On Friday, as I planned ahead to record with Ya’akov on Sunday (today), I was certain that we would discuss “the day after”, which was much talked about last week, internationally.
Vivian, Thank you once again for attempting to dissect the complex issues that Israel faces post-October 7. The Haredi draft issue must be resolved. Yeshiva buchars should be educated in the real world as well as the Talmud. As a diaspora Jew it may be easy and disingenuous for me to make this statement, however Israel stands as a shining light for ALL Jews. I was once a Yeshiva buchar and understand the complexities. I currently live in the secular world. We all must fight for the survival of Israel, the Talmud teaches that we all stand in the defense of the Jewish state. It should be the job of the devout to bring people together and not separate them and cause them so much emotional pain. They are missing the point of their devotion to uphold the Jewish spirit.
Let us not be naive, all strategic decisions governments make especially at times of war are political in nature. If you study history of world conflicts this becomes very obvious. The prevailing ideology will dictate the terms and there will always be a segment that disagrees. Yes, unity is preferred during the war effort and then the people should decide what type of government they choose to move forward with into the post war future.
I feel like all Jews everywhere are being held hostage. I wake up every morning in a cold sweat. The constant drum beat of anti-semitism, we all feel that it is us against the whole world whether we live in Israel or not. I feel Israel and the IDF must prevail, not only for the State of Israel but for the entire Jewish Nation worldwide.
I agree broadly with your comments. Thanks for listening and chiming in here. The bottom line is that this impossible model of allowing the ultra orthodox to opt out of civic participation and inhabit a quite autonomous little universe within the state is just not sustainable. Nevermind plain stupid. This culture of entitlement is unprecedented in Jewish history and we all know that Ben Gurion's "accommodation" to the haredim in 1948 was a political solution so that their leadership would not publicly oppose the creation of the state in May, 1948. He needed to present a unified front to the world. Very soon after he offered to support the few hundred haredim wanting to maintain the shtetl life he realized the error of his ways. There are recorded comments from him in this regard in the 50s. Even in the shtetl, the village genius would study Torah and be supported by the rest. Everyone worked. But it was important to retain Jewish knowledge and custom. Only in Israel has this concept of obsessive immersion, day and night in study, taken hold. It is going to destroy this country if it is not stopped, imo. Aside from all the problems with the separateness, etc.....it is economically and militarily unsustainable. Have a look at the piece on this site written in November, 2022, entitled "Fat Man Skinny Man." It's all there.
We do not have unity today and never have had. But the disunity that is deepening and it is impossible to overstate how serious it is, imo. Thanks for listening and commenting.
Vivian, I apologize for accusing you of offering a right wing/ pro-Bibi platform. Yaacov articulately described a government led by police brutality supporting extremists like Ben Gvir and military service refusing Haredi rabbis. I share your view, both of you, that the time has come for Gantz and Eizenkot to pull out and for the Israeli people to have the opportunity to elect new leaders. I can tell you from my perch in the U.S. that the current Israeli government is making it very hard for Biden to continue his support for the war. Only his deep love for Israel is keeping him on board as he bleeds support from Democratic progressives in an election year.
Thanks, Martin. I appreciate this note very much. The reason I directed you to the archives is that pretty much everything I have written since launching certainly reflects my point of view. As do my podcasts. And I felt your characterization was harsh and inaccurate. Hence.....my suggestion that you peruse the archives. They speak for themselves.
I take my work seriously, Martin. And I put a lot of effort into each piece and podcast. You may find Episode 5 of particular interest. Or some of the articles from November, 2022 that I wrote - and made observations long before they became more mainstream. Having said that.....I am delighted to print and feature stuff that is well written and with which I may not agree. And I have done so. I do not want this site to be a silo. But what I'm learning is that most people seem to want affirming siloes these days.
I can also tell you that this period is making life difficult for so many of us. I am focused on what is an existential moment - imo - in Jewish history. And while I understand the importance of the US and support of President Biden to Israel......it is not the only factor in the mix. Wildly important. Yes. But it may be too late to salvage this mess. And that includes domestic issues as well as foreign relations - like with America. (And America, of course, has created its own disaster, which is part of the reason that Biden bleeds support. Had things been managed differently there perhaps the political demographic would be a little saner. Not everything should or can be laid on Israel's stoop.)
Thanks for your comments. I think that we should all be careful before throwing metaphorical grenades and making declarations about what other people think and do. As for STLV, I see that you've been dipping into our offerings with some regularity. In the near future we will be moving to a paywalled model. fyi. Cup of coffee each month.
