Jan 9, 2011
The No-Decision Of Mehadrin Bus Lines
I would be remiss if I did not write about the recent court decision regarding mehadrin bus lines, even though it happened when I was offline on Thursday.
The courts finally came to a decision, after a long period of deliberations and listening to arguments, regarding the legality of mehadrin bus lines. The decision is that mehadrin bus lines can continue to operate as a voluntary arrangement. Egged (or other bus companies) will have to post signs in the relevant buses stating that the bus is mehadrin and men are requested to sit in front and women in back, and that nobody can be The Mechitza: Maintaining the Sanctity of the Synagogue
forced to do so. The ministry will then allow a trial basis for 30 days to ensure that there is no coercion taking place and things are operating well. if all goes well, they will finalize the decision and make it a permanent arrangement.
What's funny is that every side is seeing this as a victory, which I guess is good. The kannoi-haredi community that pushed this sees it as a validation that the State supports their desire to have separation. The opponents see it as a victory that the courts said it is voluntary and if not it will be canceled.
What is a shame is that this was presented as a fight between haredi and conservative movements. Many haredim do not support this arrangement, but with the fight being waged by the Conservative Moevment, they have no choice but to support the separation. There was an article the other day I saw about the haredi reps having said "off the record" that despite the victory in court they regret that this battle was brought public and fought, as it only harms the interests of the haredi community and that is why they kept a very low profile and never spoke about it publicly, and only certain reps assisted on it.
An issue raised was that women, even secular, support separation because in times of overcrowding buses there is very inappropriate contact between genders, due to the crowds. That really is a problem, but the solution should have been limiting (and there are limits already in place, they just need to be reinforced) how many people can be on a bus and not let it get so crowded that people are smashed up against each other. Even without the groping and touching, that type of mass crowding should not be allowed to happen. It is dangerous and disgusting, even when men are rubbing up against men, with no women in the picture.
What I see from this case is that the court took the easy way out. Everybody feels like a winner, but no real decision was made. On any bus in the country nobody is telling anybody where to sit. If women wish to sit in the back, nobody is stopping them. To not allow mehadirn bus lines, what would the courts have said - women are not allowed to sit in the back of the bus? People can sit where they want, and if a community commonly gets on the buses and the men go to the front and women to the back, they can sit where they want, and they have always been able to.
With the system voluntary alone, if they sit separately and I get on the bus I can choose to sit in the front or the back, depending on wherever I feel like sitting, and nobody can tell me otherwise, just like the courts cannot tell the women to sit in the front.
To support mehadrin bus lines, they would have had to allow a certain level of "coercion", which they did not do. To oppose mehadrin they would have had to say women must sit in the front with men and men in back with women, which is ridiculous. Their decision is basically a no-decision allowing people to choose where to sit, just like on any other bus in the country.
The courts finally came to a decision, after a long period of deliberations and listening to arguments, regarding the legality of mehadrin bus lines. The decision is that mehadrin bus lines can continue to operate as a voluntary arrangement. Egged (or other bus companies) will have to post signs in the relevant buses stating that the bus is mehadrin and men are requested to sit in front and women in back, and that nobody can be The Mechitza: Maintaining the Sanctity of the Synagogue
forced to do so. The ministry will then allow a trial basis for 30 days to ensure that there is no coercion taking place and things are operating well. if all goes well, they will finalize the decision and make it a permanent arrangement.What's funny is that every side is seeing this as a victory, which I guess is good. The kannoi-haredi community that pushed this sees it as a validation that the State supports their desire to have separation. The opponents see it as a victory that the courts said it is voluntary and if not it will be canceled.
What is a shame is that this was presented as a fight between haredi and conservative movements. Many haredim do not support this arrangement, but with the fight being waged by the Conservative Moevment, they have no choice but to support the separation. There was an article the other day I saw about the haredi reps having said "off the record" that despite the victory in court they regret that this battle was brought public and fought, as it only harms the interests of the haredi community and that is why they kept a very low profile and never spoke about it publicly, and only certain reps assisted on it.
