I admit, I try as hard as I can, as a rule, to not listen to the news. Any news, of any kind. The reason is simple. The abundance of bad news annoys the heck out of me. I always wonder if the only news fit to print are bad, or is it the fact that bad news sells better. Frankly, I don’t care. Sometimes, however, I get infuriated by a news item. Here’s one. A woman was arrested for starving her three year old boy to the point he weighed only 7 Kg (about 15 lbs.) more. The story itself may be too common. Abusive parent hurts child. But this one is special because of the affiliation of the family to the ultra orthodox group called “Neturei Karta”, in Aramaic, the Guards of the City. The city is Jerusalem, the guards are some extremely religious fanatic Jews, who reject the existence of Israel, the Jewish State. So why, you would ask, do you think it’s such a special story? Why does it infuriate you? Well, there are a few reasons. Here.
Ultra Orthodox Jews, as are fanatics religious cults everywhere, know best. After all, they have words with God, the are, in fact, His representatives on earth. (I must add that many groups are representatives of many Gods, and that I can’t explain the discrepancy). Religious people, in the name of God, are performing all kinds of savage acts, justifying it with “word of God”. From mutilating women genitalia, to exploding in busses, to hitting, burning mischievous children and plain murder. Religious people pretend that they are good, pious, and righteous. But there’s a certain discrepancy with the fact that some behaviors observed in their midst have nothing to do with justice or righteousness. So my message to them is simple: admit to it. You’re as good (or as bad) as anyone else. You have good behaviors and bad behaviors, none are connected in any way to a supreme Being.
In this case, the woman brought her three year old child to the hospital ten times. Each time with different and bizarre symptoms. He couldn’t eat and lost his hair. The medical team was completely puzzled by the multitude of unrelated symptoms, and they started suspecting that the mother is responsible. They placed cameras in the hospital room where the child was staying and observed how the mother disconnects the food tube, and inserts some unidentified substances into his IV line. The hospital, following the law, got Child Services involved. They, in turn, notified the police who wanted to make the arrest on the spot. However, the police made its move when the mother came to an appointment with the Child Services in Jerusalem. The religious group she belongs to came in during the night and trashed the place. They also made threats at the social workers. Now, I’m trying to understand how this behavior(s) align with being God’s representative on earth?
But discussing this, it brings up another question. How are these people able to bridge the gaps? How can they live by a code of conduct, so strict and so just, and yet perform some unacceptable behaviors, rejected clearly by any society, religious or secular. Let me try and explain by giving some extreme examples. Is it possible to have an ultra orthodox prostitute? Murderer? Thief? Supposedly not. Practically absolutely. How can someone who claims to be so ultra religious be involved in some pretty unusual sexual activity? How can they do drugs while attending synagogue or church? Well, I don’t know, but in fact they can. And how, on earth, are they able to still look down on the rest of the population, people like me and you, and suggest that we are the “infidels”, the “atheists”, the “non believers”? Well, again, they can and they do. As for me, I apologize, but I don’t get it. I simply don’t.
I would add that many, many, maybe most of the people are inherently good on their own, with no supernatural involvement. They are just good. They don’t need a book or a Supreme Being to tell them what to do and what not. They use common sense, and that is usually sufficient.
The bottom line is that I respect fanaticism as long as it doesn’t hurt me or innocent bystanders, most certainly children. And yes, please do not patronize others. You’re as good as we all are.
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