waiting for u

ashkenazis import in israel the european prejudice that white is better. As a sepharadi I arrived in Israel loving all my jewish brothers, but I quickly realized most ahkenazis have a racist prejudice towards those they perceive as "blacks". They systematicaly keep sepharadis away from high rank social positions. Being of a fair complexion I have been warned many times against those "black "israelis. The ashkenazi mentality is the reason I finally left Israel. I don't need my evil brothers racist crap.

Hey your cute, come visit me.

Whoever claims that there is no racism in Israel is simply in denial. Not only that many Ashkenazis look down on Sephardim, but even within the religious Ashkenazi community there are strict rules on who can marry who and different levels of being religious. I have a guy in my study program who is in my opinion very religious, but I have heard from him that he cannot date or marry many of the women from the more orthodox community since he "did not spend enough time in the yeshiva" and is not considered "as religious" made worse by the fact that he recently came here from the US (although he lived here for a long time previously and speaks Hebrew). It was from him that I have learned that the fact that he is studying medicine actually makes him less desirable because that somehow shows that he has less of a religious focus in his life. Here in Israel you can be a "stinking Russian" a "dirty Moroccan" or anything else in between. Everyone thinks that they are better than everyone else. And that's not even talking about the "forbidden" marriages between a Jew and a non-Jew. Goy is said with such disgust, which makes me wonder how is that any better than being called a "jid". I agree with one of the above posts that how can people that had such a tragedy happen to them because of someone's belief in their superiority now continue that same idea although under a different banner. I know that I will hear from many people accusations of me being a secular destroyer of the Jewish moral fabric, a leftie liberalist, a goy or whatever hateful rhetoric that is usually spewed on the pages of Ynet. However, the truth remains - the idea of conserving Jewish identity has over time mutated into a fervent xenophobia. We spend too much time clinging on to minute, irrelevant details and we forget what it really means to be Jewish. It's not about what kind of hat you wear, or where you come from or what you eat and how do you eat it. It's about being a good person to others and enriching the lives of those that we come in contact with. It's about being a moral guide for the world and about setting a personal example of perserverence and patience in the face of difficulties.

Shame on you fellow Ashenazim that put down sphardim & Yemenite Jews! They have lived through hardships, for being Jews, in their countries of origin you could never dream of. They also stayed alot closer to the Homeland than any of us. Shame on you all for looking down on them!

A Song of Ascents, by David. Behold, how good and how pleasant is the dwelling of brothers, moreover, in Unity. Like the good oil upon the head, running down upon the beard, the beard of Aharon, running down over his vestments. Like the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion, for there Ha"Shem has commanded the Blessing. May there be Life forever!

Hi this is a shocking article, that some Jews can behave like this is a total disgrace. I'm sure most Jewish people don't think like this. good luck Eli

ashkenazim have got a superiority complex !! they simply think that they are more intelligent that they are more beautiful because they ve got white skin or clear eyes !! for me they are ridiculous !! everything in this country has been done to push the sephardim aside from the moment that they came in israel !! the ethiopians live in ghettos , the sephardim are the slaves of the white ashkenaze establishment ; it's time for a big revolution here

Racism is very much in back in Vogue in the USA. Just this past week while attending a routine military planning meeting (like the ones I have attended for 20+ years) a very prominent officer, decision maker and authority in the US military told us in the audience of decision makers that what happened in Iraq under the rule of Saddam Hussein was the exactly like the "holocaust" and the US again is tasked to liberate the weak and oppressed. I hate to inconvenience an awesome theory with an unfortunate fact; Former President Jimmy Carter's book Palestine "Peace not Apartheid" slipped and lifted the veil of American revulsion of anything semitic. There is a definite consensus here amongst the authorities that Palestine must come to fruition and their reality that Jews murdered "Christ" must not be diminished or ignored. I am deeply and profoundly sorry for this statement, it is with great sorrow and regret that I have witnessed this nation transform from a country of inclusion into a country of fear, bigotry and exclusion. Currently this administration of the most conservative and traditional Christians have ruled the institutions of Government and commerce and oversaw a great projection of military power and influence and the State of Israel remains and the US President has even maintained a large degree of appreciation and support there. I would ask all to consider the results of Semitic peoples being cast as the quintessential source of all villainy and treachery in the world particularly by the last and final Global Superpower. Antisemitism is currently not only acceptable it can actually result in prosperity and advancement. Ask yourselves is the focus of this intolerance just Arab Semites? Or could the focus extend to Jewish Semites? Consider and postulate and remember that although words of support are nice and encouraging actions speak louder and political resistance and opposition is not betrayal. Keep in mind that in no way choosing another candidate or another party will result in the other candidates financial destitution (in fact a person can earn much more in the private sector). Please just consider and remember that even though we are away from the "center" we still exist believe in, and revere Israel and "hope" to return; we realize that our problems aren't necessarily yours but we want the same thing that you want and that much much is certain; because it is written.