An issue raised was that women, even secular, support separation because in times of overcrowding buses there is very inappropriate contact between genders, due to the crowds. That really is a problem, but the solution should have been limiting (and there are limits already in place, they just need to be reinforced) how many people can be on a bus and not let it get so crowded that people are smashed up against each other. Even without the groping and touching, that type of mass crowding should not be allowed to happen. It is dangerous and disgusting, even when men are rubbing up against men, with no women in the picture.
What I see from this case is that the court took the easy way out. Everybody feels like a winner, but no real decision was made. On any bus in the country nobody is telling anybody where to sit. If women wish to sit in the back, nobody is stopping them. To not allow mehadirn bus lines, what would the courts have said - women are not allowed to sit in the back of the bus? People can sit where they want, and if a community commonly gets on the buses and the men go to the front and women to the back, they can sit where they want, and they have always been able to.
With the system voluntary alone, if they sit separately and I get on the bus I can choose to sit in the front or the back, depending on wherever I feel like sitting, and nobody can tell me otherwise, just like the courts cannot tell the women to sit in the front.
To support mehadrin bus lines, they would have had to allow a certain level of "coercion", which they did not do. To oppose mehadrin they would have had to say women must sit in the front with men and men in back with women, which is ridiculous. Their decision is basically a no-decision allowing people to choose where to sit, just like on any other bus in the country.
Entry Into Avarta - 70 Zekeinim
Tonight, the 5th of Shvat, is the date recorded as being when the "elders" died during the days of Yehoshua bin Nun. Their burial site is recorded as being Givat Pinchas, which is identified in the modern day Arab village of Avarta in the Shomron, opposite the Jewish village of Itamar, named after Itamar the son of Aharon HaKohen, who is buried as well in Avarta.
The Shchem Echad organization has organized entry into Avarta to celebrate the hilula of the 70 elders buried there, along with a visit to the grave sites of Elazar and Itamar, the sons of Aharon who are buried there. Refreshments (generally cholent and yerushalmi kugel, along with some drinks and rogelach) will be served.
Entry will be via bus leaving from the Horon junction at 23:30, and if necessary there will be another bus leaving Horon at 2 AM. The bus into the village will cost money.Tonight, the 5th of Shvat, is the date recorded as being when the "elders" died during the days of Yehoshua bin Nun. Their burial site is recorded as being Givat Pinchas, which is identified in the modern day Arab village of Avarta in the Shomron, opposite the Jewish village of Itamar, named after Itamar the son of Aharon HaKohen, who is buried as well in Avarta.
The Shchem Echad organization has organized entry into Avarta to celebrate the hilula of the 70 elders buried there, along with a visit to the grave sites of Elazar and Itamar, the sons of Aharon who are buried there. Refreshments (generally cholent and yerushalmi kugel, along with some drinks and rogelach) will be served.
Entry will be via bus leaving from the Horon junction at 23:30, and if necessary there will be another bus leaving Horon at 2 AM. The bus into the village will cost money. The army will be securing the entry. For more information, call 02-5482128
I have no furthe rinformation, nor do I have any connection to the organizers. I have gone to Avarta a couple times in previous years on 5 Shvat, and have found the experience to be interesting and inspiring.
The Shchem Echad organization has organized entry into Avarta to celebrate the hilula of the 70 elders buried there, along with a visit to the grave sites of Elazar and Itamar, the sons of Aharon who are buried there. Refreshments (generally cholent and yerushalmi kugel, along with some drinks and rogelach) will be served.
