Justice

OK, I will tell you outright before I even get started that I am a huge proponent of the death penalty. I think the only way in which a society can truely call itself civilized is to hold people accountable for their actions, and I strongly believe that there are actions and transgressions that warrant the proper retribution of death. That being said, I am very upset and disheartened that Israel does not have the death penalty, and I hope that fact changes some day. However, this article is not about the death penalty. If any-one would like to have a debate about it, that's fine, but that's not the point of this article.

A couple of weeks ago, in the Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox sect) section of Jerusalem, a young Haredi man was taking a nap. His infant child was crying in the next room. The incessent noise was bothering his sleeping father. So what does he do to quiet his child down? Why he goes into the room, grabs the baby, and throws the child against the wall. The child is taken to the hospital with massive trauma to the head, and the father is arrested. Shortly after, the child dies, and his "father" is now facing murder charges. A horriffic crime that deserves just punishment.

What has been the Haredi community's response? Have they expressed sorrow? Have they expressed rage against this horrendous act that this father has committed? Have they screamed for justice? In a word, NO!!! Instead, they have called this a government conspiracy against the Haredi community. They have claimed this man's innocense and have simply said that this is the government's way of framing a Haredi man and making a mockery out of the Ultra-Orthodox community. This morning, the newspaper, Maariv reported that there were riots and fires in the Haredi community in Jerusalem to protest the arrest and prosecution of the young man. Well, they are calling it religious persecution.

I must state straight out. This is in no way a reflection of the Haredi community, as a whole. These people are committing what in Judaism is called a Chillul HaShem; a "Desecration of the Name". The name is G-d. They are desecrating G-d. Most people get confused about this law because they say a Chilul HaShem can only be committed by Jews in front of non-Jews. They are wrong. The worst Chilul HaShem is when it is committed by Jews in front of fellow Jews. I am what would be called a Modern Orthodox Jew. I keep the Sabbath, and I keep Kosher, and all supplamenting laws, but I wear pants, I have a job, and go to school, etc. Even-though I come from a Hasidic back-ground, my family has never kept the superficial traditions of the our sects. My dad never wore a big furry hat, the coat, the stockings (that's really only followed by a couple of sects of Hasidut), the belt, and whatever superficiality is associated with Hasidim. We followed other traditions when it came to prayers and certain things we did on holidays. I will admit, though, that I do have numerous problems with the Ultra-Orthodox sect of Judaism. I believe that they partake in what I call the "Catholicization of religion". They go out of their way to place stricter rules and traditions upon themselves to the point where it doesn't even resemble the original law, and, many times, after the tradition has been followed for many years, they think that Jews that don't follow the rules their way are doing it wrong. This leads to riffs within the various communities in the religion. It is things like this that led to the destruction of the Second Temple; Sinat Chinum, "Baseless Hate".

That qualification being made, I think that what this community is doing in defense of this horrific murderer is absolutely disgusting and abhorring. They should be demanding justice for a little child who could do nothing to protect itself from a "father" who couldn't control his anger and annoyance. It's fine to say that, of course, this man is innocent until proven guilty (although the evidence against him is overwhelming). That is perfectly legitimate and expected. But, to start protesting and claiming that this is nothing more than a conspiracy against the Haredi community is deplorable. Every reigning Rabbi and religious authority in the country, for that matter, the world, should be standing up and publically calling for this specific Haredi community to stop making such a terrible Desecration. They should also be calling for justice for this infant's killer and, of course, for a fair trial.

If we, as a Jewish community, do not say anything to condemn this kind of behavior than we have no right to call ouselves G-d-fearing Jews. WE should be defending the victim here, the infant. That is it.