"Tag Machmir"
"Tag
Mechir" (literally: Price Tag) is a tactic allegedly used by some extreme right wingers, whereby
any actions taken by the Government, Army or Police against Jewish settlements,
village and towns in Yehuda & Shomron are met with retaliatory actions.
The
concept of physical retaliation against our own people, even or particularly
when in uniform, or to innocent (Arab) bystanders, is anathema to the
overwhelming majority of the National Religious camp. These "tag machir"
tactics are resoundingly and correctly condemned by the community leadership.
In
the same way as the National Religious tend to have a chip on their right
shoulder about religious observance, sometimes imitate aspects of our Ultra-Orthodox brothers's ritual stringencies, I conjecture that the
"tag mechir" is a tactic learned also from the Ultra-Orthodox.
The
battle cry in Meah Shearim in Jerusalem and Ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Beit Shemesh, could be that of the Three
Musketeers – "All for One, and One for All!".
It appears that whenever any ultra-orthodox person is arrested for any crime, the streets
fill with angry rioters, trash is burned in the streets, cars and buses stoned –
in short, pandemonium breaks out.
It
seems to be immaterial the nature of the alleged crime.
This
week, it was a gang of alleged fraudsters, who are reported to have pocketed millions
of shekels of tzedaka funds.
Over
this past summer, protests turned to riots in Jerusalem, after police Police accompanied
tax authority and municipality officials, who raided a chicken slaughterhouse
belonging to Yoelish Krois, the unofficial "operations officer" of
the Eda Charedit.
In
another incident, weeks of riots broke out in Jerusalem
Here
in Beit Shemesh we recall the riots which broke out in Ramat Beit Shemesh Bet when
a body of a young woman was found in the local fields, in suspicious
circumstances, and her body was taken for an autopsy. The husband was reportedly
suspected of murdering the wife. Due to the riots, the autopsy was abandoned and
'suspected murder' category downgraded to "unknown causes".
I
have no doubt that this "tag mechir" - which I hereby dub "Tag Machmir" - policy of the ultra-orthodox is indeed effective – and the police must think a thousand times before arresting ultra-orthodox
criminals.
On
the other hand, who would want to live in a community where suspected criminals
of every description, protected by the local powers-that-be, can walk freely in
the streets – like Harlem in the 1990's – a no-go zone
for law and order?
David - that's a great expression "Tag Machmir".
ReplyDeleteSomeone should tell Dov to use it in his next Israeli TV interview.
These communities prefer to live alongside criminals, than to open up their community to the influence of Outsiders. It's the least of the two evils.
ReplyDeleteThat's why Hareidi communities have become a magnet for pedophiles and fraudsters. It's such easy pickings.
Remember, you first saw the phrase "tag machmir" right here!
ReplyDeleteAnon,
ReplyDeleteGive me a break!!! As if non-charedim don't have pedophiles and fraudsters and criminals.
Every group has good and bad
Isn't interesting however, how the judge censured the police for picking up some of the people that are innocent. (they were let go)(I'm not saying all are innocent,they may not be,I don't know)
But I have learned one thing from living in this wonderful country of ours for many years.
Many times the newspapers are completely wrong and many times the police pick up unfortunate innocent people. (I can tell you that, as some people I know have experienced police hospitality)
Uri and David,
ReplyDeleteYou're both right. Their rioting is wrong, disgusting and ......
But please don't lump together Charedim with Charedi anti-Zionists as they're are big differences.
However, you must understand where the rioting comes from. The Old Yishuv was here way before Israel became a state Baruch Hashem. The O'Y' lived with the Ottomans and British and felt they could live their way of life as best as possible.
When the new Jewish State came into existence, there were many anti -religious happenings (Yaldei teheran, Yeminites ,etc.)The State Zionist leaders were mainly (Not all of them) anti -religious. Many of today's leaders are anti-religious as well. The police are an extension of the government.If you go back from the 50's and 60's there were riots as well. The ongoing feud between the Charedim (anti-Zionists)and the police has been going on for decades. Many times , there has been police brutality against innocent victims
with broken bones, hospitalization and worse.
In the late 70's or early 80's , the police broke into Toldot Aharon in the middle of aravit on Motzaei Shaabbat and ransacked the place, injuring dozens and dozens. Even the Jerusalem Post was in an uproar against the police.
The Anti -Zionist Charedim feel that they can riot anytime being that many times the police have been wrong in the past. They feel they have no alternative besides this (crazy,wrong and dangerous)rioting. Do you expect them to go to the court system which they don't recognize? Most of them (Not Charedim but the anti-Zionists)do not take money from the Gov. Please don't think that I condone these riots. They are terrible.
