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Ethiopian Jews slam Sheetrit's proposal as 'racist'
Meital Zur
Published: 31.10.07, 18:12
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20 Talkbacks for this article
1. These tactics are not new to Israel
LEE ,   NY, USA   (10.31.07)
If you are not white, secualr and Ashkenazic, then you don't serve the agenda of the left and therefore the leftist politicians do whatever they can to limit your immigration. Their only concern is their political agenda. A true shame.
2. The minister wants educated immigrants..I guess he wouldnt
Al   (10.31.07)
qualify...What a boob!
3. Aren't Jews a separate race?
Deepan ,   U.K   (10.31.07)
I always thought Jewish people regarded themselves as a separate race, so how can they racially discriminate against their own?
4. #1: But sheetrit is morrocan not 'ashkenazi'
abdullah ,   ashkenazi   (10.31.07)
.. so he would been called 'black' (or 'schwartse') once upon a time. So I'll be surprised if his position is racilally motivated!! Furthermore, one (possible) advantage of his proposal for zionism is that it may help keep out anti-zionist jews:-). Of course the plan may also be used to keep out more extreme religios zionists!! Jewish thought on sionuth is not as homogeneous as it once was and protecting the medinah sionith form internal strife requires more controls today than say back in the days when sheetrit immigrated. Furthermore, he is talking about caring more for jews who are already in the country. All perfectly reasonable. It might, even provide a reasonable means of dealing with the return of descendants of palistinian refugees to the country where theri ancestors lived.
5. Ask Rabbanim before !
YOEL   (10.31.07)
I think this kind of position from this minister is against people like me. Israel will become like any civilized country in the world limiting its immigration. Then what's the point calling it a Jewish State? This kind of project is a nonsense. I can understand he has to check ID papers with more care, in order to avoid entering of NeoNazis, but non-hostile people should NEVER feel they are problematic. We have to be as diverse as in Judaism, from secular to Orthodox; and from white to black people. I personnally read Parashat Bar Mitzva in Beer Sheva, in an Ethiopian Shul, and I remember everybody welcomed me even if I was white and sepharadic reader... I didn't feel as a stranger in their place, and I think they shouldn't feel strangers in Israel. They are part of us. Remember what the Menorah symbol means! Rabbanim would never allow it.
6. Hey, wasn't he the "Educational" Minister once?
(10.31.07)
When I read about him, I automatically am reminded of this episode: Not long ago, Meir Sheetrit visited a Yeshiva and asked the boys what they were learning? "Baba Batra" they said. He asked them, "Who was Baba Batra?" One of the Yeshiva boys immediately realized what a "talmid chacham" this minister is and told him, "Baba Sali's grandson." Sheetrit was pleased with the answer.
7. #1 Lee - You've got it right! It's a leftist agenda.
Howard K ,   NYC   (10.31.07)
8. BRING THEM ALL BACK
Josh   (10.31.07)
9. It seems that anyone who proposes
Sagi ,   Israel   (10.31.07)
a new law or regulation is instantly accused of being racist. I believe this to be a manifestation of an illness in our society. I have no name for this illness and I believe that it is unique to Israel. All nations have one large ethnic group which forms the majority and a number of smalller groups who live in their midst. Israel has a system which has developed over the years, I stress developed as it is in no way the product of policy. We have not only different groups but each group has its own towns and villages and communities and not just neighborhoods. We have "Jewish" only towns, we have "Arab Muslim" only towns, we have "Arab Christian" only towns, "Druze" only towns, "Cherkess" only towns,"Bedouin" only towns. We have "Haredi" only towns. If we continue down this road we shall have "Sepharadi" only and "Ashkenazi" only and it will soon follow "Black" only and "White" only. I see this as an illness which has to be corrected. We already have communities that are permitted by law to select and veto anyone who wishes to purchase a home and live among them. America was the great melting pot, Israel is the great divider.
10. #3 That is an old question
Chaya ,   Bat Yam, Israel   (10.31.07)
We are certainly not a race because we come in all different colors. The best word to describe us would be a 'people' - that is, we are descended from the lineage of the Twelve Tribes. Of course, we have converts who join us but converting is like becoming a member of a new family.
