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 Ultra-Orthodox Jews wear prison uniforms and other symbols associated with the Holocaust in a protest Saturday in Jerusalem.
January 2nd, 2012
12:50 PM ET
Jewish leaders blast ultra-Orthodox use of Holocaust symbols in demonstrationJerusalem (CNN) - Israeli political and religious leaders are condemning a weekend protest here in which ultra-Orthodox Jews used symbols identified with the Holocaust to allege they are being unfairly treated by other Israeli Jews over their beliefs. Ongoing religious tensions in Israel reached new heights Saturday when a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews marched in concentration camp uniforms and donned yellow Stars of David, which Jews were forced to wear in Nazi-occupied Europe. Demonstrating against what they viewed as incitement against the ultra-Orthodox in Israeli media, about 1,000 ultra-Orthodox men marched through the streets of their neighborhood. The chairman of Yad Vashem, Jerusalem’s Holocaust museum and memorial, criticized protesters for making what he said was a “false comparison between the reality today to the Holocaust." “There is no place for this behavior, which hurts Holocaust survivors and causes the cheapening of the memory of the Holocaust,” Yad Vashem's Avner Shalev said in a statement Sunday. “We are speaking about a handful of extremists. … It is important that the memory of the Holocaust will be a uniting factor in Israeli society and not the opposite.” Many Israeli politicians also criticized the demonstrators. “Cynically using the characteristics of what was the attempt to exterminate our nation is one thing we simply cannot accept,” said Cabinet member and Holocaust survivor Yossi Peled. “I am willing to take part in every argument within the Israeli society, but some things are taboo.” Peled told CNN, “Dressing up children with the yellow ribbons with their hands up in the air, re-enacting pictures of children from the ghetto, is simply inconceivable. Six million Jews, including 1 1/2 million children, cannot be used as a tool in a public debate.” One irate member of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, called on Israel's attorney general to look into pressing charges against those responsible for the Holocaust garb. “My grandfather and father were in ghettos, and there is no connection between what happened in the Holocaust to the Jewish people and the status of the Haredi in Israel,” Knesset member Marina Solodkin told the Israeli newspaper Maariv, using the Hebrew term for ultra-Orthodox. “Anyone who used the symbols of the Holocaust last night for the sake of a demonstration trampled the dignity of the hundreds of thousands of survivors who still live in our midst and the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust.” Saturday night’s rally came in response to a high-profile public campaign against gender discrimination in utra-Orthodox communities and followed a prime-time television report of a young Israeli girl harassed on her way to school for not being dressed according to the strict rules of the community. The broadcast sparked a wave of criticism and prompted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak out against the segregation of women, referring to it as “an unacceptable phenomenon that goes against the values of Judaism and democracy.” Some at the rally held up signs that read “Zionists are not Jews, they are racists” and “We will remain loyal to the laws of the holy Torah.” The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a U.S.-based Jewish group, called on religious authorities to declare the demonstrators' use of Holocaust symbols a desecration of God’s name. The use of the symbols dishonors "the memory of the 6 million Jewish martyrs of the Shoah and brings shame on the very community that this protest was supposed to defend,” the center said in a statement, using the Hebrew word for the Holocaust.
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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well said Andy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's see here.... The Jews in Israel have spent the last 65 years building an ethnic / religious state where people of a certain blood line are held above others, given all sorts of preference with housing, policy, citizenship, etc. Can you say RACIST? There is a reason every culture that has ever been in contact with the Jews have ended up either wanting to exile or kill them.
Unfortunately, many countries wanted to kill their minorities Jews or non-Jews. These countries are called Tyrannies.
True enough. Assimilation is the key to living with your fellow country men. Carrying your "nation" around with you, keeping a closed society, discouraging fraternization with your neighbors, refusing to eat with them or their food, because you believe it to be unfit for your consumption...unclean, refusing to eat from the same serving dish as the gentile..... yeah, Jews have some serious cultural problems. Not unlike Islam, the more progressives need to drag the mouth breathers into the modern world. You aren't better, different, prefered or chosen above anyone else on the planet simply because of the blood that flows in your veins. That is an offense to the rest of us and unfortunately it is also the racist foundation of Judaism.
The jews are the chosen people of the archon demigod. So they are satans chosen ones.
