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Colonel of Truth's avatar

If Reform Jews have gone "off the derech" in an extreme, secular way, then I think we need to admit the chareidim have gone "off the derech" in an extreme, religious way. Going "off the derech" can go both ways.

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gnashy's avatar

antizionist diaspora reform jews notwithstanding, the way that the chareidim are "off the derech" and the way that reform or secular Israelis who serve in the IDF and are otherwise decent members of Am Yisrael are "off the the derech" is pretty significantly different, at the very the least in the current day to day.

(Not sure if you don't agree but I still feel the need to pipe up on this point)

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Jeremy Topaz's avatar

I believe the problem is the rabbis whom the yeshiva students obey. They don't obey the laws of the land because they are told that is their enemy. We don't have the resources to arrest many draft-dodgers, and to handle the protests that ensue. Their rabbis who incite to non-enlisting should either be arrested (if their is a law against encitement to commit a crime) or should be gathered to a meeting at which they should be convinced of the immorality and non-sustainability of their policy. If they refuse to order those who can to enlist, they should go to jail.

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Bob's avatar

It's all about the charismatic leadership. Just like Trump in the US rather than the Republican party, Bibi has created a cult of personality which totally overshadows the Likud. If he left the party tomorrow, all his voters would go with him because the party no longer matters. People have given up believing in ideas and principles and want to throw themselves into the hands of a person who will save them. In that sense, Bibi and the charedim are perfect bedfellows

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Colonel of Truth's avatar

In general, the way religious Jews have begun to think is that those who are more to the "right" of your way of thinking are wrong, perhaps crazy, but those who are more to the "left" of your way of thinking are heretics. Well, everyone is more to the "left" of the chareidim so to them everyone is a heretic. Perhaps the Religious Zionist rabbinic leadership needs to start labeling the chareidim as heretics. Perhaps (although doubtful) that will stir up some introspection, maybe at least in some of their followers.

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Harold Landa's avatar

☹️😕🙁

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