Israel Weekly News Roundup, Oct 6 , 2023
5 Things you need to know
1. A New Insulting Phenomenon; Jews Against Christians
Ultra orthodox Jews, attacked Christian pilgrims walking the Via Delarosa in the Old City of Jerusalem, by spitting at them or at the ground when they pass by. The phenomenon, was exacerbated in the last few days, by the friction between Jews and Christian communities during the Jewish holidays. The Jerusalem police arrested five suspects on charges of assault. Political leaders, across the board, condemned the events, and apologized to the Christian community in Israel and the pilgrims who came to visit the holy places in the Old City and walk in the footsteps of Jesus along the renowned Via Dolarosa. PM Netanyahu published an apology and condemnations in his social media accounts, mainly in English.
Other ultra orthodox leaders claimed that this is an old Jewish custom, that should be taken in proportion, and not treated seriously. This news item made headlines all over the world in all major media outlets.
2. Israeli Chief Sephardic Rabbi Rails Against Secular Jews
Rabbi Yitzhak Yossef, one of the two chief Rabbis of Israel, was recorded saying that secular Jews have lower intelligence. The exact phrase reads: "They are poor souls...they are jealous of us. They see the Haredi sector, with its holidays and children, it is all jealousy. And the hate is developed from jealousy.” He added: “a person who eats non-kosher food, his brain gets stupid, he can’t understand things, doesn’t get it. As soon as he starts keeping kosher, you can start to influence him.”
These accusation fell right in the middle of the secular-orthodox split, which was inflamed during Yom Kippur, the most holy day in the Jewish calendar. On Yom Kippur there was a vocal confrontation and clash between extreme right-wing orthodox Jews who wanted to impose gender based separation during public prayers held in open air squares in many cities, towns and municipalities especially those with large secular communities.
At the end of the holiday, which is a solemn day of fasting, right-wing leaders, including PM Netanyahu accused the “lefties” for attacking Jews during the most sacred day in the Jewish calendar.
It is important to say in this context that in Israel there is no separation between religion and state. The two national Chief Rabbis, one Sephardi and one Ashkenazi, as well as all municipal Rabbis are state employees. They also officiate as religious Halacha judges at the Rabbinical courts which by law are authorized to rule as the sole authority in all Jewish matrimonial issues
3. Minister of National Security Ben Gvir and Police Pushing for Use of Deadly Force Against Arab Demonstrators
According to a breaking news update by Kan Channel 11 news, the police and the Ministry of National Security are seeking to allow the use of live fire against rioters who block roads during an emergency. This, according to Ben Gvir, in preparation for a scenario in which Arab citizens of Israel will attempt to block the passage of military convoys during a security situation. Channel 11 also reported that a similar recommendation came from the committee for the establishment of the National Guard, that minister Ben Gvir is pushing for, as part of his conditions to be a member of Netanyahu’s coalition. The committee even went a step further and recommended easing the instructions to open fire against rioters during any emergency, and not just in the face of blocking convoys.
This controversial move by the ministry of national security and the police comes twenty years after the Or Commission, established following the October 2000 events where thirteen Arab citizens were shot dead by police snipers, determined that "firing with live fire is not a means of dispersing a crowd."
In the meantime, the death toll in the Arab community continues to spike. A 26-year-old woman was shot dead during a gun fight in the northern city of Shefar’am, and another woman was severely wounded.
4. PM Netanyahu And His Wife Sara, Face Intense Demonstrations
The Neyanyahus’ decided to spend their Jewish Holiday in the same hotel they occupied a few weeks ago. The boutique hotel, at the northern part of the Golan Heights, is located in a small community. The PM and his wife faced intense demonstrations even at the late hour of their arrival, whereby they attempted to avoid a confrontation with the protestors.
The protests against the judicial overhaul have continued for forty weeks in a row. Forty weeks that hundred of thousands of Israelis all over the country come out to protest every Saturday night, and many protest at every event in which a member of PM Netanyahu’s coalition is a participant, in Israel and elsewhere in the world. This is a world phenomenon.
5. Prof. Alice Shalvi, a Leading Feminist Pioneer, Dies Aged 97
Alice Shalvi was an icon of Israel’s feminist movement, a Shakespeare scholar, educator, and activist. Born in 1926 in Essen, Germany, she emigrated with her family to England in 1934, and in 1949, came to Israel. In 1966 she received a doctorate in English literature and served as a senior lecturer and researcher at Ben Gurion University and the Hebrew University. She also served as rector of the Schechter Institute for Jewish Studies. In 1975, Professor Shalvi volunteered to run the Pelech Religious High School for Girls in Jerusalem, where she made radical changes, implementing open education, which put the students at the center. She ran the school in the spirit of religious feminism and Pelech became one of the first schools to advocate for democratic education. In 1984, she founded the Israel Women’s Network, one of Israel’s leading feminist organizations. In addition to promoting women's rights, Professor Shalvi worked for years to advance other social goals. She was one of the leaders in the campaign for the separation of religion and state, for the promotion of Jewish pluralism in Israel, and an avid advocate for human rights, Jewish-Palestinian dialogue, and peace.
In 2007, Shalvi received the prestigious Israel Prize for women’s rights, religious pluralism, and peace. In their reasoning, the Israel Prize committee members wrote: "All her life, Shalvi has been a revolutionary and a trailblazer with courage, intellectual integrity and a long-term vision. In two main areas, which are intertwined, her special personal stamp is imprinted: in the field of education and in the field of women's status and well-being".
Alice’s funeral was held in Jerusalem, attended by hundreds of her former students, feminist activists and colleagues.
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