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Mr. Ala's avatar

Yet another silly attempt at evenhanded universalism, which is what got us here in the first place.

It is not religious fanaticism in the abstract that presents a danger. Nobody is at hazard from fanatical mobs of Buddhists, nor missiles launched by devout Lutherans, nor universities undermined by Confucian activists (not to be confused with the Confucius Centers sponsored by the Chinese Communist Party, which has no truck with religion).

It is specifically and only Islam—and arguably not Islamic fanaticism but normative Islam—which presents the danger, first of course to Israel and Jews but also to everyone else. What danger? This danger: submit or die.

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Alan, aka DudeInMinnetonka's avatar

The Islamists are massacring the Yazidis...

The Islamists are massacring the Christians...

The Islamists are massacring the Kurds...

The Islamists are massacring the Jews...

The Islamists are massacring the Alawaites...

The Islamists are massacring the Druze...

The Islamists are massacring the Hindus...

And not just today. They've been doing it for centuries. But sure... tell me again that it's all because of the "Zionists". Because we "control the world" and Islam is the “religion of peace"

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Harold Landa's avatar

Great article. Much thanks.

Nevertheless, I have family and friends serving in צה״ל with no backup- some over 200 days away from work and family ….and in harm’s way.

Everyone must serve, as being a תלמיד חכם and a good soldier is never mutually exclusive.

If it’s an issue of not ‘mixing with ‘deplorables’ (the current position of gdoilim) then shame on them and their educational process. Consider deportation. People are dying and they are not even going to the funerals or shiva (please do not send exceptions, we are all aware and supportive).

This issue of not mixing has lad directly to fanatical statements by gdoilim and abject silence to this by their cadres.

We have lost scores of תלמידי חכמים unnecessarily. חבל על דאבדין.

יהי זכרם ברוך

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Neil Harris's avatar

Very well said.

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Neil Harris's avatar

“Picture the word “FRUM” in your mind. You’re the U, looking forward. Everything to your right is Fanatically Religious, and everything to your left is too Modern. That’s what it means to be frum.”

What a quote and thanks for this review

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Alan, aka DudeInMinnetonka's avatar

I screenshotted that gem of a statement and shared with those who are f r u m

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Michael Carasik's avatar

I contacted "Jewish Action" with a strong objection to R. Hauer's point #3, rejecting cooperation with "those who do not see and champion the goodness that permeates Israel." There IS a lot of good here, but R. Hauer's list seems to rule out any reference to the bad things that also, to my regret, permeate Israeli society. One example standing for many, the recent bookstore raid. Refusal to see that aspect of things is going to steer us wrong and leave us in greater danger.

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Stefan's avatar

You spoke of Neturei Karta. What about the other side? Is removing enemies of the Jewish state from the Land of Israel fanatical? Will is succeed? Should it be aspired to? Would Herzl himself be considered a fanatic for attempting to build a Jewish state? Would ben gurion be considered one for declaring a state that might have been destroyed and endangering Jews worldwide?

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Alan, aka DudeInMinnetonka's avatar

Will the Arabs stop is the elemental question that the Jews considered. Blathering blow hards will bloviate and advise compromise and territorial gifts that are undeserved forever more the more they can decrease Israel the more they increase the legitimacy of their false gods whether Islamic or jezeusian

The Islamists are massacring the Yazidis...

The Islamists are massacring the Christians...

The Islamists are massacring the Kurds...

The Islamists are massacring the Jews...

The Islamists are massacring the Alawaites...

The Islamists are massacring the Druze...

The Islamists are massacring the Hindus...

And not just today. They've been doing it for centuries. But sure... tell me again that it's all because of the "Zionists". Because we "control the world" and Islam is the “religion of peace"

Expand full comment