Entry will be via bus leaving from the Horon junction at 23:30, and if necessary there will be another bus leaving Horon at 2 AM. The bus into the village will cost money.Tonight, the 5th of Shvat, is the date recorded as being when the "elders" died during the days of Yehoshua bin Nun. Their burial site is recorded as being Givat Pinchas, which is identified in the modern day Arab village of Avarta in the Shomron, opposite the Jewish village of Itamar, named after Itamar the son of Aharon HaKohen, who is buried as well in Avarta.
The Shchem Echad organization has organized entry into Avarta to celebrate the hilula of the 70 elders buried there, along with a visit to the grave sites of Elazar and Itamar, the sons of Aharon who are buried there. Refreshments (generally cholent and yerushalmi kugel, along with some drinks and rogelach) will be served.
Entry will be via bus leaving from the Horon junction at 23:30, and if necessary there will be another bus leaving Horon at 2 AM. The bus into the village will cost money. The army will be securing the entry. For more information, call 02-5482128
I have no furthe rinformation, nor do I have any connection to the organizers. I have gone to Avarta a couple times in previous years on 5 Shvat, and have found the experience to be interesting and inspiring.
Train Strike Averted but Still No Trains
Some of the headlines are saying that a strike of Train Authority employees was averted at the last minute last night and therefore disruptions for this morning's trains have also been averted.
Other headlines are reporting that there are disruptions in the train lines and hundreds of people are waiting in different cities for bus lines to get to work,. While Egged and Transportation Authority officials have promised that there would be an increase in buses on the lines to deal with the heavier crowds, "on the ground" no increase has been noticed.
This is really nothing new. They stop the train fairly regularly in Bet Shemesh for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is work on the tracks, sometimes it is work on other lines tracks, and now it is due to the fire in the train up north 2 weeks ago requiring all lines using the older trains to be taken offline indefinitely and the trains sent for a safety inspection. And Bet Shemesh is not the only city, as many cities are affected by this.
When this happens, the local newspapers all report that the bus companies are beefing up the lines to handle the heavier crowds, yet in practice no new buses or routes are added. There is no reasonable way to get to Tel Aviv from Bet Shemesh by public transportation. There is a direct bus once a day that is reasonable, and besides for that the rest of the buses are unreasonably long routes traveling through the moshavim between Bet Shemesh and Tel Aviv.
Something new I tried the other day was catching a bus to Modiin and taking the train from there. That was reasonable as well, but the problem is the BS-Modiin Ilit line (that stops at the train station in Modiin) only runs four times a day in each direction. If you schedule doesnt match up with that exactly, you are going to be spending a lot of time waiting for a bus to or from Modiin.
The trains authority has been running a shuttle from Bet Shemesh to Lod (and from select other cities as well). The problem is that you never know when this will stop and how reliable it is. I personally asked for information about the shuttles from representatives, and each person gives a different answer, along with everybody saying that the shuttles are on a day to day basis and the schedule can change, along with the decision to run them at all - the shuttles can be stopped at any given moment. You might rely on the shuttles to get to work, and then show up the next morning and find out that they decided no more shuttles.
The uncertainty is very difficult. People are scrambling around wasting time and energy on a daily basis looking for alternative ways to get to work in a timely fashion, whether it is finding rides, constantly updating and looking for updates regarding the status of the shuttles, looking for new and creative ways to get to TA by bus - a lot of time and energy is wasted on this.
And none of this makes any headlines. We, and other cities, regularly suffer from sheebushim in the train system, and nobody cares. The new bus lines promised by the city that were going to be opened right away 4 months ago are still not running, and it is almost like Bet Shemesh is under siege in relation to Tel Aviv (the bus lines to Jerusalem are pretty good).
Other headlines are reporting that there are disruptions in the train lines and hundreds of people are waiting in different cities for bus lines to get to work,. While Egged and Transportation Authority officials have promised that there would be an increase in buses on the lines to deal with the heavier crowds, "on the ground" no increase has been noticed.
