Posted on 05/07/2003 10:16:05 AM PDT by Alouette
A sharp verbal dispute erupted on Holocaust Remembrance Day last week in Bnei Brak when a secular newspaper photographer came to try to film local pedestrians walking during the siren. Many chareidim feel that observing a period of silence is a non-Jewish way to honor the dead and that they prefer to show their respect in other ways. However in recent years most chareidim who are in public places when the sirens are sounded remain still.
A staple of secular papers is showing pictures of chareidim walking around during the sirens.
The photojournalist arrived at R' Akiva Street in Bnei Brak shortly before 10:00 am when the siren was scheduled to sound across the country, hoping to shoot pictures of chareidim continuing on their way. But when the siren blared, to his dismay, the people he could see nearby stood in place while the photographer himself ran around trying to locate pedestrians violating the law.
People in the street began to shout at him, "What a disgrace! You're the first to violate the law. Don't you hear the siren? Stand still! Why did you come here? Bloodsucker!"
Finally the photographer was compelled to stand still until the siren ended.
Afterwards he tried to defend himself, saying he had been sent by his newspaper's assignment desk to try to capture on film chareidim walking during the siren and as such he was merely fulfilling his task of providing the pictures as part of "the public's right to know."
A throng gathered around arguing that the public's right to know does not permit a journalist to violate state law. "Your conduct is like that of a journalist who carries out a terrorist attack and then films it," they charged.
There's a lot of that going around.
Sounds like "Landrew" from TOS. Right after "Festival".
Or that everyone should, and that some measure of public shaming should also occur if one doesn't.
It's an Israeli custom. Religious Jews initially objected to this innovation, claiming that there are better, more traditional ways of honoring the victims of the Holocaust than by a two-minute stopping traffic. However, after violent encounters by outraged seculars, they learned not to flout this "beautiful, touching" memorial custom. Now the secular media sends out provocateurs like this fellow who does more running around than the people he is trying to set up.
Remembering on Yom Hasho'a
To the Editor:
It's 5:05 in the morning, the sky is still dark as dawn approaches. A bearded ultra-orthodox Jewish man is walking to synagogue for his morning prayers wearing a black kippa and tallis over his head and shoulders. The streets are empty and quiet, except for the Jew and a lone man, bare- headed, walking down the street in the opposite direction, taking his dog for its early morning walk. Not another soul in sight.
The men, on the same side of the street, walk silently and steadily towards each other, one hardly noticing the other. As they approach, the Jew looks up at the old man anticipating perhaps a good morning or a greeting nod. The old man looks up at the Jew.
Immediately, without a word exchanged, the old man again looks down, twists his head to gain momentum, twists back and spits at the Jew and begins to shout at him curses and insults: "Dirty Dog!!", "Parasite!", "Stinking...!!"
The dog starts barking as the old man looks around, searching -- unsuccessfully -- for a rock to throw. As the Jew keeps walking, quickly distancing himself, the old man turns back the other way and continues walking his normal course, cursing and groaning under his breath.
The street is once again empty, silent and still.
What happened? An echo from prewar Berlin? Another act of hate on the streets of modern-day Paris? Perhaps anti-Israel sentiment in Buenos Aires?
Not at all, my friends. That Jew was me and the old man was not a gentile. He was a non-religious Jew. Today is Sunday, May 5, 2003. This happened less than 24 hours ago in the heart of Jerusalem's Ramot Alef neighborhood on the holy Sabbath day. We are now several days after the secular Holocaust Remembrance Day of 2003.
We all want the gentiles to learn the lessons of hatred after the Holocaust. But it seems that there are lessons to be learned much closer to home.
Ariel Malamud
Jerusalem
It's great!
This guy with the camera is a jackass.
And btw, the Haredi are right. The practice is non-Jewish. But, I can't see the harm in it, either. Do both!
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