Renaissance Pundit's Posterous

Confronting The Beautiful Mess of Adult Life

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The lost Jews

The profligate flouting of the law by Israeli Haredim (both the letter and the spirit) is almost as egregious as their trampling of Ahavat Israel to the ends of what could rightly be called idolatry of Ashkenazi "cultural superiority." An Israel where Haredim will soon be the majority promises to enter not just a demographic crisis in the absence of much higher economic participation in civil society, but also a crisis of democratic and inherently Jewish values. This last bit is by far the most troubling, as it should be for all of us, whether Ashki or Sephardi, religious or secular. I hope that Israelis of all stripes will stand up against the bigotry of these protesters. The Rabbis who promote this perverse worldview and refuse to compromise are also to blame. Let's put an end to the madness and name- calling, and co-exist, guys. The Chabad model is really the best for all of us.

http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=178801

Posted June 18, 2010