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Angry haredim: Lapid plans to desecrate Shabbat abroad
Gad Lior
Published: 11.10.13, 10:40
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1. shameful behaviour
tiki ,   belgium   (10.11.13)
A man willing to throw out the window all the core values of the Jewish people. The reason why Jews live in Israel as a people and not in Guatemala or Guam is 'because of those core values. Without them there is no need to fight & die for the State of Israel! Lapid should be evicted from his job for he clearly is mistaken which country he's representing!
2. Wrong way round Haredim !
Sagi   (10.11.13)
You should all go there and not come back.
3. Get lost, bloody leaches
Tahl   (10.11.13)
These people contribute nothing to the economy or the army, leach away hundreds of millions of tax payers' money for their yeshivot, and have the hutzpa to dictate to others how to run their lives. If Lapid wants to hold a press conference on Shabbat, so be it. It'll probably create much-needed positive PR for Israel's economy. It's not like he'll be giving out a speech that all Jews would want to follow in real-time. The orthodox Jews hate him and never listen to him anyway, so why stick their noses here? And just to make it clear, I'm not against a Jewish Israel. But a Jewish Israel in the sense of being a homeland for the Jewish people - whether they are orthodox, conservative, reform, converts, atheist, agnostic or whatever - rather than a third-world theocracy premised on the Jewish religion.
4. Poor judgement by Lapid-from a secular Jew
Andi ,   Israel   (10.11.13)
He is representing all Israelis, not just his own party or just himself. Israel is a Jewish State. Saturday/Shabbat is not a regular day, but a special day in Jewish culture, even for the secular. President Peres never holds official meetings on Shabbat. Shame on Lapid A secular Jew.
5. (3) Tahl
tiki ,   belgium   (10.11.13)
'A Jewish Israel, meaning a homeland for the Jewish people'. Why there? Because without the core values of Judaism (one of them is honoring the day of rest, the Shabbat) there is no need for such a Jewish Homeland. What Lapid does in his free time is his business. When he represents Israel, the Jewish homeland, he should act according the Jewish values. This has nothing to do with ultra or fanatic Judaism, but only with being a proud Jewish citizen, representing his country as their finance minister!
6. Haradumb!
Steve   (10.11.13)
Lapid is the finance minister of a major economy, not some third world shithole. Allow him do his job while in Washington and comport himself in a manner conducive to his position and requirements. Haradim are indignant over anyone breaking Shabbat... except when they hold their little dumpster burning riots on Shabbat for whatever insanity disturbs them that week.
7. shameful indeed!
david ,   bet shemesh   (10.11.13)
You chose to keep Shabbat or you don't, this is your choice, but come on, an elected official for the state of Israel conducting business on Shabbat and on the world's stage - how can anyone say this is ok?
8. Better idea: transfer Haredim to Brooklyn
Dan   (10.11.13)
9. Mr. Lapid
Abraham Nachmias ,   Petach Tikva IL   (10.11.13)
I have no problem with what Mr. Lapid believes or does not believe. I have a problem when he doesn't understand that he is receiving a salary from the State of israel, not from his party. That means that he is an employee of the Jewish State of israel! if he is not happy with that, he can always go home and eat pork!
10. #.6 Haradumb!, Steve
Tarbouche ,   Aswan   (10.11.13)
I am no Charedi; The Shabbat is an institution peculiar to Jews and copied into other religions. No one stands in your way if you want to give up or take on any religious observance; you are free to do so. Lapid represents the Jewish State. as such he is not entitled to do his own thing if that devalues its image
11. Typical leftist Israeli who wants a secular Israel with NO..
Goy boy in ,   the USA!!!   (10.11.13)
connection whatsoever to the laws or obligations of Judaism. I agree. He should emigrate to a goy country because he is NOT Jewish and his behavior is a shame to the rest of us.
12. Lapid IMF press conference on Shabbat
YS ,   Montreal, Canada   (10.11.13)
It's a pity that this article should evoke the arguments against Lapid's decision as emanating from the Chareidi community per se. A public desecration of the holy Sabbath in an official capacity is one which should concern not only every religious Jew, but anyone who values the Jewishness of Israel as a state. I remember Y. Shamir, once in Spain during a prolonged period of negotiations, publicly announcing on Friday afternoon that he would return to Israel for Shabbat. Aside from honoring the Sabbath, this shows the world that our Jewish values are important. Lapid could have scheduled his conference for Friday afternoon or Saturday night. There is no recognition of the content of Gafni's statement: a Finance Minister who has been plagued by claims of incompetence and ignorance, some higher-ups quitting his Ministry-- real issues-- and all he cares about is his 15 minutes of fame in the American spotlight.
13. "haredi politicians"
Prosecco   (10.11.13)
it's not come together. The "professional belivers" as haredim are, need to choose between faith and activism or politics. To be in Knesset or Parlaiment, govermental office as Rabbanut, Moatsa haDatit, Hevrat Kadisha etc.etc. is not Kosher and not for TRUE believers. They need to leave goverment to seculars and concentarte on spiritual part of live that deeply private and intimate thing.
14. It was always so , read the article
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (10.11.13)
But because those charedim are NOT in governement , they are angry . For those who claim that he violated the "core values" of the Jewish people , but live abroad : where are you living ?
