Certain Orthodox Jews in Israel have been in the news lately for their belligerent treatment of women and children. Fundamentalist views of religious propriety have led to illegal segregation of women in public spaces, and even spitting on an 8-year-old girl for not dressing modestly enough. It is this type of behavior that gave Israel a score of zero on the International Religious Freedom Index, compiled by the CIRI Human Rights Data Project and published on December 10 in honor of Human Rights Day. The score of “0″ was received by a total of 53 countries out of the 195 analyzed. Israel is the only Western democracy that received this score. It shares this sorry and embarrassing grade with such countries as Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan, China, North Korea, Russia, and Romania.
Facing increasing criticism for their efforts to separate men and women in public spaces, thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered last Saturday night in Jerusalem to protest what they say is a nationwide campaign directed against their lifestyle. The protesters called Israeli policemen Nazis, and dressed their children up as concentration camp inmates. Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial denounced the use of Nazi imagery as “disgraceful,” and several other survivors’ groups and politicians, and individuals such as Nobel Peace laureate, Elie Wiesel, condemned the acts.
Etz Chaim’s monthly Shabbat dinners continue on Friday, February 17th at 6:30pm. Entree choices are stuffed cabbage, chicken marsala, stuffed tilapia, and roasted veggies over pasta. Cost is $20 (same as last year!), and include roasted potatoes, salad, beverage, and dessert & coffee after services. Reservations are a must, and may be made until Thursday, February 16th at 5pm.
