I am in a sense impressed by their resolve and the way they stick to their ideals even at such a high cost, while at the same time wondering who exactly they are threatening.
Bechadrei is reporting that while the Toldos Ahron rebbe with his hassidim customarily light the final bonfire of Lag B'Omer day (right before nightfall at the end of Lag B'Omer) in Meron by the kever of Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai, this year it is not yet quite definite if they will be doing so.
Toldos Ahron has a problem this year because of their policy not to take money from the evil Zionist state. That same evil Zionist state just spent 2 million shekel renovating the complex of "kever Rashbi", including the construction of a stage upon which the TA rebbe would perform his ceremony, along with the balcony for the women.
Toldos Ahron, not wanting to enjoy the fruits of Zionist money, are trying to find a way to pay for it out of their own pockets. The problem is to whom should they send the check. They are having a hard time figuring out if they should pay the kablan who built it or if they should pay the foundation that ran the project. I hereby state that I have found a compromise - they can send the check to me.
Toldos Ahron posted a sign in their beis medrash stating their protest that the Zionists paid for the renovations and also offered to pay for the various ceremonies.
The sign says they insist they will stand their ground until this decree is lifted and they expect to succeed performing the event with the utmost holiness , and if they do not succeed they will simply not perform the lighting ceremony this year in Meron.
Again, I am impressed with their resolve to stand by their ideology, even at the high cost (high because they consider such traditions to be very important) of giving up Meron. On the other hand, I never heard them offer to pay the State for the road construction, police presence, security forces, garbage collection, subsidized public transportation, etc near their institutions and buildings...
On the other hand (is that a third hand?), who are they threatening exactly? Do I care if they do or do not light the bonfire? Should the Finance Ministry care? Should the kablan care? I am not sure who is supposed to care whether Toldos Ahron lights the bonfire or if someone else does...
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I think your point about the other services they enjoy is a very good one.
ReplyDeleteThese acts of abstinence have always been symbolic. The Satmar rebbi (one of them / both of them?) will not visit the kotel, but his plane lands at HaRav Ben Gurion airport.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it kinda sad that it makes the news when a single Haredi group _isn't_ a complete hypocritical fraud?
ReplyDeleteI always wondered this about these people - what would they like instead? For purposes of argument, let's say their ideology about Zionism is absolutely correct. But the state is here. Would they like to just take the state apart and turn everything over to the PA? Do they have some other proposal? Or do they just feel that by constantly protesting, they're doing their part for the cause of truth, and let someone else worry about reality?
ReplyDeleteThis reminds of the classic SciFi story line where some alien from the past gets thrust into the present. The alien still thinks he's at war with the people in the present even though the war ended ages ago. These people are a living anachronism.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as much as they bark about not taking money from the evil state. It's really a load of garbage as it's totally impossible to live in a civilized society and not derive benefit from countless services it provides. If they were truly sincere about not wanting to benefit from the evil Zionist regime they pick up their sorry asses and move to Ramallah, or better yet, Kabul. That would be a true win-win scenario.
You are all missing the boat.
ReplyDeleteThe largest and grandest donors to Toldos Ahron all live overseas and will NOT continue to donate big bucks if it looks at all like Toldos Ahron (& other groups) are aligning/agreeing/cooperating/benefitting from the Zionist regime.
The bottom line in these even idealogical disagreements is CASH FLOW.
interesting point... but would anyone even know there was such an issue had they not pointed it out when standing on principle?
DeleteWhy do you think it is a protest? It is just a situation - THEY care and are trying to come up with an acceptable solution in line with their principles. This is no more a protest than charedim not attending a rock concert.
ReplyDeleteI think that the general Aguda / Hareidi groups also feel that they have to make a fuss every so often to prove that they are NOT benefitting from the treife State. A prime example of this is the Aguda political party rule that they will not be ministers in the cabinet but they will take the role (and salary) of deputy minister. And look at MA school, in which the beautiful Time Line posters end at the holocaust, in order to reinforce in the children's minds that the State is not part of "our" lives.
ReplyDeleteIt is very important for us to remind these folk , and their donors overseas, that tehy benefit PLENTY from the trefie medina. They take the busses that the state subsidizes. They give brith in state-funded hospitals. They walk on state-built sidewalks. (And they knock on the doors of the evil tzionim such as myself, to ask for handouts.)
They make these fusses, not to get money from golus, but to maintain their grip on their followers by constantly reminding themselves how "special" they are - maintaining their identity, whcih is entirely based upon their rejection of others.
Thank you , Rafi, for again raising our awareness of the hypocrisy of these groups.