The week that followed the devastating Lag B'Omer stampede can be described in two words: love and alienation.
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On the one hand, all of Israel – secular, leftist, Arab, and Druze – embraced the Haredi sector and mobilized to donate blood, offer financial support, and visit the mourners' homes.
It turns out that contrary to what the media depicts, the Israeli public does love the Haredim and considers them an integral part of our society.
On the other hand, while the public is incredibly supportive of the ultra-Orthodox as individuals, the disaster exacerbated alienation from the Haredi worldview even more. The response of sage Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky to the tragedy is just one such example.
The public cannot accept the view that such a heartbreaking tragedy was fated and that the answer is to become more stringent in one's observance.
It is a classic religious response to a tragedy, and there might be a place for it in the discourse. However, compared to efforts to find out who is responsible for the catastrophe that claimed 45 lives or making sure that such a disaster never happens again, the theological "Why did this happen to us?" seems detached, messianic, and outright dangerous.
The Meron disaster raises many questions that dive into the very core of the ultra-Orthodox way of life. The culture of separatism and disregard for the modern State of Israel are just two of the destructive characteristics that describe most aspects of Haredi life.
These were manifested in the ultra-Orthodox public's response to the coronavirus pandemic: government restrictions did not matter, guidelines were disregarded, and religious institutions continued to operate despite lockdowns.
The Haredi public must understand: last week's embrace comes at a price. Love and solidarity come with expectations, and the list of those expectations is long.
When it comes to health and protecting life, it is clear that the ultra-Orthodox way of life has failed abysmally. But it doesn't end there.
It is getting harder to understand the ultra-Orthodox public's voluntary choice of poverty and culture of donations, aid and dependence. Israelis are growing tired of extremism and separatism, too.
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