Tel-Chai Nation

A Likud member ideally called on the ultra-Orthodox parties in the Knesset to start recognizing the legitimacy of non-Orthodox sects:

Chairman of the Knesset Committee for Immigration and Absorption, MK Avraham Neguise (Likud), called on haredi leaders to drop their long-standing opposition to non-Orthodox Jewish movements and recognize other “streams” of Judaism.

Long considered a non-negotiable issue for Orthodox leaders in Israel, the state has maintained a policy of not recognizing non-traditional religious movements; an arrangement that has served as a cornerstone for the so-called “Status Quo” agreement on religion and state since 1948.

Speaking with Arutz Sheva on Thursday, Neguise said it is imperative for Israel to maintain close ties with Diaspora Jewry, and to recognize the connection many Jews – including non-Orthodox Jews – abroad have with the Jewish state.

“Diaspora Jewry is a strategic, economic, diplomatic, and security asset,” Neguise said.

“We’re one nation, one family, and we need to minimize disputes between Israel and the Diaspora as much as possible; after all, this is their state as well. Therefore, we must do everything we can to make every Jew feel that the State of Israel is their home.”

“More than once we’ve had intense debates in the committee on the subject of recognizing conversions performed overseas by various streams of Judaism. Every Jew needs to feel like the State of Israel is his home, and that he is always welcome here. Some of those [non-Orthodox Diaspora] Jews send their children to serve in the [Israeli] army; they are sharing in our fate, and it is important to treat them accordingly, so that they feel like they belong here.”

I think the most important part of making clear that Haredis have to be respectful towards non-Orthodox - or anybody whose values don't coincide with theirs - is to make additionally clear that violence and other such horrors are not acceptable, and they cannot curse/act vulgar when Conservative/Reform groups come to the Western Wall to pray. My own grandmother was Conservative, and I would be outraged if she'd been cursed/spat at by Haredis over an Orwellian thoughtcrime. Too long, it appears that Haredi educators have failed to teach their subjects the vitality of recognizing other human beings and that how you dress run your life is not a defense for sadism.

They also have to start teaching their subjects that socialism is unacceptable either, because that leads to corruption as well. Only after they're willing to accept these facts will there be some improvement.

Labels: haredi corruption, Israel, Judaism, Knesset, Moonbattery