arig@cvl.UUCP (Ari Gross) (03/29/85)
> Yosi Hoshen, <Bell Laboratories> writes: > It is apparent that readers in Israel read what we have to say here. > This message reflects the frustration of secular Jews in Israel with > religious coercion in Israel. Mr. Samet recently said that when he > was in Israel, the issues I raised on the net did not come up in > conversations with Israelis. I suggest that he did not talk to the > right Israelis, or that the Israelis that he talked to, did not > speak their mind. Religious coercion in Israel creates > hatred towards religious people, and the religion. In the > last election, the mayor of Petach Tikva, increased his vote in > the community by showing strong opposition to the religionists > attempts to shut down a movie theatre on Friday night 'erev > shabat'. I think this was a clear sign from the secular segment > (the majority) of Israel that they are sick and tired of the > religionists 'dossim' attempt to shove their religion down > everybody elses throat. The truth of the matter is that Yosi Hoshen has touched on a very fundamental point. A large segment of the orthodox populace in Israel has disdain for the "chilonim" while at the same time expecting them to adhere to a religion they reject. Obviously, the best way to persuade others to believe in what you believe in is by setting a good example and by showing others that your way of life is appealing. Many in the orthodox camp in Israel have not done this -- they have taken from the State (government subsidies, not serving in the army) and given nothing back. This is certainly to our (the orthodox community's) discredit. But to be fair, Yosi Hoshen (and his friends in Tel Aviv) must admit that there is another side to this. Many religious Jews moved to Israel to fulfill a dream of returning to the Holy Land, not to accept Ben Gurion's brand of socialism ; yet, this was foisted on them when they returned to Israel (coercion?). Autopsies were performed on people even though it violated their religious beliefs. The newly established State of Israel took on a distinctly anti-religious platform that forced many new olim to work on Shabbat or go hungry. Certainly, when discussing coercion one cannot ignore how the secular segment of the Israeli populace tried (and in many instances succeeded) in forcing their irreligious views on others.