On riots, baby starving, and ways of Torah

Of Judaism, and of Torah, we are told "all of its ways are ways of pleasantness."

For the past three weeks we have seen something very different on the streets of Israel's capital, Jerusalem. Tires have been set on fire, trash bins have been set alight, and riots have broken out among the fervently Orthodox.

What brought on this trouble that has resulted in both property damage and physical damage? On the face of it, there were two separate events.

The first event was the decision of the Mayor of Jerusalem, Mayor Nir Barkat, to allow a parking lot to open on Shabbat. This to accommodate the many tourists who visit the city on Saturday. Now, I do not drive on Shabbat. I do not believe that Jewish law permits driving on Shabbat. But Israeli law certainly does. In fact, cars, taxis, and buses (in some cities) run seven days a week. Better, in my view, to accommodate those who wish to drive than to have them ride around for long periods of time until they finally park on the sidewalks. This too was the position of the police that urged the opening of the private lot.

But protest is legitimate in a democratic country and the haredim (fervently Orthodox) have the right to protest what they may view as a concession to the secular citizens and the possible domino effect of opening the parking lot on other Shabbat observance in the city.

But there is no room for violent protest. There should be no tolerance for the wanton destruction of public property. There is no room for calling those who hold a different view "anti-Semites" and "nazis," as was reported by police spokesperson, Shmuel Ben Ruby.

An allegedly mentally ill Ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman,
who cannot be identified by court order and is accused
of starving her three-year-old child, is escorted by an
Israeli Prison Service guard during an appearance in
Jerusalem Friday. PHOTO: AP

The second incident of violent protest (read: riots) came after a mother of four, from the radical Hasidic sect Toldot Aharon, was arrested for starving her three-year-old son. Hadassah Hospital officials confirmed that the child was malnourished and had been subjected to other abuse, both physical and mental. There have always been strained relations between the haredi community and the government (police, social workers, etc). The haredim believe that the charge is a trumped up effort aimed at intimidating the pious into accepting Shabbat violations. But this is just silly. Even more silly is that so many believe it.

Dr. Yair Birnbaum, deputy director of Hadassah hospital (and an observant Jew) , has confirmed that the child had been abused and would need to be hospitalized for some time for the physical recovery alone.

Jerusalem has seen such riotous outbreaks before. We witnessed such behavior with regard to the desire of the Haredi community to close certain streets to traffic on Shabbat. We saw this behavior in protests of the annual Pride Parade. We saw it when there was fear that paving certain roads may disturb ancient Jewish bones (of course no such worry was expressed over the Arab bones in the Mamilla cemetery).

What is going on?

This blog is NOT intended as a criticism of the Haredim (although I certainly condemn their actions in regard to the riots). We would never see such outbreaks of savagery in Haredi neighborhoods outside of Israel. It is understood elsewhere that Jewish law calls for respect of the local law (Dina D'Machulta Dina) and that such ugly and disgraceful behavior only brings shame to God's name.

An Israeli police officer and an ultra-Orthodox Jewish
man argue during a protest against the arrest of a
woman accused of child abuse in Jerusalem, Wednesday,
July 15, 2009. PHOTO: AP

But the rabbis of these communities (not all of them, of course) while paying lip-service to the desire for a peaceful resolution to outstanding issues that trouble them, are not out on the streets demanding restraint on the part of their followers. They do not turn the scofflaws over to the authorities. Quite the opposite, PR specialists are hired to defend and justify the actions of this wayward mob.

So where is the solution to be found?

On the side of the government, there is a need to try to reach out and demonstrate that there is no desire to destroy the haredi way of life. But this is made all the more difficult when the community itself hides, or denies, real issues such as child abuse. When Torah study is used to evade taxes and civic responsibilities, it becomes difficult for the secular public to reach out.

Haredi rabbis must insist that the posters charging a blood libel be removed at once. They must expel youth who riot from their Yeshivot. They may, if they wish, quietly call for prayer and even peaceful marches. 

The name of the Masorti Movement's youth  movement is NOAM (Noar Masorti). "NOAM" means peacefulness or pleasantness. It is the Hebrew word used in the verse cited in the opening sentence of this blog. If we all recognize that the mayor of Jerusalem was elected by a majority of its citizens, if we all accept the rule of law, then we may succeed too in bringing a serene and pleasant life to our far-too-tense city. And that is the way of the Torah.