Opinion  Yoaz Hendel
Fear of knowledge: What the ultra-Orthodox and secular share
Yoaz Hendel
Published: 06.02.16, 23:30
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16 Talkbacks for this article
1. Fear of knowledge
Mordechai ,   Beit Shemesh   (02.07.16)
this article reminds me of the Liberal socialists, the so called intellectuals who think they have the right to manipulate our values and demand proportional response to everything. In reality the corrolation made is not valid, depriving someone of knowledge because it may provoke questions of the philosophy on which their lives are based is criminal, whereas those who live in a society where knowledge is freely available may have come to the conclusion that religion rather than being an asset to one's life is, in fact, both a hinderence, because it invokes superstition, and an evil as it is used to manipulate and subjugate the masses. this is another example of trying tto hold back the tide of the deminishing influence of religion in the educated world and trying to stop it spreading to also the non educated. no one has the right to make the selective judgement on behalf of people as to what they can or cannot do. there is no difference between a human being born in a Hindu slum to a native brazilian in the rain forset to the president of the US. All, if offered the same means of education, will be so similar that it would not be believed. what the article fails to comprehend is the average Israeli see himself as that an Israeli, rather their Jewishness is historical heritage and in most cases is due to non jews using it falsly as a means of identity.
2. On one hand the author is correct, on the other hand: one
(02.07.16)
does not have to finish theology studies to declare religion(every kind) utter rubbish....Still: in matters of national survival us seculars, are woefully ignorant of our tradition based solely on religious superstition and that is not good at all!
3. Its not the porn, its....
Jake ,   Jerusalem   (02.07.16)
The problem is not so much the porn for the religious population that they ban it. The problem is a deeper concern. The secular have a value system that is totally different, they put a high value on 'entertainment'. Such things as soccer, movies, etc take the heads of young people who should have their heads immersed in the sea of the Talmud and give them other pursuits that are not forbidden by the Torah specifically. The real fear is not porno, nor knowing what is the news, but moving their heads from where they rightfully belong in learning Torah. Those who have spend their youth with their heads immersed in Talmud grow up with a head that is able to analyze and understand not just the world but also to go out into the world and work yet maintain a true Torah approach to life. Those who let their children get their heads immersed in the joys of secularism so seen their children grow up to be lax in religious matters. BTW those people who are the extremists are externally religious but if one will sit down and speak with one for a while you will come to a conclusion that they really have only a superficial understanding of both Torah, Talmud and the world around them. So between the two, the religious extremists and those who are religious yet give in to secular entertainment are both in err, just opposite sides of the truth.
4. Rabbis don't trust secular teaching
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (02.07.16)
A huge % of children have concentration problems and are advised to take "rivelyn" which is a dangerous drug. The Tora is a well of science ; more and more secular intellectuals are fascinated by what they discover by studying Tora. Haredim who want to join the work force learn in a very short time what they need to know therefore.They are a big asset since they have the aptitude to think out of the box. The wheel is turning.We see Haredim learn modern science and secular Jews learning Tora. I hope that in the near future all Jews will be united in their differences. Since we are sheep surrounded by wolves and only if we cling together we will survive with G-D's help.
5. The Ultra-Orthodox, the very knowledgeable Jews do not fear
Leib Klein   (02.07.16)
more knowledge. They fear apostates, Zionist heretics, deserters of G-d's Torah and Judaism trying to secularize them and other religious Jews. Bad enough they they did so to the Sephardim and Yemenites, they should leave other Jews alone. This is what they fear. Please don't make up stories and balonies.
6. Gemara boys get better scores worldwide than
Harry B. Schmidt ,   Tel Aviv   (02.07.16)
public school kids who study core subjects. The protesters are not part of fringe groups of ultra-orthodox. Where did you pick that up from? The protesters are centers of ultra-orthodox. They act just like your ancestors actors. It's the secular and Zionists who are fringe groups of the Jewish nation. What, besides violence, do they learn in public schools?
7. Jews and their Religion
jez ,   Netanya   (02.07.16)
I dont normally disagree with Yoaz Hendel whose excellent articles I enjoy reading . However, a people are a mixture of their history, their culture (art, literature, music etc) language and religion. Religion is but one element of national identity. To the extent that religion is part of ones history one should understand it but it doesnt mean one should practice the rituals or indeed even know the rituals. They are an optional extra. One can be a Jew because of ones history, culture, language, God and religion. However God and religion are optional. One can believe in God without the religion and one can enjoy the religion without the God. Many will disagree with me but that does not make me any less Jewish than them. Please note there are no insults in this talkback - it is a civilised portrayal of a view. Remember respect
8. #6
Oliver ,   Eilat   (02.07.16)
They get an education with witch to earn a living and to go out in the world not like the those from the yeshivas witch learn nothing to use in the real world.
9. #6 So right. Many of my yeshiva friends were
David Zvi ,   Israel   (02.07.16)
hired as programmers and for other technology jobs in non Jewish firms and secular firms in the US and Israel over secular Jews and non Jews precisely because of their intelligence they acquired with studying Talmud. This article is as deviated from the truth as can possibly be.
10. Better educational methods than casuistry and myth.
Murray the K ,   Brooklyn, NY   (02.07.16)
11. No such thing "Jewish nation". Jewish faith. Israeli nation.
Michael ,   California, USA   (02.07.16)
For example: American Jews are part of the American nation and if believers they belong to (one of the branches of) Jewish religion.
12. 8 Where did you get your education?
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (02.07.16)
"which" is the correct word.i
13. 7 Jez,i disagree respectfully.
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (02.07.16)
Judaism is the Jews "raison d'etre" in Israel. Ben Gurion was asked what proof he has that Israel belongs to Jews.He showed the Tora books. In the Tora it is clearly written that G-D gave Israel to the Jewish people with the condition that they keep His commandments.. 600000 men + women and children witnesses were present at Mont Sinai when this happened.
14. #8 Satmarer men who hadn't studied anything but Torah
Chaim   (02.07.16)
and Gemara are prosperous in their businesses. Can you explain that? You don't need to learn science nor about Herzl and other Zionist leaders or even to get a college education to succeed.
15. A struggle to remain ignorant is wrong
robert ,   antwerp belgium   (02.07.16)
Both ways to forbid or avoid knowledge is totally wrong. What one does with the knowledge he acquires is personnal but think of how much poorer is a mind with limited knowledge and how weaker he is when he is not able to confront the ideas of the other because he doesn't know better
16. "demonstration "
Shmuel ,   Bet Shemesh   (02.10.16)
The photo is in Kikar Shabbos and not in Bet Shemesh
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