Its a little different in the States...the overwhelming majority of jews are of ashkenazi descent and all jews are grouped into that pool, assumed to know random yiddish phrases and ashkenzai food. People seem intrigued by Sephardi/Mizrahi Jews here...whenever someone finds out I'm Jewish they never believe me, apparently shocked by the fact that we come in all shapes and sizes.

I have seen this Racism in Melbourn itself. I saw one case of marriage, several matter comcerning conversions. and the Beth Din are full of racist rabbis until a crisis struck the Beth Din of Melbourne itself. The Validity of the Beth Din of Melbourne itself concerning its jurisdiction is a Big ????? i heard they have been sleeping on the application sent to them for various matters! To Bad we are Racist ! Enough all that denials !

It is fair that I served 3 years in the army - yet you did not???

What is the purpose or merit of a "Haredi" writing criticisms of that sector of society for the enjoyment of the secular public? Fanning flames of hatred and disunity? Does this author write such articles for "Haredi" newspapers- presumably, she would want those in error to see and correct their ways. Instead, she offers more reasons for hate. And she is not the only Ynet columnist who does this. Why don't writers criticisizing certain populations write for those populations. Does Ynet have columnists who criticize and chastize your readership population, which is presumably "secular?" Or is there no reason to do that?

Anyone who has spent more than 5 minutes talking to a Haredi knows too well what an ignorant small minded society the Haredi society is. There is nothing new presented in this article. However to somehow thing these ridiculous views have anything in common with Israel as a nation as a whole is offensive. In mainstream society the Sephardi/Ashkenazi thing is pasee and of no interest to anyone. This author should look into trying to improve her Haredi society's views and image and not try to someway think that it's ignorance and prejeudices have anything todo with mainstream secular Judaism. Us mainstream Israelis are secure in our Judaism and our ethnic religious identitiy unlike this author and her Haredi society.

I am a plain ashkenazi with the wrong genes because I fail to understand this invisible line between two parts of ourselves. My heart is physically bleeding about this and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one with this sensitivity. ARE WE PUSHING HASHEM OUT WITH OUR OWN HANDS? HOPE NOT

I live in Tel-Aviv and my family sent 3 men to the recent war. Thank God, they all returned home. What about your contribution to the recent war? Just curious.

They might think they're too good to marry sphardim, but that's why they need to have six hundred genetic tests before they have babies... You can't argue with science and I'm quite happy to be on this side of the gene pool with my GORGEOUS OLIVE SKIN AND BLACK HAIR!! HAHAHAHAHAAAAA

I'm on the whiter side of the spectrum being of Ashkenazi descent but really I prefer the tanned over the pasty whites really, that could also be called racism :) I'd happily mix my genes with a darker isreali beauty

Hope racism doesn't stem to this kind of violence ever.Do people need to belittle other people to make themselves feel superior? What a shallow world.

The story is sad but I would like to remind Tali Farkash that we have heard many tales of Sephardim which are not very pleasant regarding the Ashkenazi Jews and the Holocaust. What is of more concern is the attitude of some to our Ethiopian brethren! However, we are fair to all. We insult Ashkenazim, Sephardim, Yemenites, Romanians, Russians, Yekes (German Jews) and don't forget the Moroccans! In fact we insult and malign everybody but the one thing we never do is call any one a "bloody Jew" or worse! That is what our friends in the Diaspora should remember. Israel is the only place where a Jew can hold his head high and not be a token Jew in the Country Club and the "right places". In any case, for all arguments we have an answer. A Committee meeting will be held and a few more insults will be traded. We yell and scream but at the end we lift a glass and say "Lehaim" To Life! That is our way, the Jewish way.

