"Maybe Hashem will send the Gedolim some bullet ants."
This is a shockingly despicable comment, especially after you described the horrific pain these insects can cause in such detail. I cannot believe you have sunk to this point and suspect you didn't think about it enough before publishing. Especially in light of all the rhetoric surrounding Charlie Kirk and wishing ill and suffering and even death to those with whom one disagrees even vehemently, this line had no place in the mouth of any Torah Jew or anyone else. Please, please acknowledge that it was inappropriate and retract this line.
The implication was what it was ("they would deserve it") and it's not funny at all. Ask some people you trust if it crossed a line into the completely unacceptable. Would you find it appropriate if someone published about the leftist protesters "maybe they'll get blown up in a pigua" for opposing the continuation of the war against Hamas? Civilized people don't speak this way and you know it.
Nice try. I am not a Charedi apologist and fully condemn their approach to most of the things RDNS complains about. I strenuously object to his "attack mode" approach but normally recognize it is within the framework of what is generally (if regrettably) accepted in the blogosphere. This is not. A "humorous quip" about severe human suffering is severe character flaw and the kind that should drive decent people away from this blog if it happens again, despite the vital role the blog has played over the years (and yes, I believe it's role has been vital even though I believe the anti-charedi content is rife with the kind of us against them attitude that exacerbates problems far more than helping them and is, more importantly, absolutely against the derech haTorah in how to conduct such debates as a mensch and not as just another rabble-rouser).
You're giving him too much credit. Realistically, he's probably just stressed out about the pressure to fundraise, and sleep-deprived from travel and being trotted around to events. He's really old. Not really the right person to be mocking; he and Landau are just figureheads. Older and more frail than Biden
I usually agree with you, but this was inappropriate. Would be more useful if you addressed the 9/11/25 article in Yeshiva World News titled "This is How the IDF Snatched Netzach Yehuda from the Chareidim". To the extent it is true, perhaps you can work on getting the IDF to make some changes, which would encourage more chareidim to serve.
Until the mid 19th century (and even then the only exception was the Ottoman Empire) Jews were exempted from conscription in every Muslim country by paying the jirza tax. Do these charedim really want to return to those days?
How is this a gotcha? Clearly most modern people would prefer to pay money and not be conscripted, that's why most modern countries have volunteer armies and not conscription.
The issue with being a second-class dhimmi is a lot deeper than simply needing to pay more in taxes
You have many good reasons for what you wrote but should not have been written. We don’t wish bad on anyone. I think the just “reward “ for their actions will come from Hashem.
Speaking of reward I can imagine what chareidim will say when after 120 years they get to olam Haba and see the level that even the most secular soldier is due to their sacrifices for the people and state. Boy are they gonna regret their actions.
"Maybe Hashem will send the Gedolim some bullet ants."
This is a shockingly despicable comment, especially after you described the horrific pain these insects can cause in such detail. I cannot believe you have sunk to this point and suspect you didn't think about it enough before publishing. Especially in light of all the rhetoric surrounding Charlie Kirk and wishing ill and suffering and even death to those with whom one disagrees even vehemently, this line had no place in the mouth of any Torah Jew or anyone else. Please, please acknowledge that it was inappropriate and retract this line.
I didn't mean it as a wish, I meant it as a humorous quip based on the idea that Hashem punishes those who cry for bad reasons.
The implication was what it was ("they would deserve it") and it's not funny at all. Ask some people you trust if it crossed a line into the completely unacceptable. Would you find it appropriate if someone published about the leftist protesters "maybe they'll get blown up in a pigua" for opposing the continuation of the war against Hamas? Civilized people don't speak this way and you know it.
Maybe Hashem will send you a sense of humor.
(ants are different from a bomb, but what does proportion matter if you're a charedi apologist looking for a red herring)
Nice try. I am not a Charedi apologist and fully condemn their approach to most of the things RDNS complains about. I strenuously object to his "attack mode" approach but normally recognize it is within the framework of what is generally (if regrettably) accepted in the blogosphere. This is not. A "humorous quip" about severe human suffering is severe character flaw and the kind that should drive decent people away from this blog if it happens again, despite the vital role the blog has played over the years (and yes, I believe it's role has been vital even though I believe the anti-charedi content is rife with the kind of us against them attitude that exacerbates problems far more than helping them and is, more importantly, absolutely against the derech haTorah in how to conduct such debates as a mensch and not as just another rabble-rouser).
Very Biblical:
וְשָׁלַחְתִּי אֶת הַצִּרְעָה לְפָנֶיךָ וְגֵרְשָׁה אֶת הַחִוִּי אֶת הַכְּנַעֲנִי וְאֶת הַחִתִּי מִלְּפָנֶיךָ
Your last line is one of the funniest things I've ever read. It made me laught so hard.
Thanks.
Just returned from an event in memory of my brother who was killed in action 20 months ago.
Went to the kever with my mother yesterday.
Really needed this 🙏
You're giving him too much credit. Realistically, he's probably just stressed out about the pressure to fundraise, and sleep-deprived from travel and being trotted around to events. He's really old. Not really the right person to be mocking; he and Landau are just figureheads. Older and more frail than Biden
He's not just a figurehead. He has the ability to say things. He has responsibility.
I usually agree with you, but this was inappropriate. Would be more useful if you addressed the 9/11/25 article in Yeshiva World News titled "This is How the IDF Snatched Netzach Yehuda from the Chareidim". To the extent it is true, perhaps you can work on getting the IDF to make some changes, which would encourage more chareidim to serve.
Until the mid 19th century (and even then the only exception was the Ottoman Empire) Jews were exempted from conscription in every Muslim country by paying the jirza tax. Do these charedim really want to return to those days?
How is this a gotcha? Clearly most modern people would prefer to pay money and not be conscripted, that's why most modern countries have volunteer armies and not conscription.
The issue with being a second-class dhimmi is a lot deeper than simply needing to pay more in taxes
You have many good reasons for what you wrote but should not have been written. We don’t wish bad on anyone. I think the just “reward “ for their actions will come from Hashem.
I didn't wish bad on anyone. I suggested that the just "reward" will come from Hashem.
Speaking of reward I can imagine what chareidim will say when after 120 years they get to olam Haba and see the level that even the most secular soldier is due to their sacrifices for the people and state. Boy are they gonna regret their actions.