Anti-Semitism? Might be Time for Our Jewish Brethren to Look in the Mirror

“Judaism and Zionism are Absolute Antonyms”

Posted 5.10.21 4:17pm

Dear Reader:

The above is on posters being held by some of the protesters in these videos.

Many of the ultra-Orthodox zealots in this video are funded by American Jewish counterparts. These are people who believe, from a fundamental perspective, in the destruction of the State of Israel. And, as the birth rate within the ultra-Orthodox community grows exponentially when compared to secular birth rates, once must wonder what happens when a majority of Israel’s Jews are opposed to the existence of the very state in which they live.

To the American supporters of these radical Jewish groups, who characterize every criticism as anti-Semitism, unwilling to stand up and say that this is not Judaism but something altogether foreign, you will have the inevitable destruction of the Jewish state as we know it today, sitting on your collective shoulders.

Protesters like those above are destructive to all Jewish identity, whether religious or secular. They are not tolerant of anything or anyone and yet, as American Jewish organizations fight anti-Semitism they refuse to question the integrity of the version of Judaism depicted above.

Mainstream Judaism does not support the view that “Judaism and Zionism are Absolute Antonyms.” Sadly, it might be time for organizations like Agudath Israel, the American Jewish Congress, the Jewish National Fund and others to speak out against the expression of “Judaism” in this video.

Anti-Zionism Has a Death Toll… What the Writer Missed

A Commentary about the Inextricable Link between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism, a Follow Up to Tuesday’s Opinion Piece and the Opinion of Hen Mazzig

[Opinion 1.9.20]

We are republishing an article that was posted yesterday, without the permission of the author. We will take it down if asked, or cut back what we have posted. We direct you to watch the video by clicking the below link and also to view Hen Mazzig’s article in its original iteration by clicking here. 

We wholeheartedly agree that anti-Zionism has a death toll; but think that Mr. Mazzig’s point is an over-simplification of a larger problem: that anti-Semitism is inherently anti-Zionism but the reverse is not always the case, though the two are often confused.  Anti-Zionism is dangerous insofar as it does not distinguish between the State of Israel and the Jewish people, nor does it give credence to people who are genuinely critical of the State, not as anti-Zionists; but as non-supporters. Nor does it clearly illustrate that the positions taken by major organizations like the ADL need to be addressed by clear minds to avoid a misunderstood narrative. There is a distinction between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism. In addition, Mr. Mazzig’s article does not take into consideration the highly confusing message that anti-Zionist Jews who arguably are not anti-Semitic sent out. Within their anti-Zionist framework they have invariably created a justification by non-Jews to be both anti-Zionist and anti-Semitic and, as a consequence, very dangerous to Jewish identity, both religious and otherwise.

There are Jews and non-Jews who do not support the State of Israel for one reason or another; but do not deem themselves to be anti-Zionists. That term connotes a somewhat active position on the subject. Rather, they disagree with the politics, or disagree with the philosophy or some other aspect of the State of Israel rubs them the wrong way so they simply ignore the entire issue or speak in their academic and political circles about their views. We have heard arguments on both sides and there are valid critiques to be had about the State of Israel.

There are then Jews, as listed in Tuesday’s LM article entitled:

Religious Jews Commiserating with Iran for the Destruction of Israel and Divisive Organizations – The Optics

who are outrightly anti-Zionist, even going as far as praying for Israel’s destruction. They believe that the razing of the State of Israel is a prelude to the coming  of the Moshiach (Messiah) and they cannot grasp how corrosive their views are for all Jews. They are the flag-bearers of anti-Semitism, whether they understand that premise or not. It cannot be understated that these fervently religious anti-Zionists are not small in number, are well-funded and are continuously growing.

As discussed in Tuesday’s commentary a large and visible contingent  traveled to wide press coverage and extensive, if not somewhat over-the-top, pomp and circumstance to give money to their fellow anti-Israel compatriots living within the State of Israel. They were greeted with a parade and rally upon arrival in Israel. Yet, they espouse the virtues of religious Jews inhabiting the Jewish State allegedly without accepting Israeli state funding or contributing any real benefit in return. They tow the anti-conscription line and the anti-Secular education narrative, both of which will ultimately be the downfall of the State of Israel. And they think not what they can do for their country, only what their country can do for them. Many are dual citizens of Israel and countries throughout the world and at least some collect services from both countries, all the while viewing religious principles first, country a far off second.

Jewish Law Does not Address How a State Should be Run… A “Halachic State” is Unworkable, Ben Gurion’s Misjudgment

WHY IS RELIGIOUS-ZIONIST SMOTRICH DREAMING OF A HALACHIC STATE? – ANALYSIS

For the second time in the course of the current election campaign, senior United Right MK and Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich has talked openly about his desire for the State of Israel to be run by Jewish law.

In June, he said he wanted to “restore our judges as of old,” “restore” Torah law to the Jewish state and for the country to be governed “as it was governed in the days of King David and King Solomon – by Torah law.”

The general perception is that it is ultra-Orthodox (haredi) lawmakers who are more stringent on matters of religion and state issues and more willing to wield their political power on such issues.

So why is it that the most prominent politician speaking about a halachic state, a state of Jewish law, is actually from the religious-Zionist community and not the ultra-Orthodox?

“The haredi belief is that we are still in exile,” said Avrimi Kroizer, a haredi political strategist and former adviser to former Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat. “On the ideological level, they do not believe that it is the path of God to bring the redemption through a secular state.

“Any participation and recognition in the haredi world with the state and with its institutions is a post-facto, flawed recognition with no ideological basis,” said Kroizer.

