Women who libel Israel
 | By Jonathan Hoffman
October 27, 2012 | Share |
http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/women-who-libel-israel.premium-1.472031
By David Landau
Every time Anat Hoffman performs her stunts at the Western Wall, well-meaning liberals like Bradley Burston fall for it.
As a liberal myself (I hope), and as a longtime admirer of Bradley (and in many ways of Anat), I always ask myself, Why? Why participate in a cynical charade designed to portray Israel as a benighted and misogynous backwater?
"Try to imagine this," Bradley begins in his latest fulmination in the wake of Anat's latest provocation. "Try to imagine this in an account of a foreign regime: A Jewish person wearing a prayer shawl is heard publicly chanting the Sh'ma, the core statement of Judaism. The regime's state-funded clerics and its judiciary have ruled that such worship "hurts the feelings" of other people in the area, thus constituting a disturbance of the peace. Police arrest and manhandle the worshipper…"
Well, try to imagine this, Bradley. Try to imagine a Protestant Christian cleric, wearing robes that define his denomination, standing in St Peter's Square, Rome, and leading a group of Protestant Christian coreligionists in a brief prayer service.
It would be brief, because they'd all be carted off by the Swiss Guard quickly enough, for "disturbing the peace".
Now – closer to home for the Hadassah women whose attention Anat was trying to catch – imagine our Protestant doing the same in the forecourt of St Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue.
Or, even closer, imagine the Satmar Rebbe and a group of his followers marching into New York's Temple Emanu-El and conducting their prayers there. What would your vaunted American Jewish pluralism make of that?
AHA! I hear you say. But this is the WALL we're talking about, the site holy to ALL Jews. Not some single-denominational place of worship. Anat Hoffman and her Women of the Wall want equal, respectful treatment at the Wall.
"It happened at the holiest site of all of Judaism," Bradley explains. "The Kotel, the Western Wall, the last remnant of the ancient Temple, which the Talmud teaches was destroyed by sinat hinam, the baseless hatred of Jews for other Jews."
Fair enough, let's shift the analogy to the site holiest on earth to ALL Christians, the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Now, try to imagine this, Bradley. Imagine a few Copts straying across one flagstone demarcated in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre as the praying territory of the Ethiopians. Imagine a few Armenians encroaching onto one minute of the prayer-time demarcated by ancient accords for the Greek Orthodox. Wars were launched for less.
As for Protestants (the bulk of U.S. Christians), they have no locus standi (in the most literal sense) at all in the ancient Church. They venerate the Garden Tomb, elsewhere in the city. Imagine, Bradley, an American Protestant cleric or layman insisting on conducting a public prayer service (as distinct from private, silent prayer) in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The police would have to intervene fast to rescue him or her from the "disturbance of the peace" that would most inexorably ensue.
Where would your sympathies be, by the way, Bradley? Or yours, Anat?
By the same token – and this is really another rhetorical question – where are your sympathies in the matter of Jews, in tallitot like Anat, insisting on declaiming their Sh'ma Yisrael on the Temple Mount, which after all is even holier to Jews than the Western Wall Plaza below?
I know where they are; they're with mine. All three of us liberals see that behavior as wantonly provocative, almost calculated to incite a "disturbance of the peace" in the most literal sense of that phrase, a disturbance that could set the whole Middle East ablaze.
Perhaps the best analogy to the Wall is London’s Westminster Abbey, the foremost national shrine that is also the foremost place of worship of a state that has a state-religion, Church of England Protestantism.
The Catholics, long persecuted in the past, have their own Westminster Cathedral nearby. The Jews, long discriminated against, too, have their synagogues. The Muslims their mosques, and so on.
There is pluralism and freedom of religion in Britain. Everyone can visit every house of worship, respectfully. But they cannot – even if they are devout and pious Christians – conduct any Christian divine service in Westminster Abbey other than the service of the state-religion: Church of England. To do so would entail being arrested and manhandled, as Anat was and hoped and intended to be, when she conducted an act of Jewish worship at the Western Wall that diverged from the rite of the state-religion of Israel: Orthodox Judaism.
