It was hard not to be enraged by this NPR story about ultra-orthodox Jews attacking neighbors in the Jerusalem suburbs for not dressed moderately enough and keeping Kosher.
The Harediim, as they're known in Jerusalem, follow a very strict code, including conservative rules governing the dress of both women and men. Until recently, most of them had lived in their insular Jerusalem neighborhood known as Mea Shariim, where they were known to be testy towards tourists but mostly kept to themselves. Yet recently, because of escalating costs of living, they've had to move to the more integrated suburbs, where there are Jews of many stripes, and the dudes with the curly sideburns have been bugging out, even resorting to throwing rocks at women whom they deem as dressing too provocatively.
Many of the Harediim in the story were quick to blame inappropriately dressed women for distracting them from their concentrated reverence of God, the Torah, etc.
Apparently, they're too busy basking in their moral superiority to ever question what God might think of them pelting innocent women with rocks, but, hey, it's not like your daily greeting in Hebrew translates literally to peace or anything. Oh wait. . .
This is a strange phenomenon I see not only with ultra-orthodox Jews but several people of various faiths who are extremely religious. It seems they become so entranced with their own spiritual piety they forget not to treat their peers and neighbors like total shit.
Don't get my wrong, I think there's a lot of great stuff to be found in organized religion. Jesus, admittedly, was one cool cat who hung out with and befriended lepers, prostitutes and other untouchables. He was the biblical equivalent of a high school football captain spending his lunch periods and Friday nights chilling with all the geeks in the physics club. (Though I don't think even Jesus would hang with those Model U.N. dorks.)
I just don't get why so many people have to turn religion around to get satisfaction from it. Instead of it being about caring for one another and doing right, it becomes about subjugation. It becomes about bending others to your will. And that, I think, is wrong and a crime against liberty and personal freedom. It's certainly not what Jesus would do.
It's also why I, regrettably, think the world would be better off without organized religion. It's unfortunate the Harediim do such an excellent job of convincing me I'm right.
That said, TheWilhelmScream believes in nothing if not balance, and it would be hard to disparage the Harediim without mentioning the lovely film, Ushpizin, which lays bare the beauty and fellowship behind their faith for all to see.
The film follows Moshe and Mali Bellange, a childless and penurious couple of Hasidic Jews, living in the Breslove community in Jerusalem. At the center of the movie is Moshe and Mali's struggle to properly celebrate the Jewish holiday of Sukkot. Though they receive an unexpected gift that helps them buy a particularly beautiful citron, which is required for the observance of the holiday, their lives are thrown into turmoil with the arrival of two escaped cons. One of the cons knows Moshe from his previous life, and he feels obligated to extend his hospitality to the two men who don't understand (or really respect) their ways.
What ensues is a lovely and humorous meditation on how staying faithful to your ideals often requires hardship and sacrifice. It shouldn't be missed. In fact, I think the rabbis should make it required viewing for those rock-hurling Harediim.
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