This is really nothing new. They stop the train fairly regularly in Bet Shemesh for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it is work on the tracks, sometimes it is work on other lines tracks, and now it is due to the fire in the train up north 2 weeks ago requiring all lines using the older trains to be taken offline indefinitely and the trains sent for a safety inspection. And Bet Shemesh is not the only city, as many cities are affected by this.
When this happens, the local newspapers all report that the bus companies are beefing up the lines to handle the heavier crowds, yet in practice no new buses or routes are added. There is no reasonable way to get to Tel Aviv from Bet Shemesh by public transportation. There is a direct bus once a day that is reasonable, and besides for that the rest of the buses are unreasonably long routes traveling through the moshavim between Bet Shemesh and Tel Aviv.
Something new I tried the other day was catching a bus to Modiin and taking the train from there. That was reasonable as well, but the problem is the BS-Modiin Ilit line (that stops at the train station in Modiin) only runs four times a day in each direction. If you schedule doesnt match up with that exactly, you are going to be spending a lot of time waiting for a bus to or from Modiin.
The trains authority has been running a shuttle from Bet Shemesh to Lod (and from select other cities as well). The problem is that you never know when this will stop and how reliable it is. I personally asked for information about the shuttles from representatives, and each person gives a different answer, along with everybody saying that the shuttles are on a day to day basis and the schedule can change, along with the decision to run them at all - the shuttles can be stopped at any given moment. You might rely on the shuttles to get to work, and then show up the next morning and find out that they decided no more shuttles.
The uncertainty is very difficult. People are scrambling around wasting time and energy on a daily basis looking for alternative ways to get to work in a timely fashion, whether it is finding rides, constantly updating and looking for updates regarding the status of the shuttles, looking for new and creative ways to get to TA by bus - a lot of time and energy is wasted on this.
And none of this makes any headlines. We, and other cities, regularly suffer from sheebushim in the train system, and nobody cares. The new bus lines promised by the city that were going to be opened right away 4 months ago are still not running, and it is almost like Bet Shemesh is under siege in relation to Tel Aviv (the bus lines to Jerusalem are pretty good).
Jan 6, 2011
Quote Of The Day
brain-stem death constitutes halachic death; our rabbis don't have the necessary background to understand it. Scientific ignorance can be dangerous, especially when people with inadequate knowledge are faced with and decide upon questions that demand expertise... Our rabbis enter the field at its most advanced stage, without the background necessary to understand it. The idea that greatness in Torah is adequate to make up with this deficit in education, is erroneous. Lo bashamaim hi – the Torah is down on the earth. Therefore, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein waited two years before he could answer the question [on whether brain-stem death qualifies as death], During this time, in addition to info I provided him, he had personal contact with leaders in the scientific field. After seeing patient after patient who were brain dead, and the protocol according to which the death was determined, [Feinstein] was confident to say that breathing by machine was no evidence of life, nor was a beating heart.
When people die, they all become haredim.
-- Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler
When people die, they all become haredim.
-- Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler
Jan 5, 2011
Is The City Of Jerusalem Promoting Change In Ramot?
After the Mayor of Jeusalem and City Hall decided to move the Rapaport school to Ramot, against the wishes of the local residents, they are now making another similar decision.
The City of Jerusalem voted to build two football fields in Ramot - American Football fields, for the Israel Football League and the Jerusalem Lions.
NRG is reporting that the iryah voted in favor of constructing the two fields in Ramot. the local neighborhood residents oppose the decision, and have gotten 500 signatures on a petition against it. 500 signatures in a supposedly Haredi neighborhood doesn't seem like a significant number - it even seems like a very low number, considering the article says the rabbonim encouraged people to sign the petition.
Anyway, the locals oppose it saying this decision was not coordinated with the local community administration, and the UTJ faction in City Hall opposes the construction of any city sponsored sports facility and definitely any international level sports facility in Ramot.