@jeff durham. I was born in a country with minority Jews, Gypsies, and others. I would eat the same food at teh other kids in school. I was nearly the best student mathematics and science. Not so good in languages. They still called me "dirty Jew". I wrote a letter to the President of that country that I want to be treated equally. He said "Create your own country and make your own laws." So I did. - Capiche...
@jon durham. You are perfect example of antisemite. You say: "Israel behavior ..... There is a reason every culture that has ever been in contact with the Jews have ended up either wanting to exile or kill them." In other words, you are explaining the 2,000 year old hatred by the creation of state of Israel. Look up "causality" in physics.
Yes Jim, I am anti semitic. Meaning I am hostile towards Judaism. The foundation of Judaism is built upon a maternal line of descent. A birth right.... an ethnic birth right. The central belief being that something is passed to Jews through their blood that separates them from everyone else on the planet. Don't try to sell that baloney to me that others separated the Jews out. Jews separate THEMSELVES out. When your culture decides to drop the racist, blood line crap maybe you will evolve into the modern world where the planet is too small to carry on with such nonsense.
Religion should teach tolerance of others' beliefs. This is ridiculous!! I was taught TOLERANCE! Everyone needs to try it out, there would be more peace in this world! And yes, even the Atheist is tolerated, otherwise you just have major issues.
If you have read the bible and are not now an atheist, then you have major issues likely including weak reasoning abilities.
Sid, as I said, try tolerance. I did not attack anyone with my post, I certainly hope you weren't attacking me by saying I am unable to reason. I never mentioned who taught me to be tolerant, for all you know it was my parents or the director of an orphanage..... If EVERYONE took the time to be tolerant there would be much more peace on this Earth! Please understand, I am not saying to allow terrorists to get away with murder I am saying to be tolerant and live and let live.
There is only one treatment for vermin and I am willing to let Iran do the job.
So you're saying you support genocide.... (are you related to Hitler?)
Oh shut up, you human cancer.
Are you a Nazi?
these jews do not represent most of the jews of today. all religious fanatics are sick and should never be in charge of anything!
Change Religious to religion and remove the word fanatic... and I agree wholeheartedly....
These people sound like Israel's version of Westboro Baptist Church.
There are millions of orthodox Jews, while Westboro Baptist Church has only few thousands members....
Ultra Orthodox Jews & Extremist Muslims = Same
I definitely would not equate the two sides. They both sicken me in terms of their religious fanatacism, however, a Muslim extremist will strap a bomb to his chest, or take you hostage and cut your head off. Whereas a Jewish fanatic will throw stones on you as you walk by and spit on you and so forth. Both disgusting crimes but I don't think they fall in the same category.
People who teach their children that gentiles don't have souls (haridim) complaining about discrimination in an over-the-top fashion. Irony.
REV 2:9 and REV 3:9
a group of people cannot declare themselves God's Chosen. What Diety confirmed or sanctified this? What arrogance in man to declare himself superior to all other humans! If anything...that is the true desecration!
To be fair, all religions tell you that you that you are special, and your mom tells you too. I find nothing wrong with that. it is simply human to think this way.
LOL those nasty orthodox Jews are so embarrasing.... they dress up with ugly clothes... look at their hair and clothes 😀 PS! They have s*x thru a hole on sheet
Better put something on – your ignorance is showing.
Orthodox Jews life is based on having 10+ kids, living off the government & read torah 24/7 (even when they shop & drive), AND threatening secular people and calling the mothers for wh*res when they are not like them
Only 10 kids? They have a while to go before they catch up with the Duggars...
Ahh... religion.
Jews killed Jesus Christ.... we're still waiting for the past 2000 years for Jews to admitt what they've done in the history! NO, don't tell me 'Romans' blah blah did it. We're not going to change our history for the Jews !!
You've been waiting 2000 years for him to come back too... (You know the McRib has come back 20 times already! the ball is squarely in his court now)
Christians have killed probably about 10 million Jews, and there is no evidence Jesus existed, if you go by the story in the Bible, it most likely never happened
k: Christians have NOT killed 10 million Jews. The nazi's were NOT Christian, although the country they lived in was predominately Christian. Hitler was born catholic but later rejected his faith and religion. Millions and millions of Non-Jews were killed in the holocaust, including millions of Christians as well. Jews today kill innocent Christian and Muslim palestinians in Israel today 🙁
Jews have killed 100 million Christians, most of them by Russian Bolshevik Jews including Stalin (real name Losif Jugashvilli – Joseph Jewson).
weirdness--can we call them all anti-semites in order to make them lose their jobs too?
