I have a life and that's why I don't believe in false gods. Secular Humanism is the only rational belief system there is. It's time for the world to shake off the fairy stories of children and face the reality that there is no "big fairy" in the sky to whom one must pay homage.

I honor all the Israeli war dead, but not by speaking words written by misguided men whose sole purpose in life is to manipulate and dictate to others. I have no objection to anyone wishing to pray to some perceived god, but they should not force their views down my throat, nor should they be subsidized by taxpayer money for the privilege of doing so. All religions are power-mad, that's the one thing they share. The world will continue to have strife and war until we grow up and cast aside these childish fantasies.

If the secular leave Israel, this country would be overridden by the Arab masses in a week. Never forget that the real strength of Israel is in its secular majority. Saturday is just another day of the week, It's time for public bus service to run on Saturday, and it's time for stores (that choose to do so) to be open on Saturday. Acknowledging that Saturday is just another day will finally allow Israel to be a true democracy, instead of the theocracy it currently is.

...and that is why they are open on pessach and sukkot?

Why is this so important to Israelis that everyone should celebrate with them on Independance Day? I don't care of Israeli Independance Day, as I don't care of my country of origin Independance Day ! I hate flags and patriotism... Whoever recognizes himself in it and wants to celebrate, fine ! Do it ! But you can't expect others to be like this ! Nothing is black or white ! It is not because you don't celebrate Yom Hatzma'ut that you are therefore a terrorist or a traitor (in the best case)

It's only an extertior way of thinking at those , mostly seculars in the independaqnce war , brave Israeli citizens who gave their life for our country . I have'nt to say kadish , even not for a parent , to think at them .

if not antireligious , who gave their life for our coiuntry in 1948 . So get out of our country if you don't like us . Holy shabbat ? don't maske me laugh . It's a rest day , nothing more for SANE Israeli Jews .

You misunderstood: It's an act of defiance against the State's existence. You won't force the haredim to recognise the State, certainly not by forcing them to not attend school; you will only achieve the reverse. Biggest joke is though that Regev (which actually translates as 'clod' - see Job 38:38) the director of 'Freedom of Religion' actually proposes demanding that the haredim not be permitted to exercise their freedom of religion.

you are criticizing Haredim! they don't want to go to parks to make BBQ like any other Israelis! that's their right. Why aren't you shocked to see arabs Israelis go to Cairo to celebrate the fatah/hamas union on our bill? why aren't you shocked to see secular Israelis demonstrate with palestinians every Friday against a wall that, more or less, protect us from terrorists attacks? Why always the Haredim? If you admit the rights of these you have to do the same for those! I hope that my English is good enough for you to understand what I mean. But please stop to divide our people, we need to be united not divided but you keep coming here with articles against Haredim, there is no day without an article against them, if you hate them, then leave the country and go to live with the arabs your friends, your family, your people!!! Fed up of those articles!

Im a religious jew and i dont agree with the people defending the haredim here, nor with the people labeling religion as hocus-pocus. In my opinion (and thats all it is: my opinion, because im not all-knowing and just because i believe something, doesnt mean its the one and only truth) all this extremism from both sides does nothing but destroy interpersonal relations. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but should at the same time accept and respect people who have different beliefs.And if you even profit from someone (the haredim from the goverment, not only by getting money but also by simply getting the oportunity to live here for which u need a goverment) then they shld respect (to the least) what the country institutes (as long as its not opposing their religion (which yom haatzmaut isnt)). So everyone get off your high horses and start worrying about our real enemies.

I don't get it. What exactly should the Charedim be doing on Independence Day and what makes a BBQ the ultimate way of celebrating such a festive occasion! Unfortuntely, this article is all about Charedi bashing and has caused further friction between 'them' and 'us'. How can a level headed Jew, as your kind self, state, that learning Torah is a waste of time? What then, tell me is considered not a waste of time in your secular eyes? Please consider retracting those words... Shabbat Shalom to all.

Maybe it isn't important for you, but by what right to you speak for the war dead? If there was even one hero out of the 22867 who gave his life so you and I could be free, would that be unimportant? Maybe you should go to a combat unit and ask the soldiers how they want to be honored: you saying kadish or you taking a day off work to eat some burnt meat? I'll bet it will be 50:50.

Many people seem to have branched off into a major rant about the Chardeim. This article discusses the narrow issue of celebrating Independence Day. I do not believe that this it is necessary to take a whole day off to celebrate in order to be called a loyal citizen. In fact it is truly ludicrous to make such a suggestion. Yes there are a very small number of Charedim who are anto the state but that is truly a very small number. The rest are good upstanding citizens who choose to live a life which they believe is correct. Would I want to live like that? no. Yet I certainly respect those who do. True if you are secular and dont believe in Orthodox Judiasm then you will fail to understand this. Yet just like many secular Israelis would respect a Christain/Buddhist for his beliefs why should a Charedi not be entitled to an equal level of respect. If you believe that more should work then fine, we live in a democratic country and that is your perogative. Yet currently the democratic majority disagree with you. Its no wonder that so many people living in the Diaspora are happy to remain there. The only way to be strong is to be united!

Or did'nt understant it . Saying this "prayer" is only an exterior way of thinking at them or commemorating them . It's not because you say kadish that you give them the respect they deserve , it's by remembering them in your heart .