Is this a directed effort targeting Ramot with an effort to change the style f the neighborhood? The City says no, but they support building sports facilities that many local residents can benefit from with various sports activities, and most of those who watch the football games are Anglo olim, with Ramot having a high number of Anglo olim, this is a sport they should enjoy.
The City of Jerusalem voted to build two football fields in Ramot - American Football fields, for the Israel Football League and the Jerusalem Lions.
NRG is reporting that the iryah voted in favor of constructing the two fields in Ramot. the local neighborhood residents oppose the decision, and have gotten 500 signatures on a petition against it. 500 signatures in a supposedly Haredi neighborhood doesn't seem like a significant number - it even seems like a very low number, considering the article says the rabbonim encouraged people to sign the petition.
Anyway, the locals oppose it saying this decision was not coordinated with the local community administration, and the UTJ faction in City Hall opposes the construction of any city sponsored sports facility and definitely any international level sports facility in Ramot.
Is this a directed effort targeting Ramot with an effort to change the style f the neighborhood? The City says no, but they support building sports facilities that many local residents can benefit from with various sports activities, and most of those who watch the football games are Anglo olim, with Ramot having a high number of Anglo olim, this is a sport they should enjoy.
More On Non-Payment On Mehadrin bus Lines
To continue beating the dead horse of the issue of how common or uncommon it is for people to skip paying on mehadrin bus lines, a psak has been issued, I don't know who issued it but a local Jerusalem newspaper called "Zman Yerushalayim" wrote that it is being is publicized in Bet Shemesh and Beitar, that everyone including all women who get on the bus in the back, must pay for the bus ride when they get on the bus. Any woman who gets on the bus and does not pay, her name and the fact that she skipped payment will be publicized in the community.
I wonder how they will know who paid and who did not, so as to publicize her name. Are they prophets to know who pays and who does not pay?
Also, they won't even write the women's names on bar mitzva and wedding invitations, and now they are going to spread a woman's name around the neighborhood, whether on pashkevils or by word of mouth?
but I like that they are trying to crack down and make sure everyone realizes how serious lack of payment is. I am sure most who skip payment do so not intending to steal - maybe they have a few kids and cant bother digging out the bus pass and figure they will do it next time, or the like. Then maybe they forget or maybe they even do pay later. It does not matter because when you get on the bus you have to pay for the ride. Anything else is theft.
I wonder how they will know who paid and who did not, so as to publicize her name. Are they prophets to know who pays and who does not pay?
Also, they won't even write the women's names on bar mitzva and wedding invitations, and now they are going to spread a woman's name around the neighborhood, whether on pashkevils or by word of mouth?
but I like that they are trying to crack down and make sure everyone realizes how serious lack of payment is. I am sure most who skip payment do so not intending to steal - maybe they have a few kids and cant bother digging out the bus pass and figure they will do it next time, or the like. Then maybe they forget or maybe they even do pay later. It does not matter because when you get on the bus you have to pay for the ride. Anything else is theft.
Headline of The Day
Saudi Arabia 'nabbed Israeli-tagged vulture for being Mossad spy'
-- Haaretz
really? a spy vulture? after the Zionist sharks... what's next?
Text Of The Letter PM Netanyahu Sent On Behalf Of Clemency For Pollard
Dear Mr. President,
On behalf of the people of Israel, I am writing to you to request clemency for Jonathan Pollard.
At the time of his arrest, Jonathan Pollard was acting as an agent of the Israeli government. Even though Israel was in no way directing its intelligence efforts against the United States, its actions were wrong and wholly unacceptable. Both Mr. Pollard and the Government of Israel have repeatedly expressed remorse for these actions, and Israel will continue to abide by its commitment that such wrongful actions will never be repeated.
As you know, Mr. President, I have raised the question of Jonathan Pollard’s release numerous times in discussions with your administration and with previous U.S. administrations. Previous Israeli Prime Ministers and Presidents have also requested clemency for Mr. Pollard from your predecessors.
