I’m ashamed. As a proud son of the Religious-Zionist camp I’m ashamed of what is taking place in a handful of religious schools in Petah Tikva.
I’m ashamed precisely because we take pride in the fruit of Religious-Zionist education and in the graduates who integrate into the army and other walks of life. We are proud of the morals we impart to our children and of educating them to sacrifice and love the land, the Torah, and the people of Israel.
I’m ashamed because those who make pretenses of educating children to love the people of Israel cannot adopt discriminatory policies, regardless of how logical the reasoning may be (there may be different reasons for the conduct of principals, yet this should have been resolved a long time ago, and most certainly not by keeping members of the Ethiopian community out.)
I’m ashamed on behalf of the parents at the schools who are not protesting and making it clear to the principals that such acts contradict the values they want their children to learn.
As a child, I once traveled on a bus. I took my seat while other children were sitting around me. The bus filled up, and then an older lady stood next to me and, with a sense of disgust, said something that was etched into me like a burn: “He’s religious yet he doesn’t give up his seat for the sake of an older woman.” I got up with horror and let her sit, but I didn’t understand: Why was this woman only angry at me?
In retrospect, today I’m proud of what she did and for putting me in my place. I discovered that when I wear a kippah I am no longer merely an individual but also a representative, and that I’m expected to behave differently.
Desecrating God’s name
A person who wears a kippah does not make do with adhering to the mitzvahs; he declares openly that he is committed to adhering to them. He lets everyone know that he chose to be religious and adhere to all the mitzvahs, including the ones regulating our behavior towards others, such as the rules of conduct on the street and at work, the mitzvah of loving foreigners, orphans, and widows, and the mitzvah to grant special treatment to the weak members of society, and particularly to those who look different and wish to integrate among us.
Beyond all this, a religious person supposedly represents the Creator, and when such person misbehaves he openly desecrates God’s name.
Haredi media outlets are upset that “secular” media outlets emphasize the fact that the so-called “starving mother” is ultra-Orthodox, and that every anomaly in the haredi community sees the same emphasis, while not noting that a “leftist secular murdered his daughter.” Yet I believe this is proper. Those who present themselves outwardly as religious or haredi inform the whole world that they must not steal or lie not only in line with the State of Israel’s laws, but also in line with the fear of God they are committed to – after all, this is what they declare to all with their appearance.
The same is true for the religious schools in Petah Tikva. By defining themselves as religious they are obligated first and foremost to uphold the values they educate and preach for. When they reject some members of the people of Israel and are unwilling to accept them, regardless of the reasons for this, in no way can they justify the desecration of God prompted by this act.