Real Jews: Secular Versus Ultra- Orthodox: The Struggle For Jewish Identity In IsraelMost Americans would be shocked and disturbed to learn that the harsh rhetoric of virulent anti-Semitism is alive and thriving in Israel. Israel is a Jewish state, after all, so the anti-Semitism found there could hardly be aimed at all Jews. In fact, the Israeli brand of anti-Semitism pits secular Jews against fundamentalist Jews, the ones in traditional clothing following exacting religious rules.Writing from his unique vantage as a Tel Aviv resident, Noah Efron examines the discomfiture and spleen that some secular Jews feel when confronted with their ultra-Orthodox brethren. He recounts the difficult history of the ultra-Orthodox in Europe and Palestine, and examines their role in Israel, a country obsessed with and conflicted about what it means to be a Jew. Despite political, economic, cultural, and religious reasons for the tension between the two groups, little can explain the ferocity with which the Orthodox are loathed today, or the shocking rhetoric that many secular Jews use to denounce and ridicule them. This chilling and disturbing book documents the terrible details of an animosity based partly on fact and partly on a fantasy that threatens the future of Israel. |
Contents
A Society of Slackers? | 57 |
Drowning in a Sea of Black | 99 |
Shylock at the Mall | 142 |
Copyright | |
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Agudah anti-Haredi anti-Semitism army Aryeh Deri Ashkenazi Badatz Bar Ilan Ben-Gurion Blau Bnei Brak budget called campaign coalition culture democracy Deri's dozens election Europe European fact fear fraud Gutnick Ha'aretz Haredim Hebrew Hofshit Holy Land Horowitz Israel issue Jerusalem Jewish Judaism kashrut kids Knesset kosher Labor Lapid leaders Likud live Lubavitch maskilim Meah Shearim ment Meretz minister Ministry Modiin Moshe Nahal Haredi Nazis neighborhood Netanyahu Neturei Karta organized Orthodox Ovadiah Yosef Palestine Palestinians parasites parents party percent police polling problem proselytizing protest rabbis Ramat Aviv Rebbe religion religious reported residents Sabbath schools secular Israelis secular Jews Sephardi serve Shabbat Shach Shas shekels Shinui society soldiers sort story street Supreme Court Talmud tion told Tommy Lapid Torah traditional traditionalists ultra ultra-Orthodox Jews vote voters yeshivot Yizhak Yosef Yossi Zionists