And if you ask them why do they live here then,most will tell you that they were here before any Zionist Government.
Anon #2: "please don't lump together Charedim with Charedi anti-Zionists"
ReplyDeleteAny such 'confusion' or mistaken lumping together is not solely an issue of Uri and David.
To most of the world (those who care about such things) there is a spectrum of Hareidim, not separate, independent groups.
If you are drawing "Charedim" vs "Anti-Zionist Charedim" distinctions, and claiming that one group has nothing to do with the other, then:
1. Why do the Chareidi leaders not publicly condemn the anti-Zionist Chareidim when they act outrageously?
This even translates to the local RBS anglo Chareidi leaders - who while clearly different to the anti-Zionist Chareidim, still seem to feel a group bonding & loyalty to the anti-zionists.
2. Why are ALL Chareidi schools and shuls (even in RBS) outwardly anti-Zionist?
No flags, no Yom Ha'Atzmaut, no Army service, no prayer for Medinah/Chayalim, zilzul of any part of the Government (as you yourself do in your comment, re police etc).
Sorry - you can't distance Chareidim from anti-Zionist Chareidim. It's all part of the same Chareidi spectrum.
The Chareidim themselves have made this so.
Shmuel H
ReplyDeleteWhen I said 'do not lump them together, I was referring to the article alone, talking about rioting in a horrible fashion.
"The battle cry in Meah Shearim in Jerusalem and Ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods of Beit Shemesh, could be that of the Three Musketeers – "All for One, and One for All!".
It appears that whenever any ultra-orthodox person is arrested for any crime, the streets fill with angry rioters, trash is burned in the streets, cars and buses stoned – in short, pandemonium breaks out."
If you look at most of these Hafganot, they are not done by Charedim at large, They are usually done by the Meah Shearim-Beit Shemesh hooligans, That is what I meant about lumping them together. I was not talking about other aspects in which you're correct for the most part.
Shmuel H
ReplyDelete"zilzul of any part of the Government (as you yourself do in your comment, re police etc)."
If you call truth= Zilzul in Gov.policies, so be it
No government in the world has perfect policies including ours.
The Torah=-Tanach is very negative about Jews. Truth is ever so important.
Saying all of this-I'd say Boruch Hashem-Be'ezrat Hashem, look how far we've come in 63 years !!
Anon #2: "Many of today's leaders are anti-religious as well. The police are an extension of the government...etc..etc"
ReplyDeleteAnd now:
"If you call truth= Zilzul in Gov.policies, so be it
No government in the world has perfect policies including ours."
Of course all police forces around the world are accused of being both:
1. Too soft on real criminals.
2. Too tough on us (regardless if "us" is blacks in the USA, democracy protesters in Cairo, or hareidim/sephardim/dati leumi/Establishment etc in Israel)
The unique aspect of the Hareidi allegations of police brutality, is they "lump it in" with historical revisionism and delegitimization of the Zionist State of Israel.
Indeed Anon2 did this by lumping in alleged police brutality against today's ultra-loonies, together with the pre-State Hareidi presence in Eretz Yisrael (whereas Hareidim didn't exist in the time of Gra etc), the "anti-religious" Founding Fathers, allegations of kidnappings of Yeminite babies, a police raid on Toldot Aharon yeshiva...etc..
It is very easy to understand why ignorant folks like us, would 'lump together' the loonies with other Hareidim.
The Hareidim, and Anon#2 in his comments, do it constantly themselves.
P.S. Anon#2 - what on earth are you referring to by: "The Torah=-Tanach is very negative about Jews. Truth is ever so important."
Uhh?!
Why do you keep saying "allegations" and "alleged" on things based on fact.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think there is no police brutality over here? Do you really think our founding fathers were pro-religious?
Read the the true history of what happened and you'll understand.
I suppose there is no police brutality when they evict the settlers from places too.And I'm sure at Gush Katif, there was none what so-ever.
And as far as the Torah being negative , about Jews, I meant the Torah doesn't hide the faults of our forefathers ,Nevi'im and our leaders- because truth is very important. Saying that -We can and should acknowledge wrongdoings of the leaders of our State. (Let's face it, no government is completely righteous)And that is why I said we have our faults and have done wrong. Yet, with all of that, look how far we have gotten Be'ezrat Hashem in 63 years.
Let us hope that we set the example for the world and "Be a light unto the Nations."