In some communities Memorial Day is somber and a day one visits a military cemetery. Independence Day is a day to mark the auspicious event, the establishment of the State of Israel, which for many has become a day marked with a barbeque. Some recite Halel while others do not and then for others it is a regular day, a day that includes limud Torah and other daily activities, albeit with the national atmosphere being one of a a national holiday.
Any yet others, including Neturei Karta, it is a photo op, a day in which flag burning and displaying signs decrying Zionism earn a spot in the national media and enjoy widespread public condemnation.
As if they are acting on cue, Neturei Karta in Meah Shearim is planning a flag burning event and this was announced to the media, for without the photo op, why bother? A significant media turnout is expected in the area Kikar Shabbos and the shteibelach for the event, which will undoubtedly be aired on the evening news in line with annual tradition.
The flag burning will be shown alongside chareidim at Kikar Shabbos who continue walking during the Memorial Day siren in an effort to maximize the impact of the report and to fuel the fires of sinas chinam.
This year there may be an increased police presence on Tuesday night since secularists have announced they plan to arrive at Kikar Shabbos Tuesday night to prevent the burning of the national flag.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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14 Responses
I believe that you are doing a disservice to Kllal Yisroel by publishing this article on your web site.
Nothing is to be gained by this ” news ” item.
Perhpas the editors should think before they post at Yeshiva World.
Sounds like a great Broadway Show at Kikar Shabbat and tickets are free…
These guys are definetely cute,,get your hair done, makeup and a tattered suit to fit the occassion.
It is not only the neturei karta crowd that view the day as a sad day. Most Chareidim view it that way. It is true that most wouldn’t go burning flags, but the reason why the Chareidim continue walking during the siren is because we don’t celebrate a independance that went against the Torah. Your protraying it as if everyone has this nationalistic idea, they just don’t celebrate it, is false. The fact that the state of Israel is not a good thing, is accepted by virtually the entire Ultra-Orthodox camp.
If a tree falls in the forest, and there is no one there to hear it, does it make a noise?
If the imbeciles from Neturei Karta burn a flag and there is no media there to cover it, will their miniscule little minds implode because they are not aggravating anyone?
The media should finally wise up and not cover N.K. stupidity AT ALL.
The author is correct that the secular media will harp on this event to conjure up anti-charedi sentiment. However, the real issue is that there isn’t any strong Charedi voice speaking out against the NK! This is what is most bothersome – the silence from the rest of the Charedi world.
Why aren’t mainstream charedim protesting the flag burnings?
Why aren’t the gedolim signing kol korehs to put any participant of these shameful activities in cherem?
Unfortunately, the answer is that while many gedolim are disgusted by the NK, they still feel more connected to them than they do to religious Zionists or seculars and won’t do anything substantial against them.
Which part of this article consists of “Frum” or even “News”?
This article will just lead to bashing other Jews and increase sinas chinam, something we don’t need during Sefira!
So perhaps the Charedim who keep on walking should show some respect to the medinah? are they lacking in any understanding of Hakaros Hatov? — even Ponevich famously flies the Isralie flag out of hakaros ha tov
The Chillul HaShem isn’t perpetrated by anyone but those who continue to walk….
You should know, in Meah Shearim flag burning is pretty standard. Many of the Chassidish and Yerushalmi Lag B’Omer bonfires stick an Israeli flag on top.
Still, NK enjoys making a huge Chillul Hashem out of it by getting the media involved and cozying up with Sonei Yisroel.
yea, yea, yea, blah, blah, blah, the local nuts in Mea Shareim are polishing up their shoes, G-d forbid they wear sandals, for the press. It is just a phoney balooney ritual that they perform as they lose touch with the rest of the frum yidden who have made peace with the medina entity.
They should be treated like the dogs they are
These non religious “jews” who desecrate g-ds name openly and who the state which g-d created with his mighty power should be put to jail for life.
Did anyone who has commented and continues to comment on the NK articles stop to think that the reason YWN prints this stuff is because they will get all you to comment wildly and build readership?the moderator is not stopping a lot of posts that are unbecoming of an organization with “yeshiva”in its name. Controversy sells – period.
#3 proud orthodox jew:
The reason chareidim continue walking during the siren is because the custom of standing at attention at the sound of the siren is a non-Jewish custom. Chareidim remember the dead by saying Yizkor and performing actions and learning that uplifts their souls. Also, Chareidim do not make mass yartzheit days, which is what Yom HaZikaron is. The only time that such a custom is used is when the date of death is unknown.
I am surprised at the National Religious for not coming up with an alternate custom. I would suggest that they compile lists of fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism and distribute Mishnayos. One Mishna per name. I believe that most Chareidim would participate as many did during the Second Lebanon war by learning and davening for the success of individual soldiers, a project spearheaded by the late Bostoner Rebbe and yblch”t Rav Simcha HaKohen Kook of Rechovot. The option would exist to learn the Mishna during the siren or any other time. Even better would be to obtain their yartzheit date and learn the Mishna then.
This way, true the Chareidim would be non-participants in the national secular custom. But the existence of a separate track that honours the war dead would do much to show that the chareidim do care.
#12- You got THAT right! It’s alwyas about $$$. Frum, Yeshiva etc always takes second place here….