Since Jonathan Pollard has now spent 25 years in prison, I believe that a new request for clemency is highly appropriate. I know that this view is also shared by former senior American officials with knowledge of the case as well as by numerous Members of Congress.
Jonathan Pollard has reportedly served longer in prison than any person convicted of similar crimes, and longer than the period requested by the prosecutors at the time of his plea bargain agreement. Jonathan has suffered greatly for his actions and his health has deteriorated considerably.
I know that the United States is a country based on fairness, justice and mercy. For all these reasons, I respectfully ask that you favorably consider this request for clemency. The people of Israel will be eternally grateful.
Sincerely yours,
Benjamin Netanyahu
(source: Haaretz)
On behalf of the people of Israel, I am writing to you to request clemency for Jonathan Pollard.
At the time of his arrest, Jonathan Pollard was acting as an agent of the Israeli government. Even though Israel was in no way directing its intelligence efforts against the United States, its actions were wrong and wholly unacceptable. Both Mr. Pollard and the Government of Israel have repeatedly expressed remorse for these actions, and Israel will continue to abide by its commitment that such wrongful actions will never be repeated.
As you know, Mr. President, I have raised the question of Jonathan Pollard’s release numerous times in discussions with your administration and with previous U.S. administrations. Previous Israeli Prime Ministers and Presidents have also requested clemency for Mr. Pollard from your predecessors.
Since Jonathan Pollard has now spent 25 years in prison, I believe that a new request for clemency is highly appropriate. I know that this view is also shared by former senior American officials with knowledge of the case as well as by numerous Members of Congress.
Jonathan Pollard has reportedly served longer in prison than any person convicted of similar crimes, and longer than the period requested by the prosecutors at the time of his plea bargain agreement. Jonathan has suffered greatly for his actions and his health has deteriorated considerably.
I know that the United States is a country based on fairness, justice and mercy. For all these reasons, I respectfully ask that you favorably consider this request for clemency. The people of Israel will be eternally grateful.
Sincerely yours,
Benjamin Netanyahu
(source: Haaretz)
Quote Of The Day
God willing we will see you here soon..
-- PM Benjamin Netanyahu, after reading the text of the letter he sent to President Obama on behalf of Jonathan Pollard
-- PM Benjamin Netanyahu, after reading the text of the letter he sent to President Obama on behalf of Jonathan Pollard
Jan 4, 2011
Shema Yisrael
I dont know what message they are trying to broadcast with these billboards I saw up in Tel Aviv today, but I like the theme. The person pictured is Minister of Transportation Yisrael Katz, and someone is saying Shema Yisrael - Listen, Yisrael.
I wonder what the follow-up message will say..
Pig Bones In Jaffa Graves
According to Bechadrei, the archaeologists working on the site in Jaffa (Yaffo) that has been the focus of much protest and fighting due to the disturbance of graves that were unearthed during the digging to lay foundations for a new building (I think a hotel), are reporting officially that initial analysis of unearthed bones has revealed that among the graves of the humans discovered are also bones of animals including pigs. They therefore conclude (as per the future results of further analysis) that the graves in Jaffa are pagan and not Jewish remains.
Some suspect the archaeologists of regularly lying in their reports in order to accomplish their goals and objectives, while others accept their professional opinion. Until now it has not been debated, as far as I know, that the remains in Jaffa might not be Jewish, but it was assumed they are Jewish remains. This throws things for a loop, unless the archaeologists are lying to try to put an end to the protests.
Either way I thought it was an interesting development.
Some suspect the archaeologists of regularly lying in their reports in order to accomplish their goals and objectives, while others accept their professional opinion. Until now it has not been debated, as far as I know, that the remains in Jaffa might not be Jewish, but it was assumed they are Jewish remains. This throws things for a loop, unless the archaeologists are lying to try to put an end to the protests.
Either way I thought it was an interesting development.
Quote of the Day
very soon I will have news for you. The text of the letter is being formed and drafted right now..