As an Ashkenazi (non-Hasidic) married to a Yemenite, with "suntanned" kids, I am qualified to comment on this article. The problem exists throughout Israeli society at all levels. Since when did the secular public in Israel accept the sephardic Jews, the Ethiopians, and the Yemenites. It was not the Hasidic Jews who stole Yemenite babies in the early 50's. And who is it exactly who calls the orthodox "parasitim" (parasites)? Who is it exactly who has relegated frum Jews into the status of second-class citizens because of their unbridled hatred of the haredim? The problem Tali mentioned certainly does exist, but the fact that she managed to turn this into a complaint against the hareidim (quote = "The strictly-Orthodox who possess this racist outlook" etc) suggests very strongly that the "Racist among us" is SHE.

It is so true and so shocking what you said in your article. As a French non-jew resident, I am always shocked by these kind of situations that Israeli politicians would qualify as antisemitism or racism if they would take place in France. Let's just keep in mind that racism is a global disease that still affects most of the so-called "civilized world". Do people learn from history? Well, it's hard to say. But it is very frightening when civilization that have been victim of tragedies like the holocaust forget as well. And it is even more scary when it comes out of a religious mouth and makes you wonder about what religion teaches to people. Thanks for your article Laurent

Moses and King David are descended from Jews ejected from Spain? Interesting thought. Have you ever considered going to school?

i agree with Tali 100% I grew up Haredi, (no longer) and I know that along with the insularity of that world comes xenophobia and racism. From the non-orthodox not being Jewish in their eyes to their outright racism against non-whites.

145> YOUR INGNORANCE? TRY THINKING AND UNDERSTANDING BEFORE YOU INSULT. TRY TYRUTH AND LOGIC INSTEAD IF INSULTING. TRY LEARNING FROM THE BEGINING HISTORY INSTEAD OF THE MIDDLE YOU DONT GET THIS SIMPLE POINT THEN YOU MISS A WHOLE LOT . ISRAEL FOR JEWS ONLY BY JEWS OF JEWS FOR JEWS ONLY NO SECULAR NO REFORM NO CONSERVATIVE ALL JEWS TRYING THEIR BEST ALL FOR ONE UNADULTERATED TORAH DAVID FROM REHOVAT AM YISRAEL CHAI THE LAND MOSHE WANTED KING DAVID FOUGHT FOR AND YOU WANT TO TEACH ME A LESSON??? THE TERM SEPHARDI IS FOR ALL JEWS YOU WAS CHASED TO EUROPE I SUPPOSE, I WAS CHASED TO SPAIN AND SYRIA YOU CREATED A NEW LANGUAGE ADOPTED A EURO DRESS AND LANGUAGE. YOUR NARROW SCOPE IS THE EXCUSE FOR ISRAEL FALLING BEHIND THANK YOU DACON9

"if it is of any comfort to tali farkash, those rejected kids, are better off detached from עדת החטאים הזאת. they are not jews in the first place and then who want to learn their fallacious so called hareidi ashkenazi teachings להדמות להם חס ושלום? as mentioned by נעים זמירות ישראל: tehillim 109:17,18 יז ויאהבו קללה, ותבואם; ולא-חפצו בברכה, ותרחק מהם. וילבשו קללה כמדיהם: ותבא כמים בקרבם per devora hanneveeah: כֵּן יֹאבְדוּ כָל-אוֹיְבֶיךָ, יְהוָה, {ר} וְאֹהֲבָיו, כְּצֵאת הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ בִּגְבֻרָתוֹ "

How right you are, and how wrong they are! A Jew is a Jew. Ahavas Yisroel knows no categories among us, we only have labels for the varieties of minhagim. 'Brown' is as Jewish as any other skin shade, and damn those who assert otherwise. Needless to say, I'm sure you don't need to be told about your physical beauty. The beauty of your yiddishkeit is just as obvious! Hazak v'brochot, -Schvach

My compliments to you and your family. But all due respect, we don't speak about individuals' actions, but the collective. You can't argue with statistics, nor with the camera. The stats show Tel Aviv virtually boycotted the war, both in manpower and in moral support. The camera showed 1000's of anti-war protestors there, and throngs of people lounging at the beach while Haifa burned. My cousins in Haifa were thoroughly disgusted by this. Testimonies from soldiers show they feel ashamed to be seen in Tel Aviv with their uniforms because of the dirty looks they get. These are the facts, so deal with them, and don't make this personal.