Over the past week, the haredi news media have been all over the story of Degel HaTorah MKs Moshe Gafni and Uri Maklev going around to the Haredi communities of Israel and holding meetings with what they have called "the new Haredim".
By "new Haredim" they refer to haredim who have left kollel and work for a living. Many of them are supporters of TOV, as they have been upset at Degel. Degel MKs have said in the past that their job is to help those learning in yeshivas and kollels. They have pretty much abandoned the haredim who have left kollel. The main complaint these "new Haredim" have is regarding the demand for their support while at the same time they are practically ostracized in haredi communities - not being able to send their kids to the mainstream haredi schools, among other things.
I would just point out that dubbing them "new haredim" is confusing. I would say it is just the opposite - the working haredim are really the regular Haredim, while the masses of yeshiva and kollel guys are really the ones who are the "new Haredim". Being that there was never such a lifestyle on a community level until this generation, maybe the past 30 years or so, Gafni and the Yated have it backwards. These guys who go to work to support their families and set aside regular time for learning - they are the original haredim, while the guys in yeshiva are the "new haredim".
Just saying..
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Chaim Amsalem had a recent piece in the Jerusalem Post that hit the nail on the head. Being Chareidi isn't a religious definition anymore but a political one. To be Chareidi you cannot work, you cannot wear a non-white shirt, you cannot feel grateful to Israel for anything, etc. Torah has nothing to do with it.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they are called "new haredim" by these Askanim because they are speaking Newspeak!
ReplyDeletewhat is TOV?
ReplyDeleteTOV is a political party representing the working haredim. DEGEL was very upset when they ran in Beitar and Bet Shemesh, and now TOV is considering running for seats in Elad and Jerusalem and possibly at the national level as well.
ReplyDelete