There are self hating secular Jews, both Israeli and non Israeli who don't identify with their brethren thus not recognizing the State of Israel. In fact, a lot of these anti semitic/Israeli organizations are unfortunately run by Jews. I don't like the Haredim's attitude towards Israeli national holidays.We knew for a long time that they don't acknowledge Yom Ha'atzmaut as a day of celebration. Why is that news? Why are you all taking this personally? Its only a national holiday; not a real holy Chag where we all are obligated to celebrate and observe. At least they are not traitors to the State of Israel unlike your left wing cohorts who would like to see more land given back to the PA. Yes I agree it hypocritical of the Haredim to be accepting handouts from the very same government they disapprove of. But why does it make someone a bad person just because he decides not to party but rather go on his daily routine on Yom Ha'atzmaut? I went to a haredi school in the USA and I still had classes on American national holidays.A lot of so called Israeli Arabs don't celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut either. Yet the Haredim are subjected to your harsh and vile criticisms.What do expect the Haredim to do on Yom Ha'aztmaut? Party, get drunk, and fornicate? Maybe they are better off learning immersing in their Torah studies instead. The baseless hatred and attacks doesn't help matters either. It divides us and pushes us even further away rather than unifying us.

i hope you publish this but ynet what was the point of inciting more hatred in Israel! why dont you put an article out with the big headline SECULAR JEWS PLAN ON EATING CHAMETZ ON PESACH!! there was no point for this article! think before making news - if there is no news than thats good news

principle announce over the loudspeaker system for the students not to stand when the siren was sounded for both Holocaust Memorial Day and the Heroes and Martyr's Day. They did not fly the Israeli flag, but had their ha-bad rag flying. On two occasions, the students called female soldiers "sharmootot" when they came to clean up the street in front of the school. These are evil creatures and should be removed from our Zionist land. They should be sent off to whatever country wants them, if one exists. These blood suckers will destroy just like the brothers in arms, ham-ass.

The households where Torah study is very important means these kids probably won't be moaning to much about the fact they don't get a day of school its the seculars that are condemning it. Their customs are different and they prefer to study Torah rather than BBQ in the park. They have some eccentric traditions and sometimes can be controversial but don't try and compare their lifestyle to the secular one and say they are doing wrong for not adopting secular customs. Going to school and studying Torah rather than going to the park for a BBQ is not a symbol of being anti Israel it just means they have other priorities ( Torah study ) and seculars have no right to judge them for it. Give these guys a break for once and stop looking for excuses to hate them.

In the vein of this ridiculous article, a law should be passed forcing every Israeli citizen to nothing all day but concentrate on the dead. Partying, beaches, everything else should be prohibited by law, and infringers treated as traitors. Why, all that hard-earned government money poured down the drain to fund commemorative events and people spend their time relaxing? It's disgusting.

In this case as long as they aren't speaking out against Israel, it doesn't bother me. If they want to go to school and study, so what? It's more spaces in the parks available for the rest of us to have our BBQs.

Why can't we celebrate the way we want. My local yeshiva says tehillim and prays for the country and soldiers, while the town sponsors entertainment that has very little Israeli/Jewish content. Hag sameach to all.

While Orthodox Jews lived in Israel for hundreds of years, Secular Jews arrived in Israel in 1948. Israel belongs to Jews who are not ashamed of being Jewish. If you don't want to follow Jewish law go back to your godfather's country of dream, namely Uganda and take your secular friends with you.

All well and good but that would leave no one in the country working in order to raise the taxes needed to pay your income support , housing benefits etc Also when mr Mohammed comes a calling it will take more then throwing a siddur at him Get a job Join the army Get a life

Why would I retract the truth? Studying Torah is ridiculous. It is completely illegitimate (as is anything having to do with any religion). As Salman Rushdie said, “The moment you declare a set of ideas to be immune from criticism, satire, derision, or contempt, freedom of thought becomes impossible.” Religionists cannot stand any criticism of their beliefs, primarily because they know, deep down, that religion is a sham. Study art, music, science ---ANYTHING but religion! Open your mind to reality. Then you won't say something so inane as "Please consider retracting those words." As to Yom HaAtzmaut, the haredim should take off their ridiculous clothes and go mingle with some normal people. Having a barbecue isn't a requirement, but that's certainly a lot more productive than studying ancient propaganda.

Of couse chametz should be eaten during Pesach! It can -- and should -- be freely eaten anytime. The Jewish fairy tales told at Pesach (and throughout the year) are no more real than the Christian story of Jesus' birth or the Muslim fantasies that Mohammad ever visited Jerusalem. Stores in Israel should not bow to the misguided nonsense of the religion in the 21st Century. Let's adopt Santa Claus as a myth for the world. He's certainly not a Christian symbol, and his message is a helluva lot more sane than any religious messages out there.

Who is protesting against the wall? Certainly none of my friends (secular or religious -- and, yes, I have a lot of religious friends) would ever do that! The reason there are so many articles critical of the haredim is that their lifestyle demands criticism. I have no objection to people wanting to waste time studying fairy tales, but I have a HUGE objection when my tax money goes to support their foolishness. Let them work 50 to 60 hours a week, as I do, and study Torah in their free time.

That's a far more reasonable question. It's Friday night, the busiest night of the week in the real world. What a pity that the foolishness of the religion dictates that there is no bus service (for those who don't have cars) and that so much of the country must be shut down (on the one day of the week when most people are free to go out and do things). No, I'm wrong. Pity isn't the right word. It's a CRIME that the religion forces everyone to follow foolish ultra-orthodox edicts.

The religion is false. All religions are false. Grow up. Face reality. There is no such thing as a "holy chag" where people are "obligated to celebrate." That's more myth from the religious dictators in black. Secular Humanism -- the only truth; the only reality