Sorry, Michi, but to say that Haredi Judaism is detached from the Jewish people is a serious mistake, because what you see in reality is that it knows how to mix with secular people and the broader public more than the Mizrahi sector does with secular people, despite the fact that they serve in the army. And to say that Haredi Judaism is also not moral — that’s not so clear. Thanks.

To say that Haredi Judaism is detaching from the Jewish people is ignorance at best. Anyone who knows even a little is aware that, if anything, the opposite process is happening. Far more are going out to work today (not as kashrut supervisors but in high-tech, advertising, and much more), many send their children to state-Haredi schools, something that once would have seemed like a complete delusion, many fine people are going into “civilian” tracks within the army, like Kodkod, Cybelo, and many more; we’re talking about hundreds in each intake, and the Haredi classes in the universities are getting more and more full. Shlomo Filber always says that within a few years the market will be flooded with working Haredim, who are currently in the study stages.

For all the difficulties with the “morality” of the Haredim — and there really are many serious problems there — on the other hand, [from clear personal knowledge] there are among them people with a level of morality found in no other sector in Israel, or in the world בכלל.

But aside from the issue of morality — to say they are detaching from the people is to be detached from yourself, because without the Haredim there would be no “people” here, only a collection of secular and light-religious Jews heading in a gentile direction and mixing and mixing until fully assimilated, God forbid —
so with all the criticism I also have of this sector, they are the ones preserving us as a people.

In addition, they are the ones who give us grounds to justify our existence in the state, so that we are not just land-stealing murderers — because between ourselves, the deteriorating secular person has no real answer to the charge that he stole the land; the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) and history are not an answer for someone who desecrates the Sabbath or someone who believes in the Torah only partially….

Suppose everything you’re saying about the Haredim is true. (There is definitely a lack of proportion in the buckets of contempt you’re pouring on them.) Then study a little history and see what the Orthodox did in earlier generations, and you’ll see many, many immoral things and ways of thinking that are Haredi in the strictest sense. So Rabbi Michi can’t relate to the Haredim the way he does, while relating to Rabbi Akiva Eger and the Chatam Sofer (for example) with respect and admiration.

I hope I’ll be forgiven for not responding to the nonsense arguments raised here. Anyone with a brain can see this even without my addressing it. Except, of course, for those who were raised in captivity.

The basic premise here is ridiculous. Where exactly is “the Jewish people” expressed — in Tel Aviv or Herzliya? They look, think, and behave exactly like their European and American counterparts (just angrier).

A secular Jew from Tel Aviv or Los Angeles has nothing in common with a Jew from Krakow of the Rema, from Barcelona of the Rashba, or from Mata Mehasya of Rav Ashi. I’m afraid that the Jews in our time who would find the broadest common denominator with those figures are the Haredim. To claim that they are “detaching from the Jewish people,” when in practice they are the ones who most represent it and continue its tradition, is an absurd claim — regardless of the justified criticism of them.

Rabbi Michi, may he live long — no one disputes that you are a genius and wise — but allow me to say that the nonsense arguments are currently on your side: to say that Christianity has morality while the Haredim do not — what about the Inquisition and the Crusades? Do you know a Haredi person who would even entertain such a thought?
And I’m not ignoring the sharp criticism of them at all, even though they also have very good sides in the realm of behavior and morality.
How, as someone who observes Torah and commandments, can you say such a thing about an entire ציבור in Israel? Even if it really were corrupt, this goes against significant parts of the Torah.

David, one of Michi’s basic laws is that you have to say the truth even if it causes harm (the prohibition of evil speech? impossible), especially when it is for a constructive purpose. Clearly the hatred toward the Haredi public that will be stirred up by his words will prompt them to rethink things: “Something here isn’t connected to us — why does everyone hate us?” So one should definitely be grateful to Rabbi Michi, may he live long.

It’s not at all clear what Rabbi Michi, may he live long, wanted with his response, “I won’t address it etc.” If these are nonsense arguments, then whoever understands will understand — what’s the point of labeling them? If you have substantive arguments, present them; if not, then go ahead and say that too — but you taught us, Rabbi, that there is no point in labeling (unless there is some flaw in the analogy from everyone else to you, such that others are not allowed to label and you are — so help us uncover that flaw).

A pointless discussion.
A bizarre and foolish question. Of course there is no connection between Christianity and Haredi Judaism — not in how they arose, not in the past, and not in the present. There isn’t even the slightest resemblance. It’s simply bizarre and unrelated.
Michi’s answer is also strange, but at least in his case I can judge favorably that the stupid question didn’t leave him many options. He has a policy of answering everyone — what, was he supposed to give a substantive answer?

A question of my own: are the Haredim (Haredi Judaism) basically a soccer team? They both have a uniform and need a ball.

Hahahahahaha