Comment

Israeli Pundit Suggests 'A Modest Proposal' for Reducing the Haredi Population

8
Vicious Babushka5/09/2012 9:50:27 am PDT

re: #7 Phlebas

The wording may be unfortunate in your estimation. I think a society overrun with net consumers of social services and subsidy money conjures up negative historical images, as well. I choose to interpret London’s words as implying that legal and social changes are necessary to bring about a natural shift in Haredi society, in which Haredim become less dependent on subsidies, are not exempt from general social obligations, and are integrated into modern Israeli society to the greatest extent possible. These shifts would “diminish” the numbers of Haredim the way they live today - a life style that is unsustainable. No-one should argue that Haredim ought give up their religious perspective or their desire to spend as much time as possible in the bet-midrash. Similarly, no-one ought to argue that efforts to wean Haredi society from the public teat is akin to the Holocaust.

I think you should go back and read the article by Yaron London in which he explicitly states that integration programs are not sufficient and that the population MUST BE REDUCED. Also, where did I compare this to the Holocaust? There are plenty of examples from history where attempts were made to reduce the Jewish population (start with the first chapter of Exodus), I never compared this to the Holocaust.