Non-Orthodox Jews in the U.S. and elsewhere may understandably balk and bridle at the assertion that Orthodox Judaism is Israel’s state-religion. But it is plain silly for Bradley Burston to deny what is a manifest truth, and to moan and mourn at the blithe indifference of the Israeli press and public to Anat Hoffman's antics.
The State of Israel, a product of European political culture, has a state-religion. American Jews – and Israelis playing to their gallery like Anat – need to understand and accept that, just as Europeans – and Israelis – understand that their constitutional conventions are deeply different from America’s political culture. Just as the Women of the Wall would accept and respect the rules in Westminster Abbey, and surely not sympathize with Methodists or Mormons trying to muscle in and hold a service there.
Israel's formative political culture is not necessarily immutable. As Golda Meir, that American-educated yet benighted and misogynous Israeli head of government (America has yet to elect one), never tired of explaining and repeating: If non-Orthodox American Jews want to influence the issue of synagogue-and-state in Israel, they need to live here in sizable numbers and vote here.
Decades later, that remains demographic, democratic, common-sense.
COMMENTS
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 13:46 Rate this: 0 points | Those receiving Jobseeker's Allowance because they cannot hold down a job should not be spending their day blogging - they should be seeking gainful employment as opposed to wasting taxpayers' money |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 13:57 Rate this: 0 points | That's so true . Joe you spent a fair part of yesterday copy pasting and blogging . |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 14:10 Rate this: 0 points | I see it's lunch break time at the GLA. Or perhaps you've given one of your lackeys your log in details, just to give the impression that you are allowed to blog during working time. You better tell Mr Hoffman that another letter to Andrew Collinge and/or Jeff Jacobs is in order, especially since he seems also to be distributing Private and Confidential correspondence. He really doesn't want want me to do that, does he. And he shouldn't worry his tinfoil-hatted head worry about me. Part of the job is working social meejah. What fun. So why did you/he (as you are his spox) cut and paste a column by someone who called for Israel to be raped? Obviously the author doesn't like Israel and women. Depravity at its worst. And being a Zionist doesn't mean denying the past of rewriting history. It's recognition of what led to the creation of the Jewish and Democratic state of Israel, and knowing what is needed to resolve the conflict so that Israel can live in peace with its neighbours. Revisionist Zionism? Me? A Herutnik? For you that would be flattery. But I'm from the Labour Zionist tradition. Jonathan, I urge you through your lackey to get help. Depression is such a nasty thing, it affects how you deal with other people and leads people to self-harm in so many ways. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 14:18 Rate this: -2 points | It has to be said Jonathan, you are beginning to sound ill. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 14:21 Rate this: -2 points | I'm waiting for Suzanna to ask where the third Muppeteer is. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 14:29 Rate this: -2 points | Oh Richard has got his hands full with Jose. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 14:51 Rate this: 0 points | It might be best if the alleged RRZ and Mary buzzed off. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 14:52 Rate this: 0 points | Jonathan, you might find this helpful, from the Black Dog Tribe |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 15:19 Rate this: -2 points | Joe this is not the western wall I type wherever I please. It might be best if you made some adjustments to your over bearing sense of self importance. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 15:44 Rate this: 0 points | Millis - I think you have a grave problem with telling the truth. The Muslim tombstones in Mamilla lay where they have been for years. The plan was not to build houses but a museum the Museum of Tolerance on the site which had fallen into disuse and which the Muslim Religious Authorities had themselves proposed be removed. May I remind you that an old Sephardic Jewish cemetery dating back to the 18th Century was uprooted on Mile End Road London E1 to make way for an extension to Queen Mary College so removal of remains if conducted in a respectful manner is not unacceptable. What however the Jordanians did was wanton destruction of Jewish synagogues and the use of Jewish Tombstones to build latrines. I don't mind you posting your anti-Israel sentiments on here you are an abject failure at that anyway - what I do mind however is when you make outrageous claims and back them up with lies. