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Q&A: Prohibition of Racist Expressions Toward Haredim

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This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.

Prohibition of Racist Expressions Toward Haredim

Question

Hello Rabbi,
Recently an article was published about banning racist expressions toward Haredim. What do you think of this law?
Best regards,

Answer

I haven’t read it, but the headline alone is already outrageous. But don’t worry, such a law won’t pass.

Discussion on Answer

I am the Lord your God; you shall have no other gods before Me—we heard that. The rest… (2023-06-12)

What about racist expressions toward LGBT people
or women or Reform Jews—
is that allowed?

Michi (2023-06-12)

I didn’t understand the question. In my view, any racist expression ought to be permitted because there is freedom of speech. Only incitement should be forbidden. But if racism is prohibited, then it should be prohibited regardless of this or that group in the population.
By the way, just a pedantic note: expressions toward Haredim, women, LGBT people, or Reform Jews are not connected to racism, because we’re not talking about a race.
In addition, it would also be good to define the term racism, since in my opinion it has no clear definition. I wrote about this in several columns here in the past.

Michi (2023-06-12)

Words of pure truth:
https://mobile.srugim.co.il/article/803471

Halfon (2023-06-13)

Words of pure truth?
He himself mixes up incitement and racism.

Rabbi Ofran begins with this:
The government approved the proposed law that would treat incitement against Haredim as racism. Incitement is a bad thing, and incitement against a group is a very bad thing. Alongside that, one must remember—Haredism is not a “race”; it is a worldview.

Correct, and therefore the law does ‘not’ state that incitement against Haredim is considered racism, but only incitement in every respect.

He also writes:
And seriously: to hear lectures about racism from Haredi society in Israel, the same society that is divided into parties on the basis of ethnic affiliation, is one of the most extreme displays of lack of self-awareness we’ve seen here lately.

He’s right that they are racist and discriminatory, but what does that have to do with incitement? Haredim are not inciting against other ethnic groups.
They simply behave toward them in a racist way; all they are protesting is incitement alone!

Michi (2023-06-13)

Of course, “Haredi” also starts with the letter het. There are lots more wonderful distinctions like that. By your wonderful logic, Putin too could complain about incitement, because he doesn’t incite—he just murders. Don’t you understand on your own that someone who himself discriminates cannot protest incitement to discrimination?
As for the vagueness surrounding matters of racism and the connection to race, I already commented on that above.
And about this it was said: Givat Halfon does not answer…

Halfon (2023-06-13)

It answers very much so—to whoever wants to listen, or at least tries.
Relax. I didn’t really think you’d answer substantively; whenever it’s about Haredim, you lose it easily. Nothing new.
There has been racist discrimination among Haredim for many years in institutions and in matchmaking and more (not economic, and certainly not violent).
What that has to do with the mass murderer Putin, even the Holy One, blessed be He, does not know.
As disgusting as Haredi racism may be, it is not as dangerous as incitement by definition.
By contrast, the “incitement” raging today in the studios and in the streets—which has not even a shred of criticism or expression of protest in it
(Gantz/Lapid offered them much more, and we all know everything would have been fine)
but rather an aspiration to activism in the style of artworks featuring a hanging rope and SS uniforms—
Haredim today suffer harassment in the street, and some are physically harmed by citizens filled with hatred like you.
People who are simply tired of hearing and talking and have started moving to actions only because they are being allowed to.
All these are direct results of constant incitement, which the law is trying to stop, and especially its consequences.
And this, to my horror, you do not even agree should be prevented.

Michi (2023-06-13)

Well, you apparently aren’t reading. This is a waste of time.

Just Some Guy (2023-06-13)

Rabbi Michi, I would recommend that you read Column 571; there are some interesting laws there that create infinite circularity.
Haredim = the self-echoing fallacy.

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