Let's clarify the Supersol issue. Supersol also owns a Chareidei Chain of Stores called "Yesh".... The products in "Yesh" are cheaper than the exact same products in Supersol.
And so the Chilonim are suing Supersol for millions of Shekel.
So what's behind the lawsuit and their anger, and why are prices cheaper at "Yesh?"
It is possible that some of these lower prices are subsidized by the higher prices of meat that Chareidim buy, or that some is subsidized by the higher prices of the same products at other branches.
Taking them to court for this is a bit populist and stupid. At the same time, populism means that the general public is unhappy, in this case with the fact that the Chareidi community is a sub-economy which appears to be at the expense of the rest of the country, and THAT needs to be dealt with.
However, the Chareidi community doesn't recognize that they are living off other people, and they are educated to interpret any criticism of their lifestyle as attacks on Torah. And THAT is the biggest problem. Until such time as Chareidim, individuals and as a group, can listen to others and hear how their life choices come at a huge cost davka to non-chareidim, we can't move anything forward.
We will move forward when Chareidim appreciate that anything anyone gets "from the government" actually comes from other people's pockets.
In general, Israelis who grew up in a relatively socialist economy, don't appreciate this little detail. Every visit to my doctor costs the kupat holim money, which means that it costs the tax payers. And when one family chooses to earn too little too pay income tax and full arnona, someone else is covering their expenses. The same goes for army service. Every resident and visitor to Israel benefits more than they realize from the IDF. But, the IDF isn't an amorphous body. It is real people, like husbands and sons, who stop their lives for years, and then for a few weeks every year, who miss Shabbat meals and shiurei Torah as well as higher education classes and exams and work, who risk their lives, so that each of us can live in Eretz Yisrael in a freedom that Jews haven't had in millennia.
From the beginning of the State of Israel, there has been an acceptance that the action as a nation will support Torah learning. However, the decisions
made to support a small minority of men learning full time, with a break from taxes and army service, should have been reciprocated with gratitude. Those kollelim which get govt support should fly the Israeli flag and say tefilla l'shlom hamedina publicly. They should put in extra hours when there are military operations, and accompany the soldiers at least as far as the border, as the Kohanim and Aron haBrit did.
The resentment towards Chareidim felt by the general population isn't just because of the burden of supporting others. It is mainly due to the attitude of the Chareidi community, which is one of disdain rather than gratitude, derision rather than partnership.
It is my hope that the Chareidim who read this post, those who know that only in the State of Israel can they live their lifestyle, make that change. That they begin the trend of Chareidi expressions of gratitude and real partnership.
Please allow me to try to bridge an abyss here.
Remember, I come from a Satmar background, I have relationships with all of them. I contribute to and volunteer for Chareidi-run organizations. I give money to many, many, many Chareidim who come to my door asking for help.
Nothing I say comes from hatred.
One can criticize without hating. One can make suggestions for improvement.
Yes, there have always been Jews in the government who hate religious people.
However, they are the ministry. The majority of Israelis don't hate Chareidim, but they do feel resentful. While the Israeli Chareidi community is closed to outsiders' opinions, I would like to believe that those who are on this blog realize that there are problems in the relationship between the Chareidi community and the rest of Israeli society, and by virtue of this openness, they are the most in a position to make positive change
Resentment is not hatred. Resentment is also not jealousy. It is a feeling of being treated unfairly. And that is what is being felt here.
The supermarket situation was just a concrete example, even if an incorrect one, of the basis for the resentment. Israelis feel that the Chareidi community gets more than they give to Israel's economy and security situation. If you disagree, please check a few statistics.
Most, yes, the vast majority, of Chareidim do not pay income tax. The majority of those who do work make sure not to earn enough to pay income tax because they have B"H many children and so they work in low-paying jobs.
At the same time, whether they are citizens or just tourists living here, the govt pays for their schools (compare tuition fees here to tuition in the US), pays their medical bills, builds and maintains their parks and sidewalks, provides highly subsidized or free land for yeshivot and discounts arnona bills, etc etc.
And then, instead of thanking the rest of the nation they go around destroying the Israeli Flag, Chareidim are known for destroying flags on private cars. They throw stones on the IDF calling them Nazis. And even if it's a small number of Chareidim who tear flags or throw things at non-Chareidim or call IDF soldiers "Nazis," it is the silent observers who are guilty.
What is done to non-chareidim by Chareidim would be legitimately considered antisemitism of it were done to Chareidim - egg- and rock throwing on people
I am asking you to stop standing silently by.
I suggest that you fly an Israeli flag on your Chareidi shul or school (if Rav Shach could do it, so can you). Same for davening for our soldiers.
I am asking you to remove posters and flyers, and even remove graffiti, that call our soldiers Nazis. If the Chareidi community would admit that they do have a debt of gratitude to some Israel Jews who are not Chareidi, there would be a lot less resentment in the other direction.
Imagine for a minute your own children bickering. Would you not tell the one who was unable to help set the table to at least say thank you to those that did?
1 comment:
You're talking about taking personal responsibility.
Good luck with that.
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