-- PM Benjamin Netanyahu, to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee regarding Jonathan Pollard
-- PM Benjamin Netanyahu, to the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee regarding Jonathan Pollard
My Way (On Conversions) Or The Highway
I have just about completely stayed out of commenting on the big fight raging in the country about who controls the conversions, and whether or not to allow the army rabbinate to convert soldiers who will be recognized with official status. I stayed away from it because I don't get it - the halacha of geirus in Shulchan Aruch is far more meikil in every aspect than what the rabbonim advocate, so i don't get the basis for the seriousness of the argument. I have been told that today it is far more common for people to try to become Jewish with ulterior motives than it used to be and therefore they must be more machmir, but still - what is in Shulchan Aruch is in.
I still am not going to comment on the geirus fight, but on a side issue. Rav Amar has been convening a committee to analyze the situation and come to decisions to form an opinion as to whether or not to give the army rabbinate the authority to convert.
Rav Amar, with the guidance and approval of Rav Ovadiah Yosef, has been working to find a way to set guidelines by which the army rabbinate can convert those soldiers who wish to convert, while ensuring that such conversions would be acceptable and halacha and would not later be overturned retroactively.
In response, those who oppose allowing the army rabbinate to convert soldiers have started slinging mud. Instead of debating the issues and working to set guidelines, perhaps trying to get Rav Amar to accept stricter guidelines than he would have otherwise (I am not saying he would be too meikil, but form their perspectibe that is what they are worried about), instead of dealing with the issue, they have resorted to name calling. They have pasted pashkevilim and are planning protests including protesting outside the homes of the rabbinic members of the committee. The pashkevilim are pretty nasty basically sayign that they are allowing conversions of people who do not accept the Torah at all, and based on the opinion of Rav Kanievsky such conversions are not allowed they then call those performing and allowing them (read: Rav Amar) "Apikorsim".
I get that they don't agree. In halacha we always have differences of opinion and machlokes. In Shulchan Aruch it is so, and down to regular differences of opinions between different rabbis paskening the same question. It is fine to debate the issue and not agree. At least keep the argument to the issues, rather than resorting to name calling in the rudest way of people who are great talmidei chachomim.
Why can't they just debate the issues, and work to find solutions and common ground, on the basis of mutual respect? Why is it always my way or the highway?
I still am not going to comment on the geirus fight, but on a side issue. Rav Amar has been convening a committee to analyze the situation and come to decisions to form an opinion as to whether or not to give the army rabbinate the authority to convert.
Rav Amar, with the guidance and approval of Rav Ovadiah Yosef, has been working to find a way to set guidelines by which the army rabbinate can convert those soldiers who wish to convert, while ensuring that such conversions would be acceptable and halacha and would not later be overturned retroactively.
In response, those who oppose allowing the army rabbinate to convert soldiers have started slinging mud. Instead of debating the issues and working to set guidelines, perhaps trying to get Rav Amar to accept stricter guidelines than he would have otherwise (I am not saying he would be too meikil, but form their perspectibe that is what they are worried about), instead of dealing with the issue, they have resorted to name calling. They have pasted pashkevilim and are planning protests including protesting outside the homes of the rabbinic members of the committee. The pashkevilim are pretty nasty basically sayign that they are allowing conversions of people who do not accept the Torah at all, and based on the opinion of Rav Kanievsky such conversions are not allowed they then call those performing and allowing them (read: Rav Amar) "Apikorsim".
I get that they don't agree. In halacha we always have differences of opinion and machlokes. In Shulchan Aruch it is so, and down to regular differences of opinions between different rabbis paskening the same question. It is fine to debate the issue and not agree. At least keep the argument to the issues, rather than resorting to name calling in the rudest way of people who are great talmidei chachomim.
Why can't they just debate the issues, and work to find solutions and common ground, on the basis of mutual respect? Why is it always my way or the highway?
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