10 Comments

recently finished reading walter mead’s arc of a covenant. highly recommended! amongst other things illogical policy by governments (mostly US but also Britain in the 30s/40s) towards israel. and introduces the “Vulcanists” (no, not star trek)

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Hahaha. Russians are better at getting out of lines than Israelis. When I was a teenager, we came back to NY from Tel Aviv and this woman tried to cut in line in front of us, and my mom, raised. In Israel, stopped her and the woman acted like she spoke Russian only. So my mom spoke to her in Russian

She ended up cutting on line right behind us, in front of a group of Birthright kids. She brought along her 3 kids and husband. It was impressive.

When my mom took us to Rome, she did manage to cut in line to get into the Colosseum. It was both embarrassing and a relief, as the line was hours long

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I enjoyed listening to your spirited discussion yesterday regarding the challenges in current Israeli society, specifically regarding the differences in the secular and Orthodox communities. I do want to add a points:

1. Yael is correct that there is a significant underrepresentation of Haredi Jews in the Israel military. (Chaya Leah's reference to men in yarmulkes serving in the Israel military pertains to Orthodox, non-Haredi).

2. There is also an overrepresentation of adult males - not adult females - in the Haredi community not working.

These are significant challenges as the Israeli Haredi community is fast growing. And, unfortunately - contrary to Chaya Leah's comments - the needle is not really moving. Based on analysis I have heard, which sounds very sensible, this lack of change is due to public policy that permits Haredi men to undertake Torah study full-time.

3. I agree with Chaya Leah that there seems to be undo negative attention to the Haredi community on these issues from the secular Israeli community - and global Jewry - without similar denunciations toward other minority communities inside or outside of Israel. This is a double standard.

4. I am truly disappointed with the threat by Israelis to pick up and move from their home because of these judicial reform efforts. Even if you vehemently disagree with these efforts, this is unequivocally 100% wrong - even if it is not followed thru on.

Rather, you regroup on winning the next round of elections - while continuing to use every lever of influence to minimize actions taken by the party in power. Even when Trump was elected and millions of Americans were inconsolable, with the exception of a handful of celebrities, I do not remember people actually threatening to leave the US. That reaction by certain Israelis is absolutely beyond the pale of acceptability.

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The Israelis I know who say they are going to move is because the economy will go to shit due to the judicial reforms

We will see what happens

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These assumptions are preposterous at this point. People's imagination running absolutely away with them. Move to another country is the answer? It sounds like a eight-year old who threatens to take their ball and bat and go home. Except you are not going home. You're running away to countries you know very little about.

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Oh thank YHWH you’re back. I assumed you had disbanded the show because I missed the meet up.

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and i hoped it wasn’t due to what is happening in israel !

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favorite episode! So much to think about.

Barbie Mikvah would be 💎💅💄

Mazel tov, Rabbi Shmuly! Coke Zero is trash.

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Is there really a book club??? I just listened to Walter Mead on Honestly, and thought it was a great interview. Not sure I want to take on this light reading, but am considering it! Ha.

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Aug 1, 2023
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Lolol so true

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