tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post6417960250030778786..comments2023-06-21T10:52:34.013-04:00Comments on Jeremy Rosen's Blog: Beit Shemesh SyndromeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17043970242427877089noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-79799848331086862712012-01-15T08:42:34.473-05:002012-01-15T08:42:34.473-05:00Yes I would say that Shmuel the great Babylonian a...Yes I would say that Shmuel the great Babylonian authority meant precisely that with his dictum that "Dina De Malchuta Dina,' the Law of the Land is the Law ( on civil matters).Rabbi Jeremy Rosenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723608669485173271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-55000755194052859182012-01-13T12:29:10.472-05:002012-01-13T12:29:10.472-05:00It seems in modern societies, separation of church...It seems in modern societies, separation of church and state is a good method. Are there Jewish sources for this policy?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-13430959741535356482012-01-09T10:18:53.288-05:002012-01-09T10:18:53.288-05:00Meir:
Yes, you are right and its unfair. After all...Meir:<br />Yes, you are right and its unfair. After all there are quarters of every city that are less salubrious than others and the whole of Beit Shmesh should no more be tarred by the brush of the nutcases in one area than Jerusalem should by the similar thugs in Meah Shearim. Sorry. <br />JRabbi Jeremy Rosenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723608669485173271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-64970730243267266732012-01-09T05:52:19.691-05:002012-01-09T05:52:19.691-05:00Dear Rabbi Rosen,
I live in Ramat Beit Shemesh Al...Dear Rabbi Rosen,<br /><br />I live in Ramat Beit Shemesh Aleph, and I object to the branding of the whole of Beit Shemesh because of the actions of a few thugs. Your readers should not think that our city is now reduced to having a "syndrome". There still are pockets of resistance. Come to visit us, and see the beautiful modern Orthodox communities that exist, with Israeli flags flying all year around. In our Shul within the last few weeks, and continuing over the next few, a series of Barmitzvahs, where all our congregation has come together, and celebrated together, with a beautiful kiddush after Shul. The communal atmosphere has been phenomenal, and I do not exaggerate when I say, that you could be on a different planet to what is painted in the press, and in your article. Of course there may be isolated incidents even by us, but the whole of the city should not be branded.Meirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-64853376673846837612012-01-05T14:59:59.902-05:002012-01-05T14:59:59.902-05:00Thanks, Leila. I definitely think you are right ab...Thanks, Leila. I definitely think you are right about people being easy to influence, as you are also pointing out in the case of the public's reaction to the news coverage of the events in Israel.Shoshinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-76768624574776096562012-01-05T14:36:51.732-05:002012-01-05T14:36:51.732-05:00Mea culpa Shoshi. I appreciate your comments but ...Mea culpa Shoshi. I appreciate your comments but quite often when I write my tongue is in my cheek and believe me when I say that I really have little time for what passes for news and comment in the media. I previously cited Sacha Baron Cohen to show how easy it is to influence people and cause them to do unpleasant things.Leilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-77068480135740470642012-01-05T06:57:27.854-05:002012-01-05T06:57:27.854-05:00Leila, I enjoy your frequent comments on Jeremy...Leila, I enjoy your frequent comments on Jeremy's blog, so please do not think I am trying to be snarky when I say that maybe a lesson can be learned from this not to make assumptions about people in the US or any other country based on negative portrayals in the media (and certainly not based on the manipulations in entertainment vehicles like "Borat").Shoshinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-9155533341096705342012-01-05T02:39:47.506-05:002012-01-05T02:39:47.506-05:00This Beth Shemesh group of antidiluvian fanatics, ...This Beth Shemesh group of antidiluvian fanatics, probably without a brain in their heads, are doubtless worthy of condemnation and punishment but you're right - it was ever thus in Israel (or in other Jewish communities).<br /><br />What offends me is the publicity this gets in the Western press. It's used to whip up anti-Jewish/Israeli fervour and contempt. I haven't seen one word about the honouring of that disgusting Nazi-lover, Ante Pavelic, with Christian masses by the priest, Lasic in Croatia. How can this be acceptable?Leilanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-13674600912989564312012-01-03T11:23:12.391-05:002012-01-03T11:23:12.391-05:00Adam:
Exellent point, there should indeed have bee...Adam:<br />Exellent point, there should indeed have been a greater response ( though to be fair the Chief Rabbis and Rav Pappenheim of the Eidah Chredit DID go in delegation to the Armenian Patriarch to apologize). This sort of behaviour has been there for years and just ignored as the excesses of mentally unstable youth. In Jerusalem it was often associated with the "Jerusalem Syndriome." I guess this was the tipping point largely because it was seenn to be spreading out of control.Rabbi Jeremy Rosenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12723608669485173271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-11994404742086785662012-01-03T11:04:10.947-05:002012-01-03T11:04:10.947-05:00Hi, Would be interested in your thoughts about the...Hi, Would be interested in your thoughts about the treatment of women in the Torah, Talmud, Shulchan Aruch etc. Could this help explain the mindset in which a fanatical Haredi fringe takes such action? See Yossi Sarid in Haaretz (the English version gets somewhat lost in translation): http://www.haaretz.co.il/opinions/1.1604955<br />Best wishes, SamSamnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6141014.post-86982769097128330562011-12-31T19:12:36.556-05:002011-12-31T19:12:36.556-05:00Shavua tov,
I'm interested in our reaction to...Shavua tov,<br /><br />I'm interested in our reaction to this spitting episode in Bet Shemesh. Even Agudah in the US put out a (wishy washy) statement of condemnation. Why is there such a strong reaction in this case, but virtually nothing when it's Christian priests being spat at?Adamnoreply@blogger.com