11. All this immigration from the 3rd-World to..................
Cameron ,   USA   (10.31.07)
1st -World states has not exactly been a winning proposition for anyone. Hell, ask the French or Dutch what they think on the whole process.
12. Keep Israel Open
Yakov ,   USA   (11.01.07)
I'm with JAFI on this one. The gates must remain open to ANY Jew who needs it. All these new proposals for a language exam, a citizenship oath-are utterly unnecessary. Neither is the waiting period necessary. Keep the gates open because we're talking about Israel. Not a former CIS country.
13. To Nª 6. You are rigth.
ME ,   NYA   (11.01.07)
Another condition to be accepted as Israeli citizen is to approve jewish history and religion
14. Political motivations
Susan ,   Kfar Saba   (11.01.07)
Don't you see where he is going with this? If the Benei Menashe convert and come here there will be thousands more orthodox Jews who will vote for right wing and religious parties. He and his buddies will be out. There is method to his madness.
15. does sheetrit look like a "black" jew to you?
kobi ,   sydney, australia   (11.01.07)
no he is not, and i wish people would stop believing that "sephardi" necessarily = "black"/nonwhite ethiopians are black, moroccans are closer to "white" than black. of course, everyone loves to blame the ashkenazis for everything as thought they have had the easiest time because of their "race". שתויות!!!
16. #9 Separate towns - twelve tribes
Josh   (11.01.07)
The idea of mixing everyone together seems nice but lets face it. Although the US claims to be a great melting pot, their are neighborhoods that are almost exclusively homogenous. All black, all white, all chinese, all korean, etc. Worse in some neighborhoods you risk your life when you enter into the wrong neighborhood. Even completely stopping at the stop light when its red is discouraged by the police if your in the "wrong" neighborhood. Of course you probably have never ventured outside of the boudaries of your neighborhood, to see these areas. You know its too unsafe. What should be noted is what is special about Israel, is that the Torah calls for each tribe to be given a spearate area of Israel. This is G-ds plan. The claim that only the tribe of Judah exist, is false. Prophecy claims that the staff of Judah shall be over all, but that when the land is resettled for the final time, all twelve trobes are accounted for. This means people that are not considered "Judah" but are Israel are part of the ingathering. (Moses prophecy) As Jews, and those who are Am Israel are gathered back, expect their will be tribal like groups.
17. HEBREW SPEAKER RESETTLEMENT!?
Josh   (11.01.07)
This is reminding me of something very nasty. A family seeking to return, would be forced to leave behind those of the family that could not pass the test. Mentally ill? Secular? Eldrely? and even those who are slow learner? Or maybe you would just kidnap their babies, as this happened to many Ethiopian families by so called good deed doers a number of years ago. What type of supremist BS is this. Next they will start resettlement camps for those who cant speak Hebrew. "speak and you shall be free" Moses also warned about mistreating converts. Are you going to shut the door on converts because they are not fluent in Hebrew? Sheetrit, at least the first part of your name is correct. Not only shoud they not do this, they should force Sheetrit out of any political office for such supremist type thinking.
18. but I though ALL the falashas came over already?
jack bauer ,   just wondering   (11.01.07)
economic migrants shouldnt be allowed to come under the right of return.....and it shouldnt matter where they hail from......russia, ethiopia,or any other for that matter. If they want to come for access to a better job, fair enough, grant a work permit or something but the right of return should be for those Israelites spread over the diaspora only
19. Shitreet
Lou ,   Israel   (11.01.07)
I can't understand why everybody is against the new law that Shitreet want's to pass. After all it may be the best law yet in Israel. Anyway, why have we go so many Filipinos living here? There are to many non-Jews living in Israel, who have come in illegally.
20. Is white a color???????????????
AsWhite AsSnowWhite ,   Cyber Space   (11.22.07)
Let them in immediately.Every group that came to Israel had some problems in the beginning,and some still do. It's the end product that matters. Besides they are very good looking. And as we all know LOOKS IS EVERYTHING.
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