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 15:49 Rate this: 0 points | Advis3r, I suggest the next time you go to Jerusalem, you take yourself to the pretty houses for foreigners that were built between the Karta Car Park and the David Citadel Hotel. Yes, those houses. Not the straw man Museum of "Tolerance" you seem to be hacking a chaynic about |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 15:59 Rate this: 0 points | I see since I am in Jerusalem any number of times a week and you're not so please tell me when it was that you were there and actually saw religious buildings and graveyards being torn down to make way for the Mamilla Project? Or is your gripe that you do not possess the wherewithal to buy a property there? BTW that's a long lunch break you are having there isn't it? |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 16:11 Rate this: 0 points | In fact isn't it true Millis that the Mamilla Project is a case of preservation and restoration? See |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 17:54 Rate this: 0 points | Advis3r, this is just an architectural rendering. It's not evidence of anything...like Jonathan citing himself as a source. |
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 19:08 Rate this: 0 points | First, Jonathan, may I suggest you read Mindfulness helps you become a better leader I'd also recommend anything on the Action for Happiness website. Now for the misogynists who cut and paste or hail a column by someone who believes Israel should be raped and who believe that Israel shouldn't live up to its pledge in the Declaration of Independence that the Jewish and democratic state will guarantee "freedom of religion [and] conscience” I suggest you read this. Remember, the Jewish Agency is hardly an anti-Israel organisation.
Pay particular heed to what Natan Sharansky said about the behaviour of the Israeli police.
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Fri, 11/02/2012 - 17:25 Rate this: 1 point | Suggest Joe Millis you take a trip to the Rabin center and follow his career as well as world events that were happening throughout his life. I think you will have to accept that he was not some rich right wing bigot but he did come to realise that by signing the Oslo accords (which I am quite sure you approved of) the people turned against him. His actions unleashed a reign of terror on Israel and Israelis which was quite unprecedented. In exchange for his attempt at peace buses and restaurants were blown up suicide bombers people maimed and killed. The tragedy was he was demonised and accused of being a fascist by other Jews who should have known better, they even made a poster representing him as Hitler. You know how it goes Joe you and the other trolls use the same tactics on Jonathan or anyone else who disagrees with you. Look what happened to Rabin after all the incitement - you weren't Arafat's P.R. man at the time were you? |
Mon, 11/05/2012 - 17:59 Rate this: -1 points | http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/931778/jewish/On-which-day... "It is always forbidden for a man to shave his beard with a razor, or a razor-like implement (that completely removes facial hair)—as per Leviticus 19:27: "You shall not destroy the corners of your beard." If you shave, speak to your rabbi to determine which shavers are halachically permitted for use." In response to Jonathan's post. Men who shave all their beard should also be forbidden to pray at the Western Wall. I have to ask why their is no call for action to be taken against men who pray at the wall with all their beard shaven. Why the double standards? |
Mon, 11/05/2012 - 18:25 Rate this: -1 points | Janet, between the signing of Oslo (Sept 1993) and Baruch Goldstein's terror attack in February 1994, there were no terror bomb - suicide or otherwise - attacks in Israel. The terror came after Goldstein. As usual it was a religious ultra-nationalist nut-job who started it. cause and effect. Hoffman as Rabin HY"D? Wow, that's novel. He probably would have been among those nice people in Zion Square at the anti-peace rallies led by Bibi. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 15:24 Rate this: 1 point | Lanne - for your information Anat Hoffman is not prevented from praying at the Western Wall so long as she abides by the rules and regulations governing worshipping there which most people including non-Jews are more than happy to abide by. The rules do not prohibit men without beards from praying there so your claims of double standards are ridiculous. Joe Millis lying yet again. Why don't you find something useful to do ignoramus. This is the list of terrorist attrocities from 1957 - 1967 this mind you before the Six-day War. Apr 16, 1957 - Terrorists infiltrated from Jordan, and killed two guards at Kibbutz Mesilot. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 15:34 Rate this: 1 point | Oh and before Baruch Goldstein committed his so-called act of terrorism on 25 February 1994 these were the terrorist attacks during the previous year: As I said Millis you are a lying ignoramus. