Tel-Chai Nation

They say they're against idolatry, but that's no excuse for desecrating, contempt for the deceased or even vandalism. The report says:

A fracas erupted Tuesday between tourists at a memorial for the victims of a military helicopter accident near the Galilee town of Shear Yashuv, after several haredim were caught bathing in the monument. [...]

A resident of the town who witnessed the incident told Israel Hayom: "These haredim knew very well that the site was a memorial for the disaster that happened 16 years ago. Some tourists passed by and reminded them that they were swimming at a memorial site for soldiers, and [the haredim] responded that they were aware and undisturbed by that.

"[The non-haredi tourists] told [the haredim] that it wasn't very respectful to bathe half-naked at a place meant to memorialize soldiers, but that didn't make much of an impression. At that point, several residents from the nearby town also started showing up, and asked [the haredim] to leave if they wouldn't respect the victims. Instead of recognizing our pain, their response was: 'When an Indian person wants to mark a memorial he lights a candle and prays Psalms. Memorials constitute idolatry'"

I guess that means they have no respect for the Cave of Patriarchs either, nor any respect for biblical Sarah, to whom the building was dedicated? And they probably don't even have respect for the Tomb of Rachel, since that's also a memorial. This disgusting act may have been intended as an insult to the army they don't want to serve or support, but at this point, I won't be surprised if they're also contemptible of Sarah and Rachel's gravesites. Their violation of the fountain constitutes lawbreaking, and they should be prosecuted for their grave offense.

Update: here's an op-ed by Ruth Shreibman, the mother of one of the deceased soldiers.

Labels: haredi corruption, Israel, military, Moonbattery