David Sable used the Beit Shemesh fiasco as an opportunity to lash out viciously against other Jews in his article, “Stop Enabling Our Jewish Fanatics”(Opinion, Jan. 20).
First of all, the worst sign of bigotry is to lump everyone together and to tar them with the same brush. As a Jew, Sable should be aware that this has been done too many times in the course of our history with terrible results.
Secondly, there are plenty of religious Jews in Israel (with black coats) who earn a living, pay taxes and serve in the Israeli army. Referring to those who wear black coats, etc., as haredim and then
blaming them for the behavior of a small minority of bigoted crazies is nothing but callous. And if they happen to have a different set of criteria for what they would like a Jewish state to be or for how Jews should behave — isn’t that what free speech is all about?
They are also Jews and trying to keep to the Torah. If they are more to the right than we are, so be it.
Thirdly, the Second Temple was destroyed as a result of causeless hatred. We are told that the Third Temple will be rebuilt if we have unconditional love for our fellow Jews. Something to think about, no?
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