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 16:49 Rate this: 0 points | SO CALLED act of terrorism ? Would you like to expand on that ? |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 17:12 Rate this: 0 points | Read carefully what I wrote, Advis3r. No bombings until after Baruch Goldstein. And that's from your Foreign Ministry's website. So if I'm a lying ignoramus, you are a fascist apologist for a Jewish terrorist and an ace purveyor of baseless hatred. Ad homs work both ways, capisce? And I neither hate nor pity you. I am totally apathetic to you and your ilk. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 17:31 Rate this: 0 points | "Anat Hoffman is not prevented from praying at the Western Wall so long as she abides by the rules and regulations governing worshipping there which most people including non-Jews are more than happy to abide by." I got goose bumps reading that. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 17:38 Rate this: -1 points | Now I'm wondering where Advis3r was when this was going on? http://www.thejc.com/news/israel-news/83914/modesty-charedi-patrol-jerus... |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 17:48 Rate this: -1 points | "Lanne - for your information Anat Hoffman is not prevented from praying at the Western Wall so long as she abides by the rules and regulations governing worshipping there which most people including non-Jews are more than happy to abide by" I think you missed my point. For orthodox Jews to be consistent with what the Torah says, the rules and regulations governing worshipping should also apply to men with all their beard shaven as shaving all the beard is forbidden in the Torah. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 17:55 Rate this: -1 points | Lanne, there's a saying: where there is a rabbinic will, there is an halachic way. Unfortunately, rabbinic will applies only to find loopholes for the male of the species. Women? It's a bit like this. |
Tue, 11/06/2012 - 19:08 Rate this: 1 point |
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Tue, 11/06/2012 - 19:10 Rate this: -1 points | Goldfish. First, many of those killed before Goldstein's terrorism were armed soldiers. That's not terrorism, that's guerrilla warfare. |
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 10:46 Rate this: 2 points |
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) were soldiers
… if killing unsuspecting soldiers in the street isn't terrorism, then surely a doctor going crazy and killing people (without any suicide note or other warning or explanation) isn't terrorism either? Wed, 11/07/2012 - 11:03 Rate this: 2 points | Where to begin? |
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 12:11 Rate this: 0 points | Fake Zionist since you haven't got one how would you know? |
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 12:18 Rate this: 2 points | zaheeryin would you be able to understand the difference even if it was explained to you? |
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 12:56 Rate this: -1 points | Advis3r, says a lot about you that you think I view religious Jews as a monolith. Second, there's a minority of a sub-sect of nationalist Jews motivated by religio/ethno-centric ultra-nationalism which have more in common with Bible Belt Evangelists than with any form of normative Judaism. Observing them, you can see how very early Christianity developed from Judaism into a small isolationist desert mountain-based cult. |
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 13:31 Rate this: 1 point | Millis you blame religious Jews for everything that goes wrong. I did not condone the actions of Baruch Goldstein and never have done. He was however the attending physician in the aftermath of a number of terrorist attacks - but being such a put together chap you would not understand how that might unhinge a perfectly normal person. |
Wed, 11/07/2012 - 14:05 Rate this: -1 points | I've never blamed religious Jews for everything. That's just paranoia and your constant playing the victim showing. Goldstein? Yimach shemo ve'zichro ve'she'yisaref be'gehenom. Arafat? ditto. Yigal Amir, ditto. All terrorists, irrespective of race, religion, creed, colour, gender ditto. And don't play the Jewish unity card nonsense with me. Ain't nothing gonna make me feel any sense of empathy with a bunch of nationalist "Jews" motivated by religio/ethno-centric ultra-nationalism who have more in common with Bible Belt Evangelists than with any form of normative Judaism. |
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Harvey
Tue, 10/30/2012 - 13:46
Rate this:
Welcome to the Millis world of revisionist Zionism .
Not content with a one sided ,distorted position on the complexities of the West Bank / Gaza situation , it now appears that not even Tel Aviv is safe from his 'unique Pro Israel ' stance .
Boy would I have liked to have been in on that UJIA selection process and interview .
Walls' pork pies' on an industrial scale springs readily to mind .
Still at least justice was seen to be done in the end .
The hunter hunted down .