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Apr 8, 2013
not commemorating Yom Ha'Shoah
As a continuation to the previous post with the Headline of the Day, I will state here that I think there is nothing specifically holy about Yom Ha'Shoah. It is a day to commemorate the Holocaust, and certain behaviors are mandated by law - such as standing in silence during the siren, restaurants being closed the night of, etc.
I have no problem if any specific person chooses to commemorate the Holocaust and the victims in his own way on his own time, or if a person chooses to personally not commemorate, at all or specifically on this day.
I personally think the rehashing of the Holocaust memories is way overdone and exploited, not in too dissimilar a way than what MK Moshe Feiglin said yesterday. I have felt like that for a long time, though I will probably get bashed for saying so - the Holocaust is too sensitive an issue and people, perhaps via the State ceremonies, have turned it into a sacred cow of sorts. That being said, I stood today in silence during the 2 minute siren at 10 AM, because I found myself outside in public at the time.
I think the proper behavior is that no matter what you think personally of a specific form of commemoration, or the mass commemoration in general, do what you want in private, but in public you should be sensitive to the public sentiment and to the people in public who expect certain behavior and forms of respect.
I don't know that the Haredim being attacked in the media for having barbecues and picnics in Saccher Park last night actually did anything wrong. Did the State, or simply the public, determine that it is wrong to eat dinner, even with a smile, on Yom Ha'Shoah? The accusation is not that they ran around during the siren, but that they had a barbecue in the park at some point of the calendar day. Was it 100% appropriate? Probably not. But at the end of the day they did not even break any official commemoration. Did nobody else, non-haredi obviously, go to a coffee shop for breakfast this morning, or to a restaurant for lunch? Is that so different than having a barbecue for dinner?
They could have been more sensitive to the public atmosphere, but they did not really do anything wrong. People running around during the siren, on the other hand, are worthy of criticism. Even if that is not their preferred form of commemoration, when in public they should be sensitive to the siren and the acceptable behavior expected of mature people.
In the privacy of your own home, do what you want. Commemorate, or don't. But when in public, be sensitive.
I have no problem if any specific person chooses to commemorate the Holocaust and the victims in his own way on his own time, or if a person chooses to personally not commemorate, at all or specifically on this day.
I personally think the rehashing of the Holocaust memories is way overdone and exploited, not in too dissimilar a way than what MK Moshe Feiglin said yesterday. I have felt like that for a long time, though I will probably get bashed for saying so - the Holocaust is too sensitive an issue and people, perhaps via the State ceremonies, have turned it into a sacred cow of sorts. That being said, I stood today in silence during the 2 minute siren at 10 AM, because I found myself outside in public at the time.
I think the proper behavior is that no matter what you think personally of a specific form of commemoration, or the mass commemoration in general, do what you want in private, but in public you should be sensitive to the public sentiment and to the people in public who expect certain behavior and forms of respect.
I don't know that the Haredim being attacked in the media for having barbecues and picnics in Saccher Park last night actually did anything wrong. Did the State, or simply the public, determine that it is wrong to eat dinner, even with a smile, on Yom Ha'Shoah? The accusation is not that they ran around during the siren, but that they had a barbecue in the park at some point of the calendar day. Was it 100% appropriate? Probably not. But at the end of the day they did not even break any official commemoration. Did nobody else, non-haredi obviously, go to a coffee shop for breakfast this morning, or to a restaurant for lunch? Is that so different than having a barbecue for dinner?
They could have been more sensitive to the public atmosphere, but they did not really do anything wrong. People running around during the siren, on the other hand, are worthy of criticism. Even if that is not their preferred form of commemoration, when in public they should be sensitive to the siren and the acceptable behavior expected of mature people.
In the privacy of your own home, do what you want. Commemorate, or don't. But when in public, be sensitive.
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Labels:
haredim,
yom ha'shoah
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Myself, I do my Holocaust commemorating on Tisha B'Av and it's my personal opinion that this is right time to do it. I can't speak for the Israeli milieu but Yom HaShoah commemorations out here in Golus are generally social events where everyone mumbles "Never again!" (please tell the Cambodians, Darfurians, etc) and listens to a children's choice singing Ani Maamin.
ReplyDeleteBut this is a sensitive time in Israeli society. People are on edge over the new government, the impending Chareidi draft and the vitriolic response from that community. A chareidi showing no respect for the siren while everyone else is will be noticed and bring blame onto his community. Simply the way it is.
The whole story of Haredim in the park has been shown to be a libel. See here.
ReplyDeleteMighty, people are always sensitive, and always judgmental about others for not being sensitive to them. I think that the Zionists who whine about this are hypocrites who are trying to force their cultural norms and mores on the Haredim while they do not complain about ANYONE else - not Arabs, Sudanese infiltrators, or even seculars who still managed to find open restaurants, even if the lights were turned down and the sign on the street turned off. Yediot and Ynet, as well as their leading 'journalist' Nahum barnea are not credible and it's pathetic that so many religious and Haredim still go to them for their news.
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