The only reason we support Israel is because they dress and act like us. If all Israeli's dressed and acted like these Ultra-Orthodox types, we'd realize they're just as fanatical as the Palestinians and it'd be better if we just wash our hands of this whole pointless conflict that has done nothing for America but cost us our money and far too many American lives.
indeed
Zionists are not Jews-on sign behind.
Zionism is not a Kosher in Judaism...lol..
Jews are not God's chosen people... All humans no matter what their color is or where they are from are God's chosen people.... Jews, Gentiles, Muslims; it does not matter....
For the most part, the Jews I know don't dwell on what it means to be "chosen." We were maybe chosen to bring the Torah to the nations, perhaps for a few other things, but I suspect each of the other people's of the world are chosen for their own unique purposes.
ya'akov – your people were choosen to be greedy, make other people fight your wars and discriminate against non-jews. you are the devils children.
I cannot believe that they are allowing comments on this.
I hear ya. I often start dreading the comments halfway through the articles in the belief section
Prayer changes things
Pray is communication with God
Pray without ceasing in 2012
Find peace with God
Actions not prayer changes things.
Praying is communicating with no one.
Get off the couch and DO STUFF in 2012
Find peace with fellow man, not make believe deity.
Historically speaking, religion has been at the root of most of the evil done to humankind. I can't find much good in it considering all the killing and hate-spewing done in the name of "God." Good luck with your prayers and your beliefs. I'll stick to my atheism.
@Andy
+1
Religion: It gives people hope in a world torn apart by religion.
It make me truly sad to see these people dressed as Holocaust victims. The Nazi were sc_um. I won't even buy a German car.
A god who would allow His chosen people to endure such suffering, cannot exist.
I don't understand what these two groups are about, but I could never put these clothes on my child.
As I read the article, I could not help but be reminded of the Evangelical agenda.
Cheers!
What is the Evangelical agenda?
hahaha you wont buy german products that support the whol EU (as Germany is their largest economy), which is a democracy, and is on the forefront of equality?
Yet you buy thousands and thousands of dollars worth of merchandise from China who commits numerous human rights abuses, environmental abuses, disregards international patent laws, and wages a social war on unborn or newborn girls.
Makes sense.. Better show those Germans what really matters is the past and not the present.
Hey genius, do you realize that there aren't any "nazi" car manufacturers? The guy who makes a BWM is about as Nazi as your mom. /facepalm. The guy talking about China has a good point. Read it.
To: A Little Help
To answer your question of "What is the Evangelical agenda"? It is to sheepishly follow the perverting/perversion of the Bible. For example in Genesis 12:3 God was speaking to a man by the name of Abraham and he told Abraham that he would bless those who bless him (Abraham) and curse those who cursed him (Abraham). The evangelicals arbitrarily change the person God was talking to mean Israel. Now in Genesis God didn't say ".... and your descendants" nor was Isaac or Jacob/Israel alive or there when the conversation was taking place, but the "evangelicals" just arbitrarily say it meant to include Israel as well. On top of that they show more loyalty (which by definition is a perverted loyalty) to Israel by "standing with Israel" (as they [evangelicals] like to exclaim thinking they're scoring brownie points with God for that foolishness) regardless of whether or not Israel does good or evil. They equate letting Israel get away with crimes as "blessing" Israel. So they use the perversion of Genesis 12:3 as a reason to FURTHER pervert the meaning of "blessing". Many of the people supporting torture "waterboarding" consider themselves evangelical Christians – as though Jesus loved torture and would bless them for advocating it. Many of them are the same ones who support the Neo Con agenda of starting unprovoked wars.
Those are just a few examples of the Evangelical agenda.
The Evangelical Agenda:
Christian Right Agenda = Christian Theocracy
Theocracy = A government ruled by or subject to religious authority.
