The Threat of Political Judaism

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December 15, 2010 • Volume 28 • Winter 2011

By Michael Morgenthau

While the majority of Dateline: Middle East covers the current peace process between Jews and Arabs, this article focuses on an equally pressing issue: Political Judaism.

Political Judaism is the attempt of Haredi-Israeli political parties to tum Israel into an Ultra-Orthodox theocratic state. Most Jews ignore this threat; after all, Haredim are among the most hospitable individuals in Israel, quick to extend invitations for Shabbat dinner.

However, when Haredim form a collective polity, they leave their kindness at the door and rally behind bigoted political leaders. Wow ... bigotry is a strong word. But is it any weaker than the truth? Former United Torah Judaism (UTJ) MK Yisrael Eichler wrote, "Reform Rabbis ... should be judged as ... criminals ... who brought about the Holocaust". The Chief Rabbinate had female Rabbi Anat Hoffman arrested for holding a Torah at the Kotel. SHAS (Sephardic-Haredi political party) MKNissim Ze'ev condemned homosexuals as being a "plague."

Are these examples not suggestive of the bigotry of influential Haredi political leaders? There are no doubts that their growing political influence has been felt. It is felt when Russian Jewish immigrants are not recognized as Jews because of their reluctance to undergo specifically orthodox conversions. It is felt when the poor, elderly, and young cannot use the bus on Shabbat. It is felt when Jews who wish to marry in a non-orthodox ceremony must go to Cyprus. The resentment is felt when Orthodox establishments get large amounts of government funding, but Reform and Conservative rabbis receiving only a pittance.

Such concerns might seem inconsequential when compared to internal dynamics in countries such as Saudi Arabia. However, things are moving in a dangerous direction. UTJ and SHAS continue to advance their agenda which includes blocking non-orthodox converts from entering the country and insisting on public observance
of Shabbat, Passover, and Kashrut.

Israel's secular parties seem impotent to challenge such stances. It appears that the only way Israel will avoid becoming an UltraOrthodox theocracy is if the Haredim bankrupt it first. With two-thirds of Haredi men in Israel not working, as this community grows, more people are relying on welfare, and less people are producing revenue.

Some readers may dismiss this article as offensive, but its intention is to shed light on the little-known words and deeds of others. How can that be wrong?

I cannot stand idly by as we ignore the truly offensive sentiments of Haredi political leaders. Let me be very clear: I am not condemning Haredi Judaism but challenging Political Judaism. Keep Haredi Judaism in the synagogue; leave it outside of the Knesset. The political agenda of SHAS and UTJ do not just spell negative
consequences for secular Israeli Jews, but should concern all Jews: Secular, Progressive, Modem Orthodox and even Haredi. It is not the future of liberal Judaism that is at stake, but the future of Israel. Am I being too extreme? Read the above quotes from UTJ and SHAS MK's. They are extreme.

With the Arab-Israeli conflict uppermost in people's minds, many will choose to ignore the pressing nature of Political Judaism. However, by ignoring this threat, Israel is giving a victory to Alunadinejad, Hamas and Hezbollah, and is allowing its enemies to distract it from solving its internal problems.

That is why stopping Political Judaism is the most important issue facing the state of Israel. I call upon all secular-Jewish Israeli parties to form a national unity government and install a secular constitution. Polls show
that the Israeli public would accept such a move. Even a majority of modem orthodox Israelis want a coalition that excludes Haredi parties. But it is imperative that this be done while it is still feasible.

A secular constitution would enable UTJ and SHAS to work within the secular state to protect the collective rights of their communities without undermining the rights of the rest of the state. Such a constitution would not make Israel any less Jewish; Herzl, Ben Gurion and Jabotinsky were all Zionist atheists who wanted a secular state, a state for the Jewish nation, and not for the Jewish religion. Without a secular constitution UTJ and SHAS will advance their agenda. The situation will arguably and irrevocably spiral out of control. Without freedom to enjoy different facets of Jewish spirituality, gone will be the dream of a Jewish state for all Jews.

[While I am in no way affiliated with either of these organizations, for more information 1 urge you to check out "www.irac.org or www.hiddush.org.]