Oct 17, 2013
Bet Shemesh elections: Thoughts on the "four doctors" campaign from an RBS doctor who is not on a sign
What a great piece.. it is not actually about the elections, per se, rather about the symbolism of the use of doctors in campaign material and the value of a secular education. Very thought provoking.
A guest post by Moshe and Shoshana Halberstadt
.jpg)
-------------------------------------------------------------
Donate to the Schneider Hospital so I can run the Schneider benefit marathon..
A guest post by Moshe and Shoshana Halberstadt
Ever since the appearance
of the "four doctors" campaign last month, hundreds of people -
both Eli and Abutbol supporters alike- have questioned the exploitation of the
medical profession toward a political goal, and the individual doctors and
their kupot have received dozens of complaints. As an urgent
care Pediatrician who has treated thousands of children from all kupot and
walks of life in Bet Shemesh, and as a friend and colleague of the three
pediatricians on the banner, I have been inundated over the past month
regarding my opinion and stance on this issue. Still others,
knowing that I strongly support Eli Cohen, have questioned why I have
limited my public support to a two-inch photo which was part of a montage of
young and old supporters from all professions, hashkafot and backgrounds.
So I am writing to discuss these and other issues related to the four
doctor campaign, including an aspect that may be of unexpected benefit to the
community.
.jpg)
So, why didn't I want to
be on a poster? Besides the fact that blowing me up to the size of a
four-story building accentuates my wrinkles and new grey hair, I worry
that such a big-brother approach might alienate my patients and their
parents. I can imagine some Haredi family, indoctrinated that Eli
supporters are sinful to the point of being חייב
סקילה
might see my three-meter face smiling from some crane on the way to Terem
for stitches or my house on Shabbat for an allergic reaction. Then- lo and
behold- the man behind the stethoscope is none other than ד'ר
אפיקורס
himself. But all kidding aside, while I understand that my colleagues
felt obligated by Rabbinical mandate to support the Abutbol campaign, I do not
believe something as sensitive, personal, and precious as the trust
endowed in the medical care of one's child should be used to support or
influence one's political outlook. If you were disturbed, I urge
you to speak with them personally; they are all very approachable.
In fact, I believe there
has been some good that has come from the"four doctors" campaign, in that it has re-ignited the
debate and controversy regarding the deprivation of secular knowledge that many
Anglos impose upon their children. This deprivation is contrary to the
extensive secular education enjoyed by the parents they love and emulate, and
therefore it is viewed as hypocritical by their children. The line on the
initial poster read: "What do these four doctors have in
common?" The joke around the city- repeated to me innumerable times-
is that an appropriate answer would be "Well, none of their children will
be doctors." This response, even when made in jest, is unfair- we
really don't know what will become of our youth.
But the question remains- If
the Anglo-Charedi community holds the value of advanced secular education in
disdain, then why, when choosing its spokesmen for the mayoral campaign, did
the campaign chose four doctors at all? If the campaign was looking for symbols
of authority and respect, then instead of four doctors "uniting
forces" from different kupot, why not four Rabbis, or four Avrechim,
"uniting forces" from different kehillot? Obviously, the
respect accredited these men derives from the fact that they are physicians.
And ironically, each of them got that way by immersing for over 25 years in
intense secular education. This is not sinful; on the contrary, these
four Anglo-Haredi men are models of success. They have proven that someone can
be both a Torah Jew and a physician, that the world of secular studies, gainful
employment, and professional contribution to society need not contradict, but
rather can and should complement the world of Torah. So the question
being asked (albeit quietly) among many of my Anglo-Charedi friends is very
simple: If the four doctors can do it, then why can't my child too? And
why should I be the one to tell him he can't? Similarly, we can only
guess how many children look up at those towering four men in their black kippot
and stethoscopes and say- "Wow- to be a talmid chacham and a
doctor- just like the Rambam and Ramban! Now why can't I do that? Why
won't my parents let me try?"
Some Anglo-Charedi schools
in our area, to their credit, have attempted to address this issue with expanded
curriculum and counseling. Sadly, other institutions have taken a more
insular and reactionary approach, setting more restrictive guidelines of
admission and enforcement, even to the point of refusing admission
solely on the basis of some questionable, petty aspect of dress,
technology or other vestige "modernity" rumored to be in the home.
I am aware that many would
prefer to ignore these issues. For daring to bring them up, I will indeed
be branded by some as ד'ר אפיקורס. But these issues
are real, and ignoring them won't solve the problem.
Next week the election
will be over, and we will go on with our lives. But the four doctors
campaign has fortunately given the Anglo-Charedi community something to think
about, the opportunity to discuss important issues, and if something can be
done, then that would truly be "progress you can't deny".
Wishing everyone a year of
good health, Moshe Halberstadt
-------------------------------------------------------------
Donate to the Schneider Hospital so I can run the Schneider benefit marathon..
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Related Posts
It's pretty obvious why they're using doctors rather than Rabbis. It's because they're trying to appeal to those people who respect the doctors more than the Rabbis. They're assuming that anyone who would be more swayed by Rabbis, will be voting for Abutbul anyway - and they're probably right.
