Pacific Jewish Center | Rabbi » Messilas Yesharim

Forced Assimilation in Israel

rabbifink — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:17:04 +0000

Ethiopian Jews Arriving in Israel During Operation Solomon

One of my favorite things about visiting Israel is the diversity of Jewish people, practices and customs. In particular, the Kotel is a special place for so many Jewish people and even non-Jewish people. I always marvel at the beauty of the stones and all the people there to soak in their glory.

The only shul that I know of that rivals the Kotel in diversity is the Shul on the Beach where I am the rabbi. It really is remarkable. It is not quite the diversity of the Kotel, but Pacific Jewish Center is probably a slightly distant second.

Unfortunately, there are some people who do not value diversity. Some people desire uniformity in action, thought and dress. The latest victim of this attitude was chronicled in a recent AP article.

The Israeli rabbinate has proclaimed that the Ethiopian Jewish community religious leaders, called kessoch, no longer be recognized by the State of Israel. The control over who is recognized as a legitimate spiritual leader in Israel is in the hands of the Rabbinate.

At this point, most, if not all of the kessoch have abandoned their traditional dress and now conform to the standard of Ashkenazik rabbis who wear dark suits, white shirts and black hats. Traditionally, the kessoch worse turbans and clothing that is appropriate for a community with roots in North Africa.

Some of their customs were already abandoned when they emigrated to Israel. These were customs that varied greatly from the practiced version of orthodox Judaism in Israel. But now, they are being forced to completely assimilate into the dominant version of Judaism in Israel.

This is not a matter of whether or not the Ethiopian Jews are legitimate. The working assumption is that they have converted if necessary and are now full-fledged Jews. The issue is that once they are Jews, they are not being permitted to have official rabbis who hail from their communities. These communities were self regulated and ruled for hundreds and hundreds of years. Now, they are being forced to give that up.

I find it sad and ironic the Jews are forcing assimilation on other Jews.

Link: ABC News

Thoughts on Kiryas Joel: The Poorest City in America

rabbifink — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 04:12:33 +0000

This post is a direct continuation of the previous post (Book Review | Unchosen).

Over Pesach, the NY Times featured a front page article about Kiryas Joel, the Satmar enclave in Upstate New York. See: Kiryas Joel, N.Y., Lands Distinction as Nation’s Poorest Place.

It received minimal attention on the blogs because of its timing. Had it been during a peak blogging season I am sure it would have been the talk of the town. As it was, the article raised some very important issues about Kiryas Joel, welfare in Chassidus, welfare in general and Chassidus in general.

First, the facts. The poorest place in America with a population of more than 10,000 is Kiryas Joel. KJ is a community that is exclusively chassidic and overwhelmingly Satmar. The second poorest place is a distance speck in the rear view mirror statistically. KJ claims a nearly 70% poverty rate and the second poorest place, Athens Ohio has a 56% poverty rate. The distance between the two is astronomical.

However, KJ is more like suburbia than a typical poverty stricken neighborhood. Nice late model cars are parked in front of upscale stores, women push nice new strollers and there is virtually no street crime. The more affluent members of the community help their poorer neighbors out with free loans and charity. No one goes hungry. The funds are funneled through the religious leadership of the community as are almost all communal matters.

On the one hand, the generosity is admirable. The sense of trust and connection between members of the community is special and should be commended.

On the other hand, some of the ex-chasids in Unchosen see it differently. It is their belief that the leadership of KJ and similar enclaves purposely keep their communities poor. The leadership uses it as a way of asserting their control over the community. People who are uneducated, making little money and with little transferable skills make for good zombie soldiers.

The leadership of the community maintains control over the services for the community so if you want a bite of the apple you need to walk the walk. Not only are financial benefits tied to good standing in the eyes of the leadership of the community, but their opinion of you will determine many other social benefits that are bestowed upon members of the community in good standing. Good recommendations for potential spouses requires their approval as well.

One is not permitted to question the system, the leaders or the ideals. The leaders set the rules and there is no room for question or dissent. One opinion, one set of rules, one way of life period.

I believe this kind of leadership is fascist. This is not democracy. It is a dictatorship. It is a communist regime. It is a stark reminder that absolute power, absolutely corrupts.

Oppressing people so that they will be obedient is downright evil. Requiring them to live by an arbitrary set of rules and regulations and cutting them off if they don’t is a travesty.

