In a statement released to Kikar Shabbat, President Shimon Peres commented on the current anti-chareidi atmosphere prevalent in the media in response to the wave of incidents involving modesty, mehadrin buses and related issues.
The president called for an immediate end to the generalizations, reminding the public that the overwhelming number of chareidim in Eretz Yisrael are not involved in the current mayhem, and they do not support such abhorrent actions. Mr. Peres added that the actions of this small minority does reflect poorly on the entire tzibur, adding he is certain the majority of the community is outraged no less than other residents of the country.
President Peres expressed words of support for the many chareidi leaders whom have come out publically to condemn the recent violence and he called for an end to the current unfavorable atmosphere that depicts the chareidi tzibur as being responsible or supportive of these unacceptable actions.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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9 Responses
I am just touched. Of all people, he was the last person I expected. The question is, which outlets will carry this?
I take back anything I ever said about him.
Which chareidi leaders came out publicly to condemn the violent acts of these extremists?? If the chareidim really were against these violent acts, then they would join the protests too!!
Wait a minute!!
Here he incites himself!
http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/peres-urges-israelis-to-protest-against-religious-extremism-1.403887
kfb,chareidi leaders are learning Torah.. that is the best thing they can be doing..
#3, No he doesn’t. In the article you cite, he condemns a small minority who seek to bully and intimidate other Jews. In this article, he reminds people that these extremists don’t represent all Chareidim.
These are exactly the two points that Chareidi leaders should be loudly making to the Israeli public.
mzk,
not all chareidim are extremists,
what Peres is saying is protest against the extremists not the chareidim
Hey Mzk, Peres does not encourage incitement against Haredim, only against extremists. Exactly my position.
#4, leaders should lead. See Rabbi Akiva’s advice to his son (Pesachim 112a with Rashi d”h al tador).
To: kfb et.al.: You asked: “Which chareidi leaders came out publicly to condemn the violent acts of these extremists??” And further stated, “If the chareidim really were against these violent acts, then they would join the protests too!!”
(1) As mentioned many time on YWN, the Aidah as a whole, and many individual leaders, have come out strongly many times, in print and orally, denouncing, condemning these self-proclaimed zealots. (2) The self-proclaimed, mis-guided (read UN-guided) zealots have NEVER declared in whose name (other than Heaven’s) they are fighting.
They have no leader, and leaders don’t claim them among their ranks.
Anyone who doesn’t want to accept the Torah leaders of our generation as theirs has every right to. But don’t hang that decision on some fantasized image of who they are and what they represent.
Has anyone seen a statement from leaders of Young Israel, the OU, the RCA, or YU denouncing this behavior? Is it possible some are choosing not even to ignore these individuals? Or is it possible that to come out against their actions could be understood by many – too many – as being against their message that tzniyus and the way of all the past generation has been all but forgotten and requires a reawakening?