A number of rabbis, including Rabbi Mazuz, Rabbi Amar, Rabbi Tao and Rabbi Eliyahu, called for joining a demonstration in front of the corporation building in Jerusalem • "Despise the Lord of the Worlds", were furious
The Jews are coming // Photo: Michal Efrati
An almost one-time collaboration between well-known ultra-Orthodox and national religious rabbis is taking place these days against the background of a demonstration that is expected to begin today in Jerusalem against the satire program "The Jews Are Coming." A number of rabbis from all corners of the national religious sector and a number of well-known ultra-Orthodox rabbis called for a demonstration, initiated by the Ofek - The Stage for Jewish Information movement, an organization set up to protest the program and the Jewish Activism Forum.
In recent weeks, many bodies, organizations and individuals have come out against the satire program in protest that it claims to despise the Bible and mocks the Jewish tradition. The protest began after Rabbi Zamir Cohen, head of the Hidbraut movement, released an angry video that went viral. Then, with the mobilization of a number of Knesset members in the matter, following the public outrage, a number of videos were published that were published on the Ministry of Education's website, and were supposed to be used by teachers as an aid to Bible study.
In a petition received by "Israel Today", signed by well-known rabbis, including Rosh Yeshivat Kasa Rahamim Rabbi Meir Mazuz, Rabbi of Jerusalem Shlomo Amar, Rabbi of Safed Shmuel Eliyahu, Rosh Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshivat Or and Yeshua Rabbi Eliyahu Zini And other rabbis, call on the rabbis to go against the plan and boycott it.
"We rabbis and teachers of halakhah in Israel are hereby protesting against the desecration of the holy of holies in the program 'The Jews Are Coming' broadcast on the state channel 'Here'," the petition read. "The corrupting clowning that appears in it, despises the Lord of the world, the honor of the Torah and the fathers and mothers of the nation, and they were first as angels! Their honor and holiness are a candle and foundation for the Jewish people in Israel and in the world."
"It is not possible that in the State of Israel, the national revival of the people of Israel, the holy of the nation will be desecrated in this way. The people of Israel mostly condemn this contempt and are connected to the Jewish tradition and the holy of Israel. God forbid we see this, and not protest with all our might against it." The demonstration will take place at 32 Beit Hadfus Street in the Givat Shmuel neighborhood of the capital, in front of the 'Here 11' corporation building.
Alongside the rabbis who signed the petition, there are many other rabbis who have posted protest videos or sharply condemned the plan. The most significant of them is Rabbi Zvi Tao, president of the Har Hamor yeshiva, who issued a call yesterday (Sunday) to join the demonstration. "The program in question is just one example of the constant attempts of a small and rude minority that is constantly working, in cooperation with foreign countries and organizations, to disrupt the thoughts of the Jewish public and try to make us forget ourselves and our selves and despise everything dear and sacred to us," the rabbi wrote. .
Hence the response: "'The Jews Are Coming' is a satire program, and this is how it should be treated. Freedom of expression and creativity are a top value in public broadcasting, as is self-humor. The right of protesters to protest is no less important."