Christian Right = Predominately Evangelicals
The Texas history books are rewriting history to give the conservative slant. The objective of this effort, is to create a Christian Nation, a theocracy with Jesus as Head of State.
The recent article about the letter to the Jews, from George Washington, must sting like a son-of-a-gun. We are a secular nation. Thank god!
A huge campaign is underway, to convince the American people, the founding fathers never intended a separation of church and state. Thomas Jefferson's role as a founding father is played down. In some cases Jefferson is smudged.
Expect an attack on the 1st and 14th Amendments. The founding fathers will weep.
Most of the Tea Party are for a Christian Theocracy. The Tea Party is in bed with the Christian Right. A vote for any Tea Party candidate, is a vote for Christian Right domination.
The Republicans are the puppets of the Christian Right and Rich White Men. If you aren't rich or if you aren't white, then this is not your party. Remember Rand Paul's wish to have limited government that should not force private businesses to abide by civil rights law? Isn't that a tad racist or is it just me? Can you say: "You want me to sit where on the bus?"
You will see an amendment defining marriage as between a man and woman. Gay rights will dwindle and die.
Roe Vs. Wade will be reversed. Women will once again be forced to seek back alley remedies. Men may be forced to buy condoms on the black market. You will procreate! Or you will be abstinent! It is not up to you!
Stem cell research will stagnate. The hopes of damaged and sick people will be dashed. Little Billy better get used to that wheelchair.
All scientific research will be scrutinized by the Christian Right. "Whether or not a theory is in agreement with the Evangelical's interpretation of god's will", will be the new metric. Get use to hearing "God Did It". No one will dare question otherwise.
Science classes will be much easier. Much less to remember or think about. 90% of the answers will be "D" – God did it. 30% correct will be passing. 50% will be Valedictorian.
Makes it pretty easy to get their "sheep skin". Baaaaa!
Education doesn't matter! Jesus is coming soon. When Perry told of his poor academic performance, The Republicans (Tea Party?) applauded.
Let's glorify ignorance and stupidity!
You say you've developed a vaccine that will prevent women from getting cervical cancer? No, Mr. Scientist. You will pour it down the drain! And you will make drugs that prevent STDs no more! So sayeth the Lord...According to the Religious Nuts.
"Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a license to engage in premarital $ex.
Abstinence is the best way to prevent HPV" – Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council
I would much rather my daughter was lying there dying of cancer, rather than having taken a shot that might have given her out of control urges.
There was a recent article on the Religious blog about how Evangelical young'uns are not waiting for marriage.
Little Betty is not praying so often, because she is so devout. She is praying for her Aunt Flow. Amen!
P_ornography will be illegal. The Religious Right will decide what is p_ornographic , as well as what is art. You will watch television programs approved by the Evangelicals. Lots of reruns of "Growing Pains", starring that Evangelical darling Kirk Cameron. Thank you Jesus!
Will museums exhibiting transitional fossils and other evidence of evolution, be deemed po_rnographic and closed? Their exhibits burned? To be sure, they will receive no funding.
Creationism will be taught in public school, most likely alongside evolution rather than instead of, but no guarantees. Creationism/ Intelligent Design will consist of 10 chapters. Evolution will be mentioned on the book jacket cover.
Vouchers will enable parents to send their child to religious schools. Funds to public schools will dwindle. Quality education will be out of reach for the masses. The finite amount of money, will be spread too thin. Destroying the public school system is the purpose of the voucher system.
If each faith attends their own school, interacts only with children who believe as they do, Might this not interfere with the melting pot, we often brag about? Won't this increase prejudices? The Catholics once told their children that Jews have horns. *sigh*
Segregation, is not beneficial. We need to learn to get along, and work together. Toddlers are really good at playing well with others.
Little Johnny will believe in talking snakes and Zombie Messiahs. He will spend his free time watching the heavens, waiting for Jesus to return. The rest of the world is spending their time learning real science and math. Good luck Johnny. Can you say: "Would you like fries with that?" And you Betty! Lots of jobs overseas. With your qualifications, there is a pole with your name on it, waiting for you.