If these allegations are true, the leadership of these communities is responsible and reprehensible. That is the worst case scenario. The best case scenario is that the leadership does not realize that this is the result of their choices. But that makes the situation no less dire.

For most people living in these communities there is no way out. They rely on their neighbors and friends for everything and they are severely limited in their ability to earn a living outside the community. They speak english as a second language and have below high school level educations.

The sad irony is that chassidus was created to give everyone an opportunity to connect with the spiritual and religious. It was the everyman Judaism. Today , in some places, [and let me be clear, this is about specific isolated enclaves,] it has been relegated to a cult of blind adherence to leaders who inherited their positions from their fathers or pay the price. This is not what chassidus was supposed to be.

That is something even a non-chasid like me can get upset by.

(Tomorrow this will be discussed in the context of the recent arson incident in New Square)

Mesillas Yesharim 10/24/10

rabbifink — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 03:01:41 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 10/17/10

rabbifink — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 03:02:28 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 10/10/10

rabbifink — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 03:00:37 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 9/5/10

rabbifink — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:56:44 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 8/29/10

rabbifink — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 02:53:49 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 8/15/10

rabbifink — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:50:24 +0000

(Previous class missing)

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 6/20/10

rabbifink — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 02:49:36 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 5/30/10

rabbifink — Mon, 31 May 2010 02:47:58 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 5/16/10

rabbifink — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:42:45 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 5/9/10

rabbifink — Mon, 10 May 2010 02:30:55 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 5/2/10

rabbifink — Mon, 03 May 2010 02:25:32 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 4/25/10

rabbifink — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 02:24:39 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 4/18/10

rabbifink — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 02:23:19 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 4/11/10

rabbifink — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 02:17:56 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 3/14/10

rabbifink — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:14:47 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Messilas Yesharim 3/7/10

rabbifink — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:30:04 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 2/21/10

rabbifink — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:28:10 +0000

Chapter 11.

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Mesillas Yesharim 2/7/10

rabbifink — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:26:52 +0000

Chapter 11 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 1/31/10

rabbifink — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 01:25:13 +0000

Chapter 10 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 1/10/10

rabbifink — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 01:11:42 +0000

Chapter 9 continued.

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Mesillas Yesharim 12/06/09

rabbifink — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:16:30 +0000

We ventured further into Chapter 9 today.

The Ramchal’s insights into laziness, anxiety and rational fear continue to amaze me.

Today contrasted rational fear for one’s safety with imagined fear used to excuse laziness.

Worth a listen, as always…

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Mesillas Yesharim 11/22/09

rabbifink — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:08:03 +0000

Today’s class was another really informative and relevent topic.

We learned about fear, worry and anxiety.

With anxiety affecting tons of us it was interesting to find sources bemoaning the difficulty of dealing with anxiety as well as its debilitating nature.

Very enjoyable class, as always.

Audio is below.

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Mesillas Yesharim 11/15/09

rabbifink — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:35:41 +0000

Last week we talked about the Healthcare plan that was ratified by the house the night before.

This week we got back on track and started Chapter 9.

In my opinion, this was one of the best Mesillas Yesharim classes to date. The Ramchal was so insightful and I shared an insight of my own which I think is very poignant. It all goes back to Adam and Eve being ousted from the Garden of Eden.

Audio is below.

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Enjoy.

Mesillas Yesharim 11/1/09

rabbifink — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:23:11 +0000

Today, we learned the methods of acquiring zrizus.

Ramchal hearkens back to the methods of acquiring zehirus that we studied earlier and for the benefit of us all, we reviewed them together.

Along with any review comes new insights and understanding. Today was no different.

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Mesillas Yesharim 10/25/09

rabbifink — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:39:19 +0000

We began today’s class by delving deeper into the ground-breaking concept we studied last week.

Basically, the Ramchal teaches us that we can use our physical actions to arouse spiritual and emotional change.

We discussed a number of applications for the concept.

Then we began the next chapter.

Audio is below.

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Listen live here.

Mesillas Yesharim 10/18/09

rabbifink — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:20:53 +0000

After a Holiday break, the Mesillas Yesharim class returned today. Today’s class was a bit shortened due to the extra long Rosh Chodesh prayers.

What was short on time was long on content. The end of the Seventh Chapter of Mesillas Yesharim contains what I find to be the most profound insight in the entire text.

We all are familiar with the common idea that if “one doesn’t feel ‘it’” we don’t feel comfortable acting that in way. We even call people who act in a way not consonant with their feelings hypocrites. The Ramchal has a completely different perspective and I strongly recommend listening to today’s class.

