As the facts about the public chessboard:
Israel Zeira of "Jewish Head" deserves every condemnation for violating the High Court of Justice decision on the partition between men and women at public prayers in Tel Aviv. He should have avoided the incident rather than fanned it. Nevertheless, Mayor Ron Huldai acted moderately, and as he put it, did not ask to use the police to thwart the prayers. His move is open to debate, but reasonable.
People of goodwill, who belong to the protest movement defending democracy, intervened. They had no mandate from their movement, and they caused it embarrassment. Because physical activity is allowed only for self-defense, and they took the law into their own hands (albeit on a marginal matter).
Prayer separating women from men is accepted in the Orthodox community. When did it begin? Vague. Archaeology has not found a "women's section" in the 2,000-year-old synagogues of Bar'am and Masada. The partition, historically, is an arson on hold. In 1928, such a barrier was stretched in the Western Wall plaza, and became the spark that led to the riots of 133, in which <> Jews were murdered throughout the country.
This separation is negative and worthy of tikkun olam, but as long as Orthodox women agree to do so – perhaps out of respect for their parents' heritage – it is their business alone. In my estimation, the partition serves as a motive for young people to veer from Orthodoxy to other streams of Judaism, and sometimes through a heated family dispute become secular. A familiar cliché during verbal exchanges between secular and religious people is that public figures and rabbinical institutions deny that they seek to religionize society as a whole. To Zeira's credit, he took off his gloves and masks and confirmed that his organization works for religion, and indeed this is the truth and must be dealt with.
The controversy coincides with history. It characterizes the nation. Perhaps already from Korach's testimony and the separation of the kingdoms, and in the phrases "Pharisees and Sadducees", "Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai", "Chassidim and opponents", and certainly in the Rebbe's angry opposition to Zionism and immigration to Israel (except for the Rebbe of Gur, who visited here most often and encouraged his Hasidim to immigrate). The supreme compromiser was Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Hacohen Kook, and since then there has been no one like him.
Significant are the attempts to achieve an ultra-Orthodox-Zionist modus vivendi during the 75 years of sovereignty. David Ben-Gurion came to the meager home of the Chazon Ish in Bnei Brak and asked to find out, "How will we live together?" – but was answered with a cold shoulder. He replied with a parable from the Talmud, according to which when a loaded camel and a camel free from burden meet in the narrow path, the light makes way for the liver. The ultra-Orthodox are like a cart loaded with values, and the secular is empty. The secular must clear the way. Failure.
There were other attempts - the Kinneret Convention, a document by Prof. Ruth Gavison and Rabbi Israel Meidan. Unsuccessful. But there is no moral exemption from trying. Especially at the current boiling point, which was fueled by hatred of the breed of initiators of the sectarian rift.
It is reasonable to assume that the secular-religious rift is difficult to heal, but there is room to strive. Not for a just solution, but for a reasonable compromise. Not for a decision, but for a process. Not a comprehensive peace, but an interim arrangement
It is reasonable to assume that the secular-religious rift is difficult to heal, but there is room to strive. Not for a just solution, but for a reasonable compromise. Not for a decision, but for a process. Not a comprehensive peace, but an interim arrangement. Negotiations between two diverse delegations are needed, focusing on three issues:
• Compulsory core studies in ultra-Orthodox yeshivas (to the parents' silent wishes), and on the other hand, deepening Bible studies in the best of its national and moral outlook in state education, a subject that has dissolved in secular schools under the weight of globalization and "self-fulfillment."
• An in-depth discussion of the entire issue of the allocation of financial resources, and striving to include in these considerations the contribution of the expected increase in employment in the Haredi sector.
• Gradual resolution of the issue of recruitment to the IDF, the police and national service. A consistent discussion is needed, calmly but effectively. A solution may not be found, but those in charge, secular and religious, who abhor violent confrontation, are not exempt from trying their hand at dialogue.
The discussion site is also waiting: a peace tent at the residence of President Isaac Herzog, with Oshpizin from both camps.
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