Eli Paley, chairman of the Haredi Institute for Public Affairs and publisher of Mishpacha Magazine, puts it even more starkly.

“The haredi community is dedicated to Jewish law but doesn’t see a state, in its modern concept, as the right vehicle for promoting Jewish law,” he said.

“Jewish law is something the ultra-Orthodox want to implement in their daily lives, but it is not relevant to how a state should function.”

In short, the haredi community does not view the State of Israel differently from any other country where Jews might live, be in the US, Australia or anywhere in between, and see no religious significance in it or its establishment.

Therefore there is no grand vision of running the country in accordance with Jewish law.

The ultra-Orthodox parties do intervene on matters pertaining to the so-called status quo on religion and state, arrangements involving Jewish personal status issues such as marriage, Shabbat, independent education systems and kashrut.

But these issues were part of a set of guarantees made by David Ben-Gurion to the ultra-Orthodox community in pre-state Mandatory Palestine over such matters, and the haredi parties state, frequently, that they simply seek to preserve these arrangements.

THAT IS NOT the case when it comes to the religious-Zionist community, and specifically the hardline wing of the sector.

Rabbi Ronen Lubich, president of the religious-Zionist activist organization, points out that the founding principles of the religious-Zionist movement hold the State of Israel as something holy, the “foundation of the throne of God in the world,” as Rabbi A.Y. Kook, the founding father of religious-Zionism, expressed it.

“The State of Israel isn’t just an ordinary state for Jews or a refuge to protect them from antisemitism for religious-Zionism, it is meant to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” said Lubich.

Indeed, the religious-Zionist movement refers to Israel as the first sprouting of the redemption, an idea which anathema to the ultra-Orthodox community.

The rabbi also observed that in the early years of the state senior religious-Zionist rabbis such as Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neriah, a student of Kook, and former Chief Rabbi Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog openly talked of the application of Jewish law in the state because of the belief that the Jewish people needed to be redeemed not only physically through the establishment of a state but spiritually too.

These and other rabbis eventually stopped discussion such ideas in the 1950s when it became clear that they could not be implemented and would also frighten the secular public.

But in recent years, the hardline wing of the religious-Zionist community has grown in numbers and influence, and now leads the traditional religious-Zionist parties, as well as many yeshivas and educational institutions in the sector.

Bayit Yehudi leader Rabbi Rafi Peretz, for example, is a student of Rabbi Tzvi Tau, president of the Har Hamor yeshiva in Jerusalem and one of the most senior and influential leaders of the hardline community, while Smotrich too belongs to this wing of the religious-Zionist movement.

To continue reading click here.

Anti-Vaxxers, Pointing Fingers, Anti-IDF, the Lessons of the Haredim – Some Arguments from Both Sides

 

Note to reader: The author of this video has not allowed it to be viewed from here. You will likely need to hold down the YouTube video with your mouse and click or copy and paste the link.

When Members of Naturei Karta Meet with Dignitaries Whom do They Represent? – They are Dangerous!

 

 

Representatives of Neturei Karta frequently meet with dignitaries from around the world to discuss our position and to develop a dialog of understanding. For further details and information, select an event from the list below:

DATE LOCATION EVENT PURPOSE Various Visits with Palestinian Dignitaries Develop dialog of understanding 09/02/15 NYC Iranian leader meets Jewish Rabbis in NYC 12/07/14 Jericho, Palestine Rabbis Visit Mayor of Jericho 02/04/13 Washington, DC Letter to US Senators on Chuck Hegel nomination for Defense Secretary 11/29/12 UN Bldg, NYC UN Meeting on issue of Palestinian Statehood 09/27/12 NYC Pres of Iran meets with Anti-Zionist Rabbis 04/18/12 Umm al-Fahm, Palestine Ceremony for Sheikh Raed Salah 02/01/11 Doha, Qatar Meeting with Shiek Yousef Al-Qaradawi 06/04/10 Washington, DC Peace Delegation Meets with Turkish Embassy Officials 05/01/08 Doha, Qatar Rabbis meet with Shiekh Qaradawi Call for the peaceful dismantling of Israel 09/24/07 NYC, NY Meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinejad 09/21/06 New York City, NY Meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinejad 03/21/06 Ramallah, West Bank Meeting with Palestinian Leaders, Ramallah 03/01/06 Tehran, Iran Second Historic Mission to Iran 05/27/05 Washington, DC Anti-Zionist Orthodox Rabbis present Plaque to new Palestinian President M Abbas 07/15/04 London, UK Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qardawi Orthodox Rabbis in the UK show their support of Sheikh Yousuf Al-Qardawi 12/17/01 Ramallah Yasser Arafat meets with Neturei Karta Demonstrate our support of the Palestinian people. 04/29/01 East Jerusalem, Israel Orient House Meeting of Palestinians and NKI 04/29/01 East Jerusalem, Israel Declaration of Loyalty Statement of Loyalty to the Jewish Faith 04/29/01 East Jerusalem, Israel NY Rabbis Support Orient House Delegation NY Rabbis issue statement of support for Orient House Delegation

Ultra-Orthodox Jews, Many of Whom Hold Israeli Passports, Protesting Israel – the Face of Anti-Semitism and Hatred

צימערמאן וכת דיליה ברענגט אינטער די מדינה pic.twitter.com/tizYIZAODl

— Hasidic2 (@hasidic_1) May 21, 2019

Satmar Boy’s Children’s Camp Holding Tisha B’Av Protest Against Israel – 1 Year Ago –