One of the familiar phenomena during a struggle that spans a long period of time is that the protesters and the strugglers unwittingly become a reflection of the phenomena and people against whom they are fighting.
A person who lives in a home where violence was the bread of the law can become a man who imitates violent and aggressive behaviors – the kind he swore to himself to eradicate. That's exactly what's happening now to parts of the protesters, who are derailing it for a glorious crash.
It began with the parade of slaves in Bnei Brak, when senior members called to come to the city in minimal clothes. A demonstration of defiance that raised the question of whether they left the house because of this. An ugly civil war and not an intelligent struggle over some important principles.
Defiance. Women's demonstration in Bnei Brak, August 2023,
It continued with the painful scenes we witnessed last Yom Kippur. In the name of the war for a secular-liberal space free of barriers in the public sphere, lines have been crossed that we have not seen in other years. Violent and aggressive repression of secular worshippers who wanted to attend prayers on the holiest day of the year. Women in headscarves were in tears at shouts and images that caused many of the anti-reform protesters to take stock of themselves.
Another peak of blind violence was broken last night, on the eve of Sukkot, when a group of secular men demonstrated with "impressive heroism" and blew up a screening intended for ultra-Orthodox girls and women in the name of the sacred struggle for non-separation in the public sphere. A slender sheep slaughtered imperviously on the altar of liberalism.
The argument voiced by those in favor of stealing an enjoyable evening for ultra-Orthodox girls with bullying wrapped in self-righteousness is a phrase they proudly utter whenever criticism is directed at them – "The contract has been reopened." Three words mean that as far as we are concerned, once you challenge our secularism, everything is hacked and everything is permitted, including running over innocent young girls.
The question is, what is the next step in reopening the contract? Women's bathroom break-in? For women's mikvahs? Minyanim in synagogues? What these protesters may find is that the contract has also been reopened in terms of their supporters who have given them breathing space and unconditional support. Even for acts that were difficult for them to swallow, such as persecuting Knesset members and public figures, or violently breaking into Kohelet's offices.
If that group fails to wake up and choose their struggles with any sense, they may win the battle for a hall in a godforsaken community center, but they will lose the general battle for public opinion whose sane soul abhors such scenes
The supporters convinced themselves that in the framework of the war for life, one must keep one's nose shut. The problem is that the sight of sturdy men versus ultra-Orthodox girls is one too many. It is difficult to find many buyers for this commodity among ordinary people, who voted with their feet every week against government policy, against reform, and now find themselves supporting the harassment and exclusion of women.
If that group fails to wake up and choose their struggles with any sense, they may win the battle for a hall in a godforsaken community center, but they will lose the general battle for public opinion whose sane soul abhors such sights. The immediate answer to this aggressiveness can be seen by the protesters in the municipal elections. If their power does not increase or even diminish, then this is a warning call flashing red.
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