of Lakewood and moving into a more integrated world. He believes as I do. Contact with fellow Jews is worth the challenges one faces outside of the sheltered cocoon.
Many secular Jews hunger for a Judaism they have little to no knowledge of. They want to learn. What is true in America is true in Israel. Except that in Israel you have the extra incentive of living in a Jewish country with a Jewish culture. The barrier to the language of prayer (Hebrew) does not exist and the country celebrates Jewish religious holidays instead of Christian ones.
I think it behooves the Charedi leadership not to ignore this now poll… and not to just talk about better PR. Better PR is important. But it is not nearly enough. Charedim have to jump in head first and start treating their fellow secular Jews like the brothers they are. They need to do something dramatic and do it now.
Tomorrow is Yom HaZikaron. Israel’s Memorial Day. This is the day when Israel mourns its soldiers lost in battle serving their country. A country that includes Charedim. Instead of blasting the draft of Charedim, they ought to go to Har Herzl and participate in ceremonies honoring the dead. There is no excuse for not doing so. There is no better time than right now to express their gratitude publicly; in a place where people will be paying the most attention. The Prime Minister will be speaking there. So too should prominent Charedi leaders. Not politicians. But Roshei Yeshiva. Let a prominent Rosh Yeshiva go there.
