Lipush
Gold Member
I, like hundreds of thousands of Israelis, felt appalled and disgusted by the op-ed published on "Ha'aretz" website, a couple of days ago.
The writer, Yossi Klein, used one of the most basic rights given to us, the freedom of speech, and delivered an article filled with hate, generalization and political-incorrectness. Unfortunately, it's not a rare event when public figures and people of culture, from different side of the ideological map, fall into the clutches of demonization. This time, the direct target of said demonizatrion was the religious Zionism.
Under the title of "Our Righteous Elite", Mr Klein spills his heart regarding what he believes, is the source of all wrong- religious Israeli Jews. He spares no words and sugarcoat nothing when saying, out for everyone to read, that religious Israeli Jews are worse than Hezbollah. Yes, the same Hezbollah that is responsible for killing many Israelis, Syrians, Europeans and Lebanese. The same Heazbollah that backs up Assad Regime and turned entire Lebanese cities into a battlefield, is less dangerous to the everyday Israelis than the horror that is the knitted Kippah.
"Yes, the natinalist religious citizens are dangerous. More dangerous than the Palestinian ramming-attackers, girls with scissors, more dangerous than Hezbollah. Arabs are legitimate target. Not so the religious Zionists.What is it that they want? to take over the state and make it Arab-rein. They know it's too soon to be so up-front. They will deny it if you ask, but don't believe them. Their National-religion is radical nationality, covered with the righteousness of fearing God."
He keeps saying that- "They will support delusional media laws, thieving gas organizations, teethless supreme court. They wrap the prime minister and his government around their fingers. They wink when speaking of democracy, but left speechless when reminded of the existance of human rights."
Sparing no words he continues, "Lies are their way of life, deciet is their principle. Democracy and human rights converted to Judaism long ago. Now say- rights for Jews alone."
He later concludes, "Is their any point of dialogue? No, it's too late now. There could have been, if their patriotism was to be separated from their Judaism. There is no bridge that can bring us together now."
Those were harsh words, dipped with poison and Sin'at Chinam, what we call- baseless hate. Ask any common Israeli, they could not deny the great contribution given to us be religious Zionists. They well pay their duties, come first in culture, science, important discoveries. They'll be the firsts to speak against injustice.
Yes they're more dangerous to the 'enlightened' and 'liberal' Israelis than the enemies from north and south. Ro'i Klein, an Israeli commander who jumped on a grenade to save the lives of fellow soldiers, is more dangerous than Hezbollah. Daphna Meir, a religious Zionists, mother of five adopted children, who fought for understanding between religious and secular women and was killed by a Palestinian teen, is more dangerous than Hezbollah.
This kind of hate, mixed with disinformation and prejudice, is something I don't understand. I just as well don't understand those who automatically call all liberal Israelis "traitors" or "Those who forgot the meaning of being Jews". Those who incite against homosexuals, or try to fight of women's rights in the army. All those type of conversations do not help the Israeli people in anyway. We need to ask ourselves, how did we get here?
3 years before the Nazis rose to power, a Jewish phylosopher wrote a book about "Self Jewish hatred" ("Der jüdische Selbsthaß"). About autoantisemitism and rift between Jews. Sad that this book is still relevant today, when we read articles like the one of Yossi Klein. We should say thank you we didn't reach bloodshed, but is it how Israelis supposed to behave?
No. The true enemy of the Jewish people is what is known as "baseless hate". It is something I want to believe we can cure ourselves from. Starting by using words which are less hateful and more reaching.
I hope it's not too late for us.
The writer, Yossi Klein, used one of the most basic rights given to us, the freedom of speech, and delivered an article filled with hate, generalization and political-incorrectness. Unfortunately, it's not a rare event when public figures and people of culture, from different side of the ideological map, fall into the clutches of demonization. This time, the direct target of said demonizatrion was the religious Zionism.
Under the title of "Our Righteous Elite", Mr Klein spills his heart regarding what he believes, is the source of all wrong- religious Israeli Jews. He spares no words and sugarcoat nothing when saying, out for everyone to read, that religious Israeli Jews are worse than Hezbollah. Yes, the same Hezbollah that is responsible for killing many Israelis, Syrians, Europeans and Lebanese. The same Heazbollah that backs up Assad Regime and turned entire Lebanese cities into a battlefield, is less dangerous to the everyday Israelis than the horror that is the knitted Kippah.
"Yes, the natinalist religious citizens are dangerous. More dangerous than the Palestinian ramming-attackers, girls with scissors, more dangerous than Hezbollah. Arabs are legitimate target. Not so the religious Zionists.What is it that they want? to take over the state and make it Arab-rein. They know it's too soon to be so up-front. They will deny it if you ask, but don't believe them. Their National-religion is radical nationality, covered with the righteousness of fearing God."
He keeps saying that- "They will support delusional media laws, thieving gas organizations, teethless supreme court. They wrap the prime minister and his government around their fingers. They wink when speaking of democracy, but left speechless when reminded of the existance of human rights."
Sparing no words he continues, "Lies are their way of life, deciet is their principle. Democracy and human rights converted to Judaism long ago. Now say- rights for Jews alone."
He later concludes, "Is their any point of dialogue? No, it's too late now. There could have been, if their patriotism was to be separated from their Judaism. There is no bridge that can bring us together now."
Those were harsh words, dipped with poison and Sin'at Chinam, what we call- baseless hate. Ask any common Israeli, they could not deny the great contribution given to us be religious Zionists. They well pay their duties, come first in culture, science, important discoveries. They'll be the firsts to speak against injustice.
Yes they're more dangerous to the 'enlightened' and 'liberal' Israelis than the enemies from north and south. Ro'i Klein, an Israeli commander who jumped on a grenade to save the lives of fellow soldiers, is more dangerous than Hezbollah. Daphna Meir, a religious Zionists, mother of five adopted children, who fought for understanding between religious and secular women and was killed by a Palestinian teen, is more dangerous than Hezbollah.
This kind of hate, mixed with disinformation and prejudice, is something I don't understand. I just as well don't understand those who automatically call all liberal Israelis "traitors" or "Those who forgot the meaning of being Jews". Those who incite against homosexuals, or try to fight of women's rights in the army. All those type of conversations do not help the Israeli people in anyway. We need to ask ourselves, how did we get here?
3 years before the Nazis rose to power, a Jewish phylosopher wrote a book about "Self Jewish hatred" ("Der jüdische Selbsthaß"). About autoantisemitism and rift between Jews. Sad that this book is still relevant today, when we read articles like the one of Yossi Klein. We should say thank you we didn't reach bloodshed, but is it how Israelis supposed to behave?
No. The true enemy of the Jewish people is what is known as "baseless hate". It is something I want to believe we can cure ourselves from. Starting by using words which are less hateful and more reaching.
I hope it's not too late for us.
