Charedi MKs on Sunday complained of receiving threatening letters in envelopes with white powder inside.
“Stop sucking our blood,” the letters say. “Pack up your stuff and your shtreimels and go to Brooklyn.” The Knesset Officer has launched an investigation into the source of the letters, which were sent to MKs Uri Maklev and Moshe Gafni of United Torah Judaism.
“We, the enlightened people of Israel, demand that you, people of darkness, stop living at our expense by studying without working, and get out of our lives,” the letters say.
“If you continue to squeeze out funds at our expense you will pay a hefty price, as we will fight you physically and not just through demonstration. You will feel our wrath on your selves and your synagogues. We will make your lives miserable and attack you in your cities and neighborhoods.”
The letters, signed with a word play on ‘price tag policy’, a name given by settlers to acts of revenge against Palestinians in the West Bank. Beneath was a picture of a skull wearing a traditional hat and side-locks.
The letters were taken in by the Knesset Officer, but the white substance has not yet been identified.
Gafni’s public relations adviser said in response to the letters that “it was clear to us that the rabid incitement against the Charedim would lead to such maneuvers and even violence”.
“It’s too bad there is no real dialogue in Israeli society, only hate campaigns,” he added.
(Source: Ynet)
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5 Responses
were these part of the same ‘enlightened’ people we had in europe? if so, they too will nebach be but a blip in the Yiddish history books in 50 years.
It would be interesting to see if the Lifestyle of Charedim can be upheld outside of Israel.
England, South Africa, America the tuition costs for children are skyrocking and we do not have ‘Tipat Chalav’ and socialized medical clinics. Without rich parents/in laws or heavy-duty wife working, there is no way outside of Israel that this means of existence is possible. Those who are giving out the government grants, assistance packages, etc. are at their wits end.
The Israeli Chareidim had it coming to them — only so much shtik one could pull without provoking a backlash.
BS”D
Probably the work of an agitator – shababnik on the payroll of the ShaBaK.
And in the US, England, France, South Africa, and Belgium there is a growing contingent of successful charedi businessmen and even professionals (in fact it was always that way in Belgium and SA). What may not be able to continue is the kollel for all lifestyle, which may now have in any case accomplished what it needed to do. That is to say it has rebuilt the learning of Europe of old – now we need to rebuild the self sustaining communities of Europe of old and I think we can and will do it – and in EY as well as outside.
The question is whether the secular Jewish culture, vapid as it is, will last more than two or three more generations and what will happen to its adherents. It is our challenge to rebuild in a way that will attract them as well while stemming our own OTD losses – if not then many, many Jewish neshomos will be lost over the next 100 years (if chas vesholom Moshiach does not come).
I don’t approve of actions, but I can understand the sentiment. I am a frum Jew, but my father taught me that a man’s primary obligation is to marry, have kids and work to support them. The failure of the haredim in Israel to act responsibly is a chillul Hashem which drives many non-Orthodox even further away from Judaism. They say they are the true Jews (and many certainly are), but as a group they are causing us great harm.