Today, Professor Chezi Levi, the Director of the Health Ministry, took umbrage at what the Vizhnitzer Rebbe said. Professor Levi said that such words should be rejected and they are unacceptable - there should be enforcement. Levi said Corona doesn't differentiate between communities nor between this or that holy person - not Vizhnitz nor the sheikh of Majdal Shams - we cannot accept anarchy.
Tonight MK Yaakov Litzman (UTJ) criticized Levi saying a government clerk, no matter how important and high ranking he might be, has no right to speak out against holy instructions. MK Yaakov Tesler (UTJ) also spoke out against Levi but less harshly, protesting what was said and calling on Levi to retract his words.
Anyone and everyone has the right to speak out against the government decisions and guidelines. Calling for not following the rules, and for punishing those who want rules enforced, is some form of anarchy. No matter who it is coming from. the government does need to do better at figuring out where the spread happens and why, and be better about keeping dangerous places closed and safer places open, and finding ways to keep at least essential needs, such as education, religious services, businesses, etc, open in as safe a way as possible. Still, that does not give anyone the right to call for anarchy. And for members of the government to criticize the calls from within the government institutions to enforce is strange. And then the Haredi community will complain about the widening gap in Israeli society that is going to leave them far behind and punish them socially and economically in some way (weekend Hebrew magazines have had numerous articles analyzing this trend of the widening gap). This entire situation is crazy. Everybody says what they want and they all demand immunity - not just from the law but even from criticism (this is not unique to the Vizhnitzer Rebbe or other Chassidishe Rebbes - the courts, Justices and Justice Ministry officials - also bridle at criticism directed at them as do others.)
Anarchy, chaos, or as Pirkei Avos says when the government has no power, people will consume each other - society cannot function like this
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Well-said
ReplyDeleteSeems to me this is civil disobedience, not anarchy.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure there is a major difference between the two, but anarchy is not recognizing authority (in addition to the actions involved) and that seems appropriate to what is going on - some communities are not recognizing the authority of the government to make these decisions, and others are saying that the authorities dont even have the right to criticize the statements made by them.
DeleteCivil disobedience is when you expect to, and welcome, arrest.
DeleteAn anarchist is someone who pines for a society that is not subject to political rule. Anarchists believe that self-governance, no matter how chaotic, is preferable to the tyranny of the state.
ReplyDeleteCivil disobedience is focused disregard for a specific law or policy. Protesters who do not apply for permits, for instance, are denying the city's attempt to violate the peaceable assembly clause of the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
In this instance they are just opposed to the laws of masks and limiting synagogue attendance.
Jason, don't ruin his anti-hareidi narrative please. He's been relying on that one line in pirkei avot to base his whole agenda on. That one line (mind you, not brought in shu'a, and misused for this case) is license for some to cancel the rest of religion (c.f. tikkun olam for reform).
DeleteOf course, "saving lives". But never mind the science that lockdowns don't work and children don't spread the virus. Let's use the always-peaceful zionist police to violently enforce arbitrary and unscientific rules that have nothing to do with saving lives. Because after all violence saves lives.
Sure glad I don't live in that police state at the moment.