ReplyDeleteAnd, of course, they ARE using Rabbis - who do you think signed the Kol Korei?
DeleteAre there actually any "Very thought Provoking" posts FOR the Abutbul campaign, or is this a black and white case?
ReplyDeleteI see here the sardonic "I can imagine some Haredi family, indoctrinated that Eli supporters are sinful to the point of being חייב סקילה " and " For daring to bring them up, I will indeed be branded by some as ד'ר אפיקורס."
Yes it's true. I believe I saw Chareidim in war-paint dancing naked in the streets burning an effigy of you and all Eli Cohen supporters.
Amazingly, there seem to be no moderate Abutbol supporters, that must be why this ad strikes such a nerve. In fact, since as we all know, Abutbol is a right-wing flag-burning women-hating draft-dodging stone-throwing ignorant extremist, an ad promoting Abutbol using Anglo-Chareidi educated supporters must mean that Chareidim secretly admire those who value secular education but are afraid to show it. Hmm. Clearly, the use of educated anglo-Chareidi doctors are meant to appeal to the secret Charedim who want their kids to get a good education so that they can lead productive lives like the Ramba"m (of course we mean the Productive Ramba"m who was a doctor later in life, not the parasite who mooched off his brother until he died so he could learn).I am sure the ad was not meant to try to appeal to a wider audience than the Chareidim (even though it was in English and stated the logic directly in the ad), because that would mean that Abutbol isn't only catering to the extremists.
As a side point, I am happy that Dr. Halberstadt who mentions his profession (" As an urgent care Pediatrician who has treated thousands of children from all kupot and walks of life in Bet Shemesh") as well as his preference in candidates (gimme an "E", gimme an "L", gimme an "I", what does it spell?) would never use his position to influence votes (at least in the second half of the article) as he clearly states "I do not believe something as sensitive, personal, and precious as the trust endowed in the medical care of one's child should be used to support or influence one's political outlook." Because this article isn't about elections (Eli! Eli! Eli!), its about getting Chareidim to finally think. To think about what makes a successful Chareidi Jew (like Rambam's post-death of his brother), to focus on what's important. Because heaven knows (as well as Dr. Halberstadt) , they must not be thinking straight now.
Wow, Anon, you have some anger management issues.
ReplyDeleteI think Dr. Halberstadt is making a very interesting juxtaposition of facts, in that many Anglo professionals in RBS A are supporting Abutbol, and these same people have also put their kids on an educational track that will make it impossible, or extremely difficult, for them to follow in their parents' footsteps. Let's not kid ourselves, both decisions are made for religious reasons. I think pointing out the inherent contradiction in the one shows the folly of the other.
Is it an anger management issue to express via an anonymous post pointing out, even sarcastically, the narrow-minded and amusingly contradictory holier-than-thou and cynical disgust he has for the Chareidim?
DeleteThat aside, I don't see any contradiction in the fact that professionals are supporting Abutbol - can it not be true that they feel Abutbol is the right man for the job? Can it also not be true that perhaps (I make no presumptions here at all) while they are proud to be doctors, they don't feel their children have to be so? Is it contradictory to be a doctor and send a child to law school? Is it really contradictory to be a doctor and want your kid to sit in Kollel (whatever your perspective on the matter)
It's fine to want your child to learn in kollel, but is it corect for a father to deprive his son of any way to earn a respectable living outside of the yeshiva? Also if the doctor-father genuinely thinks it's better to learn in kollel than to be a doctor,then why he doesn't quit his job and struggle himself in kollel? Why is it okay to make that choice for your son but not for your own self? Where is the logic? The point is that by getting an education, the son will have his options open to him...just like his father did.
DeleteThis is not the point that I am trying to make. You can agree or disagree with the logic - I have a lot to say on the matter. My response was to your assumption of contradiction and folly.
DeleteExcellent letter. My only question is why Dr. Halberstadt wrote that "Some Anglo-Charedi schools in our area, to their credit, have attempted to address this issue with expanded curriculum and counseling." Wait a minute! What about the Mesivta of Beit Shemesh which offers a FULL Bagrut on a high level (4 yechidot in math, 5 in English) with the black hat and jacket too! Can it be that he hasn't heard about the Mesivta? It's been around for 4 years now. Let's give credit where credit is due. (And FYI there are several boys there whose fathers are MDs or lawyers in addition to those whose fathers are in learning and chinuch!)
ReplyDeletewhy have you not posted the response by Dr Rosenbaum?
ReplyDeletea. I have not yet seen it. I have not been on my computr much today.
Deleteb. I have not been asked by the author to post it. I dont steal guest posts
where is his response posted? it is not on his anglos for abutbol page
DeleteI think Dr. Halberstadt is making a very interesting juxtaposition of facts, in that many Anglo professionals in RBS A are supporting Abutbol, and these same people have also put their kids on an educational track that will make it impossible, or extremely difficult, for them to follow in their parents' footsteps.
ReplyDelete___________
http://www.whywaitintheer.com/