Audio is below.

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Listen live here.

Mesillas Yesharim 9/13/09

rabbifink — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:59:54 +0000

Chapter 7 continued with more inspirational words to help us do our Mitzvos with more Zrizus.

We completed Zrizus part A, beginning your good deeds with speed and we began Zrizus part B, completing your good deeds quickly.

There was also a short discussion on good review habist for Mesillas Yesharim. Aside from reviewing by listening online it is integral to review the text.

Learn all about it by listening to the class below.

All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the top of this page. Or just click here.

You can also subscribe to all classes in iTunes by clicking here.Listen to the class here.

Mesillas Yesharim 9/6/09

rabbifink — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:54:19 +0000

Today we began Chapter 7 of the Mesillas Yesharim. Having established that Zrizus is the opposite of Laziness the Ramchal explains how and when we must implement Zrizus.

We need to know how to use good behaviors to maximize their benefits.

Learn all about it by listening to the class below.

All audio classes are available by clicking podcasts on the top of this page. Or just click here.

You can also subscribe to all classes in iTunes by clicking here.Listen to the class here.

Mesillas Yesharim 08/16/09

rabbifink — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:08:03 +0000

I returned to Venice after a short Summer break and today we resumed our Mesillas Yesharim class.

Highlights today included a very interesting insight from Maimonides regarding laziness and the “Golden Path”. My father told me that in the Shmona Prakim, Maimonides gives a very surprising opposite to laziness.

Back in Mesillas Yesharim we learned about the inherent danger in laziness of action and thought.

Messilas Yesharim 6/6/09

rabbifink — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:08:41 +0000

We began Chapter 5 of Messilas Yesharim.

Ramchal begins to define for us the word “Zrizus”.

The basic idea we learned this week was the parallel from Zehirus to Zrizus.

Zehirus helps us avoid morally harmful activity. Zrizus helps us take action to do morally good activity.

We also discussed Sotah and some of the ideas that were mentioned in my Monday Lunch N Learn.

Click through to listen.

Enjoy the class (26 minutes)

Mesillas Yesharim 05/24/09

rabbifink — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:26:49 +0000

You may recall that last week we did not get any further in the Messilas Yesharim text.

Oh yes, we had a great discussion about getting serious about life. We devoted much of our discussion to clothes.

Clothes has been a hot topic at the Pacific Jewish Center lately.

Yesterday, we supposed to talk about the number 50 in Judaism and why Shavuos is the only Jewish holiday with no set date. Instead, we talked more about clothes. Unbelievable.

This week we got back on track.

We completed Chapter 5 in Messilas Yesharim and learned about the 3rd and final detriment to “Watchfulness”. Do you want to know what it is?

Click through to listen.

Enjoy the class (29 minutes)

Mesillas Yesharim 05/24/09

rabbifink — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:15:05 +0000

After a wonderful Rosh Chodesh morning services we began our weekly foray into the depths of Ramchal’s Mesillas Yesharim.

Last week we began to learn about the detriment of scoffing or sarcasm to out spiritual growth. The general principle is that one who is incapable of seriousness about life will not be able grow spiritually. This week I had planned on completing Chapter 5 in its entirety.

However, we got no further in the text of Mesillas Yesharim this week.

Instead we had a truly invigorating discussion ab0ut “seriousness”. It is tough for us to relate to this section Mesilas Yesharim. We are allowed to make jokes, frivoility is not ALWAYS bad, so how can we bring this section down to earth and make is relevant?

One example that I cited for a moment as we began class was the way observant Jews typically dress. Have you ever wondered why observant Jews dress conservatively for the most part or wear “black and white”?

Much of what we talk about was related to this post, as well as these two posts and this post as well.

Click to listen to our discussion. It was very interesting and enlightening.

Enjoy the class (29 minutes)

Mesillas Yesharim 05/17/09

rabbifink — Tue, 19 May 2009 06:16:03 +0000

This week we ventured further into the detriments to watchfulness.

The last two weeks (catch up here and here) have focused on setting aside time for Torah and spiritual growth. This is to avoid becoming mired in materiality and neglected our spiritual needs.

Today we moved on to the next detriment. The next thing Ramchal teaches us to avoid is an overarching lack of seriousness. Perhaps it could be more precisely defined as immaturity.

Ramchal says that being un able to take things seriously and scoffing anything important is going to impede our growth.

Find out how by clicking below.

Enjoy the class (28 minutes)