State-sanctioned Prayer will be in our schools. The Christian Right think they know better than the Founding Fathers and want to tamper with the Bill of Rights. They want to amend the U.S. Const_itution, so that the Government would legally sponsor and take over the activity of prayer. Only the one true god, the Christian god, will be given homage. The god(s), of all other faiths, will be subservient to the Christian god. Muslim parents will need to make this clear to their children. Will the Catholics and the Mormons be Christian enough? What about the Jehovah Witnesses? The Evangelicals / Jesus will determine this.
The non-Christians will be allowed to put their heads down on their desks, during the morning worship. They can contemplate their damnation, for not accepting Jesus.
$ex education will consist of abstinence only. Studies have shown it is a worthless concept. But, it will please the religious fanatics. Why did little Betty have her purity ring reshaped into a tongue stud?
The war against unions, commenced during the Reagan administration, will continue. Labor will be humbled. They will accept the wages they are offered and should be grateful to get it. The Mexicans won't come here for jobs, anymore. The rate of pay won't justify the effort.
Say goodbye to enti_tlements. Medicare will be changed to a voucher system. When Grandma is out of vouchers, she is out of luck. Social Security is a Ponzi Scheme! We will reduce Grandmas' pension a % for each, predetermined, increment of life. God said to honor our fathers and mothers – the elderly. But, I guess the Evangelicals know best.
Our elderly will die earlier than they would like. But, they have the promise of an afterlife to comfort them. Unless of course, they haven't accepted Jesus. Then, they will burn in a place created by an all loving and all just god, for all eternity.
Best for them to concentrate on the pie in the sky. Works better than opium for a lot of people.
Go toward the light, Grandma... Grandpa is waiting for you.
We love you Grandma. But, the Republicans have taken away Medicare and cut your Social Security. Go to sleep, now.
The government will turn over Medicade and the rest of the programs for the p_oor, to the Christian Right. They will decide who will receive help and who will not. No longer will the criteria for receiving help, simply be income. Every dime given, will have "strings". The poor will be beholden to the Evangelicals. If you receive assistance, you WILL be watched. Perhaps a Christian brother will be assigned to be sure you are acting in accordance to the Evangelical's desires.
The Christian Right has embraced Paul as the moral lawgiver. Paul's First Ep_istle of Paul to the Thessalonians, is often quoted by the Republicans. You never hear them quote Jesus' advice to the rich. You don't bite the hand that feeds you. Jesus will understand
.
The Tea Party / Evangelicals applaud the executions, of human beings. The more the merrier. They will be a burden to the state, no more! If it turns out some were actually innocent, god will set it right... Providing they have accepted Christ.
Perhaps trials aren't necessary. Send the accused directly to god's justice! We are a Christian nation!! Are we not the hand of god?
The accused are of another faith, you say? Give them a chance to pray the Sinners Prayer, and send them to judgment.
The Tea Party Republicans screamed, "YES", when asked if an uninsured man should be allowed to die.
If you read the Good Samaritan parable told by Jesus, you might come away with the idea that Jesus wouldn't agree.
But, I bet Jesus will change His mind once the Evangelicals rule in His name. Jesus will decide that it was the sick fellow's personal responsibility. Good Christians should not be bothered! Thus saith the Lord! Wow! I didn't even see His lips move...
Could be, Jesus will feel compelled to rewrite the entire bible, leaving out those obviously unclear parts. The Evangelicals will help Jesus clear them up. Guaranteed!
Jesus will be the Head of State! He will be represented by an empty chair at the head of the leadership table. Only the Evangelicals will be able to hear His voice. They will tell the rest of us His will.
Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!
The Evangelicals will rule in the name of a non-existent demigod.
NOTE:
"Theocracies generally do not tolerate freedom of expression. They believe their dogma is divine; that it comes from divine revelation (directly from God as in Moses on Mount Sinai) and therefore, no dissenting opinion can be accurate or helpful. This often leads to widespread abuse of basic human rights."
http://www.duhaime.org/LegalDictionary/T/Theocracy.aspx
WoW! If the above quote doesn't make you wanna puke...
The Evangelicals are not content to run their own lives. They want to get, by political means, what Jesus never has and never will give them, by returning.
Vote for the Dems in 2012. There are a lot of things I would like to see changed in the Democratic Party, but at least they are not insane.
Thank God, this country is a secular nation.
Remember, Jesus won't really be in charge. He never has, never will exist. It will be an Evangelical idiot.
Cheers!