An ultra-Orthodox Jew throws a potato at police during a protest against the opening of a parking lot in Jerusalem June 27, 2009. Ultra-Orthodox Jews protesting the opening of the parking lot on the Jewish sabbath clashed with police separating them and secular demonstrators who held a counter protest in support of the move. (Darren Whiteside/Reuters)

Israelis riot, thanks be to God

DiggThis

Orthodox Jews face off against secularists in the Holy Land — a sign that all is well.

By Matt Beynon Rees - GlobalPost
Published: July 3, 2009 14:45 ET

JERUSALEM — Ultra-orthodox Jews have been rioting the last few weeks against a parking lot the municipality wants to leave open during the Jewish Sabbath, leading to dozens of arrests and quite a few moderate to serious injuries. Secular activists have held protests in favor of free garaging for those who defy God by driving on Saturday.

All of which is a sign of good times in Israel.

Here’s why: It shows that Israelis think there’s nothing worse to worry about.

When I first came to Jerusalem in 1996, the ultra-Orthodox, or "Haredim" as they’re known here (it means “those who quake,” as in quaking before the wrathful God of the Jewish Bible) used to riot over a major thoroughfare that ran through one of their neighborhoods. They wanted Bar-Ilan Street closed between sundown Friday and the onset of Saturday night.

The Sabbath, they argued, ought to be sacred to every Jew, but at the very least no one ought to drive along Bar-Ilan, reminding them that its sanctity was being violated (by people who in turning their keys in the ignition were violating the rabbinic commandment not to kindle a flame on the Sabbath. It’s one of 39 tasks “set aside” on the Sabbath, because they were used in building the Ark of Covenant and therefore shouldn’t be carried out on the day of rest. No ritual slaughtering, tanning — of leather, that is — or separating of threads is allowed either, for example).

In my neighborhood, there was one old white-bearded rabbi who used to sit on a stool at the side of the road reading and wagging his finger at me as I drove by. But in more religious neighborhoods there was real violence. In Mea Shearim, the heart of ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem, gangs of black-hatted rioters used to light trash cans on fire, throw stones, kick and spit on journalists, and aim rather feeble punches at policemen. (Feeble because almost all the rioters are full-time yeshiva students who are, to say the least, short on regular physical activity.)

Secular activists used to counter-protest in Jerusalem. They’d turn up, too, at shopping malls near largely secular Tel Aviv to barrack the so-called “Sabbath inspectors,” non-Jews employed by the government to hand out fines to businesses that opened on the holy day.

This was among the most important issues of those days.

Then came the intifada. The Sabbath wasn’t so contentious anymore with suicide bombers working every day of the week. Maybe it’s also that Israeli Jews decided it was time to unite against their attackers.

Comments:

No Comments.

Login or Register to post comments

Recent on Israel and Palestine:

Opinion: Bringing the Mideast to America

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - February 1, 2010 06:55 ET

Often a novelist can humanize foreign affairs in ways a journalist can't.

Israeli "domestic issues" take on new meaning

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - January 25, 2010 06:41 ET

Alleged abuse of staff by Netanyahu's third wife opens him up to political attack.

Anti-Israel protests target young tennis star

Mark Starr - Sports - January 22, 2010 09:03 ET

In response, 22-year-old Shahar Peer insists politics have nothing to do with her match on the court.

Back to diplomacy school for Israel?

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - January 21, 2010 07:16 ET

OK, the Turkish TV show was offensive, but was Israel's humiliating response helpful?

Israeli ultra-orthodox rail against net use

Ben Lynfield - Israel and Palestine - January 16, 2010 11:12 ET

Sensing a threat, the rabbis have forced the closure of several ultra-orthodox websites.

Palestinan road to nowhere

Daniella Cheslow - Israel and Palestine - January 13, 2010 06:37 ET

The Israeli Army shut Highway 443 for security. A court reopened it for equality.

Israelis put up a parking lot

Daniella Cheslow - Israel and Palestine - January 13, 2010 06:36 ET

Analysis: The "Palestinian Nelson Mandela"

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - January 12, 2010 06:44 ET

Marwan Barghouti, serving five life sentences in an Israeli jail, is a key sticking point in negotiations between Israel and Hamas over kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.

Analysis: Israel listening to world opinion?

Ben Lynfield - Israel and Palestine - January 7, 2010 18:19 ET

International reactions to the Gaza war are behind Israel's decision to consult lawyers on military action.

"Miss Palestine" hopefuls sent home

Catrina Stewart - Israel and Palestine - December 22, 2009 06:48 ET

No point blaming Israeli occupation — the contest faced its strongest opposition inside the West Bank.

A not-so-merry Christmas in Bethlehem

Catrina Stewart - Israel and Palestine - December 21, 2009 06:48 ET

A lack of tourists, kept away by tour operators and — traders say — the Israeli security barrier, has Bethlehem traders facing a bleak festive season.

A four-state solution for Israel?

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - December 10, 2009 06:38 ET

Palestinians are divided; Israelis too. Not a good basis for negotiation.

Opinion: For Israel and Syria, peace is within reach

Mohamad Bazzi - Worldview - December 8, 2009 10:36 ET

Why the Obama administration should focus on Israel-Syria relations, over Israel-Palestine.

On Location: Tel Aviv

Sara Sorcher - Israel and Palestine - December 5, 2009 11:15 ET

The West Bank's third intifada approaches

Matt Beynon Rees - Israel and Palestine - November 28, 2009 09:16 ET

Rain on the streets of Bethlehem can't cool simmering tension.

Where the turkey is called chompipe and other Thanksgiving stories

News Desk - Worldview - November 26, 2009 12:40 ET

Tales from Thanksgivings on four continents, not including North America.

Behold: the world's 10 fattest countries

Laurie Cunningham - Commerce - November 26, 2009 09:31 ET

It's a big world, after all. We're talking to you, American Samoa. Kiribati, too.