Vivian, Thank you once again for attempting to dissect the complex issues that Israel faces post-October 7. The Haredi draft issue must be resolved. Yeshiva buchars should be educated in the real world as well as the Talmud. As a diaspora Jew it may be easy and disingenuous for me to make this statement, however Israel stands as a shining light for ALL Jews. I was once a Yeshiva buchar and understand the complexities. I currently live in the secular world. We all must fight for the survival of Israel, the Talmud teaches that we all stand in the defense of the Jewish state. It should be the job of the devout to bring people together and not separate them and cause them so much emotional pain. They are missing the point of their devotion to uphold the Jewish spirit.
Let us not be naive, all strategic decisions governments make especially at times of war are political in nature. If you study history of world conflicts this becomes very obvious. The prevailing ideology will dictate the terms and there will always be a segment that disagrees. Yes, unity is preferred during the war effort and then the people should decide what type of government they choose to move forward with into the post war future.
I feel like all Jews everywhere are being held hostage. I wake up every morning in a cold sweat. The constant drum beat of anti-semitism, we all feel that it is us against the whole world whether we live in Israel or not. I feel Israel and the IDF must prevail, not only for the State of Israel but for the entire Jewish Nation worldwide.
I agree broadly with your comments. Thanks for listening and chiming in here. The bottom line is that this impossible model of allowing the ultra orthodox to opt out of civic participation and inhabit a quite autonomous little universe within the state is just not sustainable. Nevermind plain stupid. This culture of entitlement is unprecedented in Jewish history and we all know that Ben Gurion's "accommodation" to the haredim in 1948 was a political solution so that their leadership would not publicly oppose the creation of the state in May, 1948. He needed to present a unified front to the world. Very soon after he offered to support the few hundred haredim wanting to maintain the shtetl life he realized the error of his ways. There are recorded comments from him in this regard in the 50s. Even in the shtetl, the village genius would study Torah and be supported by the rest. Everyone worked. But it was important to retain Jewish knowledge and custom. Only in Israel has this concept of obsessive immersion, day and night in study, taken hold. It is going to destroy this country if it is not stopped, imo. Aside from all the problems with the separateness, etc.....it is economically and militarily unsustainable. Have a look at the piece on this site written in November, 2022, entitled "Fat Man Skinny Man." It's all there.
We do not have unity today and never have had. But the disunity that is deepening and it is impossible to overstate how serious it is, imo. Thanks for listening and commenting.
Vivian, I apologize for accusing you of offering a right wing/ pro-Bibi platform. Yaacov articulately described a government led by police brutality supporting extremists like Ben Gvir and military service refusing Haredi rabbis. I share your view, both of you, that the time has come for Gantz and Eizenkot to pull out and for the Israeli people to have the opportunity to elect new leaders. I can tell you from my perch in the U.S. that the current Israeli government is making it very hard for Biden to continue his support for the war. Only his deep love for Israel is keeping him on board as he bleeds support from Democratic progressives in an election year.
Thanks, Martin. I appreciate this note very much. The reason I directed you to the archives is that pretty much everything I have written since launching certainly reflects my point of view. As do my podcasts. And I felt your characterization was harsh and inaccurate. Hence.....my suggestion that you peruse the archives. They speak for themselves.
I take my work seriously, Martin. And I put a lot of effort into each piece and podcast. You may find Episode 5 of particular interest. Or some of the articles from November, 2022 that I wrote - and made observations long before they became more mainstream. Having said that.....I am delighted to print and feature stuff that is well written and with which I may not agree. And I have done so. I do not want this site to be a silo. But what I'm learning is that most people seem to want affirming siloes these days.
I can also tell you that this period is making life difficult for so many of us. I am focused on what is an existential moment - imo - in Jewish history. And while I understand the importance of the US and support of President Biden to Israel......it is not the only factor in the mix. Wildly important. Yes. But it may be too late to salvage this mess. And that includes domestic issues as well as foreign relations - like with America. (And America, of course, has created its own disaster, which is part of the reason that Biden bleeds support. Had things been managed differently there perhaps the political demographic would be a little saner. Not everything should or can be laid on Israel's stoop.)
Thanks for your comments. I think that we should all be careful before throwing metaphorical grenades and making declarations about what other people think and do. As for STLV, I see that you've been dipping into our offerings with some regularity. In the near future we will be moving to a paywalled model. fyi. Cup of coffee each month.