15. to #8 Dan
Madrie ,   spain   (10.11.13)
to #8 'Dan'. Israel without Haredim is the same as Lebanon.
16. Are only Haredim Shomer Shabbat?
Joseph ,   London England   (10.11.13)
Shmirat Shabbat is a Jewish issue, NOT a Haredi issue. The Israeli Govt has always publicly observed Shabbat, whether or not individual ministers were observant in private. Lapid's proposal is an outrage and should be condemned by Peres, Netanyahu, Bennett and other leaders.
17. The spirit of Tommy Lapid.
Yossi ,   Baltimore, USA   (10.11.13)
Just as Yisrael Meir Lau and Ovadia Yosef produced sons who have followed in their fathers' footsteps, so also has Tommy Lapid. Why did voters expect otherwise?
18. BB as PM reign your juniors in not to rep us oh the holy Sha
Martin SA   (10.11.13)
BB as PM reign your juniors in not to rep us oh the holy Shabbos. As an employee of our government he should be warned not to give press conferences on Shabbos.Especially as he wants to renege on his coalition agreement and vi for Arab and secular peace now voters. As a senior gov official , lawmaker he should avoid such meetings not in the spirit of a simple Jew as he now can be considered a allegedly as Traitors and he should know better. BB, he Lapid, should be warned and penalised. Perhaps other don’t set an example either. He Lapid, should be penalised for such abusive conduct.
19. #14 It's you who should read, Charles.
Roman ,   Lod, Israel   (10.11.13)
The article itself shows that desecration of the Shabbat in this capacity is not a given. In fact, it's far from a given, as past events hold. And in most other such cases of Shabbat desecration by official government representatives, it's a deplorable occurrence and against our shared values. Yes, it is "customary" to hold the press conference on the main day. It is also a bit *more* than just "customary" to avoid desecrating the Shabbat when operating as a representative of the state of Israel. Lapid is simply going with what he finds convenient.
20. Two sides
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (10.11.13)
There are at least two sides to this predicament. For an Israeli govt minister to publicly desecrate Shabbos harms every Jews who is Shomer Shabbos and is made to look unreasonable for refusing to work on Shabbos. For Lapid to desecrate Shabbos for economic benefit fuels the image of Jews loving money more than keeping the most basic of all Jewish observance. In traditional Jewish cemeteries we bury those who publicly desecrate Shabbos in a separate section because they publicly repudiated their Jewish faith.
21. Lapid
Harold ,   USA   (10.11.13)
Lapid is well raised and had excellent home education. Lapid is the right man to lead Israel because he preferes peace than war and distruction. Give peace a change please. The present leaders of Israel know nothing but RED LINES, WAR and other BS.
22. Its as bad as
Taxpayer ,   Hod Hasharon   (10.11.13)
The finance minister not observing the Sabbath is as bad as well - the Haredim not observing the working week
23. To # 8
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (10.11.13)
Please don't your crazies to us. We have enough homegrown nut cases. We honestly have no need for more.
24. Shadat should be respected.....
Shalom ,   U.S.A.   (10.11.13)
by every jew, even by Yediot Aharonot!
25. if the comments didnt come from haredim there would be suppo
zionist forever   (10.11.13)
Forgetting the haredm and their issues it is true we would be better off without him. He made a real mess with the budget and he is now going on the record and saying publicly palestinians don't need to recognise Israel as a Jewish state and this is despite the fact he is not supposed to play any role in the so called peace process. The man belongs on tv not in politics and certainly not as a senior government minister. Lapid do us all a favour stay in America.
26. Roman , if the charedi were in the governement
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (10.11.13)
they would stay silent . It's customary to give a press conference on the "high" day of this reunion , and our minister does it . Other Israeli representatives , the Israeli NATIONAL football team , plays this evening , but they are not Lapid , whom the charedi hate , so they don't protest . שבת שלום
27. To 22: chareidim working
Jack ,   Beit shemesk   (10.11.13)
Sorry to disappoint you but I virtually hareidi homes at least one and in many cases (like mine) 2 people work. Do
28. Hyocrites!
M. Hartley ,   Atlanta, US   (10.11.13)
All you people, living anywhere and everywhere, except in Israel, yet blasting Lapid for giving a speech on Saturday in the US, YOU ARE HYPOCRITES! Although I do not believe in religion by whatever name, when I visited Israel, I respected its laws and customs based on "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." The fact that only 39.5% of the world's Jews live in Israel and that +/- 25% of Israel's population is not Jewish should tell you that maybe, just maybe, some aspects of Judaism have lost a tiny bit of relevance in this day and age. After all, you no longer stone disobedient sons to death, either..... The idea that the Creator of all that is can be belittled by someone's speech on ANY day is not only - in my book - ludicrous, but constitutes an insult to that Creator.
29. #25 zf, If we all stay here, you'll convert to Islam
Michael ,   California, USA   (10.11.13)
30. Embarrissment to Israel
Dan ,   K"S   (10.11.13)
Lapid is an embarrassment to Israel, which is attempting to be declared a Jewish state. I do not keep the Sabath, I did 8 years of army service, but I do not have a facebook account, and so I am not counted when Lapid looks for support or opposition. I believe Ynet made a small mistake, the planes arrived on Friday and there was not enough time to return home before Sabat and Rabin's gvm"t fell.
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