The Israeli government has just struck down reforms put in place by the previous government that were supposed to make conversion to Judaism easier. This isn't a surprise since cancelling the reforms was part of the coalition agreement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made with the two Haredi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism (see: Government strikes down conversions reform). What I want to know is, why should the state be involved in regulating conversions in the first place?
The State of Israel is the embodiment of the Zionist ideal that the Jews are a people rather than simply a religious group. Yet Israel's government seems to be more preoccupied with safeguarding Jewish religiosity, or at least a certain narrow-minded view of it, rather than Jewish nationhood. Yes, I understand that Jews and Judaism are significantly intertwined, but they are not synonymous. The role of the state in Israel should be to protect the Jews as a people, not a religious denomination. The state should only intervene in Jewish religious affairs in order to ensure that adherents of Judaism continue to have access to their holy sites and can practice their Judaism in any way they please. Therefore, I would argue for the immediate abolition of the Chief Rabbinate, the rabbinical courts and all other religious institutions or regulatory bodies controlled by the state. The Jewish community in Israel should be able to conduct its religious affairs privately, without state interference or sponsorship, just as Jewish communities do in other democratic countries. I would also advocate dismantling the state-sanctioned institutions of Israel's other religious groups.
Abolishing Israel's state religious institutions and regulatory bodies would of course open the door to what many non-religious Israelis have wanted for decades: freedom from religious coercion, especially in regards to matters of personal status, such as marriage and divorce, which are now the exclusive domain of state-backed religious authorities, such as the Chief Rabbinate. I don't know about you, but I don't want some rabbi dictating to me how to be Jewish or telling me who I can and cannot marry, and I'm betting that many Israelis feel the same way.
Sunday, July 5, 2015
Friday, July 3, 2015
Want Better Transit? You'll Have to Pay for It
The people of metropolitan Vancouver have voted in a referendum on a proposal to add an extra half a percent to the provincial sales tax in order to fund transit upgrades throughout the Vancouver region. The results are now in. The proposal was rejected by approximately 62% of voters, so now the region's local politicians along with their provincial counterparts will have to find another way to fund mass public transit - a service that everyone wants to see improve, but not willing to pay more for. Here's the grim reality: If people living in big cities like Vancouver or Toronto want more and better transit, they're going to have to pay for it. How they pay for it, whether it's an increase in sales taxes, a hike in property taxes, or that two-word phrase that no one who drives a car in a big city wants to hear - road tolls - is subject to debate, but make no mistake. If you live in a vast metropolis and you want public transit that will move you from point A to point B faster and more conveniently, you're going to have to pay up.
Now I understand that no one wants to pay more taxes, especially when they think their tax dollars won't be spent wisely. Indeed, according to the article that appeared on the front page of The Globe and Mail today (see: Voters reject sales-tax hike to fund transit), voters in the Vancouver region may have been influenced by the bad publicity that the regional transit authority, TransLink, has received in recent years for its alleged mismanagement of taxpayers' funds. The criticism that TransLink has faced is not too dissimilar from that faced by Metrolinx, the regional transit authority created by the Province of Ontario to plan and oversee public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It's just an unfortunate fact that we don't have very much trust in our elected politicians and the bureaucrats they appoint to manage our mass transit systems the way they should be. But of course, this is ultimately our fault because we're the ones who put the bums in office in the first place. We're just going to have to get better at electing the right people and hope that better would-be leaders step up to help us do that.
There is always the alternative of allowing private interests build and operate mass transit systems in our big cities, which I mentioned in a past blog on transit in Toronto (see: Abolish the TTC Monopoly on Public Mass Transit in Toronto, Because Competition is "The Better Way"). But even if Canada's large cities did choose the path of competition, there would still be the need for more public funding, meaning funding from taxpayers like you and I. After all, when have you ever heard of big private companies participating in massive public works projects without government funding? I haven't.
So if you're tired of overcrowded buses, subways and streetcars, and you want less cars on the road so that traffic can move more smoothly, don't expect not to pay. In fact, even if you're not tired of inefficient public transit and increasing gridlock, you and every other taxpayer are going to pay anyway, since traffic delays cost the economy billions of dollars every year, not to mention the pollution that we're all breathing in from all those cars that are on the roads because transit just doesn't work the way it should. Gas mask, anyone?
Now I understand that no one wants to pay more taxes, especially when they think their tax dollars won't be spent wisely. Indeed, according to the article that appeared on the front page of The Globe and Mail today (see: Voters reject sales-tax hike to fund transit), voters in the Vancouver region may have been influenced by the bad publicity that the regional transit authority, TransLink, has received in recent years for its alleged mismanagement of taxpayers' funds. The criticism that TransLink has faced is not too dissimilar from that faced by Metrolinx, the regional transit authority created by the Province of Ontario to plan and oversee public transit in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. It's just an unfortunate fact that we don't have very much trust in our elected politicians and the bureaucrats they appoint to manage our mass transit systems the way they should be. But of course, this is ultimately our fault because we're the ones who put the bums in office in the first place. We're just going to have to get better at electing the right people and hope that better would-be leaders step up to help us do that.
There is always the alternative of allowing private interests build and operate mass transit systems in our big cities, which I mentioned in a past blog on transit in Toronto (see: Abolish the TTC Monopoly on Public Mass Transit in Toronto, Because Competition is "The Better Way"). But even if Canada's large cities did choose the path of competition, there would still be the need for more public funding, meaning funding from taxpayers like you and I. After all, when have you ever heard of big private companies participating in massive public works projects without government funding? I haven't.
So if you're tired of overcrowded buses, subways and streetcars, and you want less cars on the road so that traffic can move more smoothly, don't expect not to pay. In fact, even if you're not tired of inefficient public transit and increasing gridlock, you and every other taxpayer are going to pay anyway, since traffic delays cost the economy billions of dollars every year, not to mention the pollution that we're all breathing in from all those cars that are on the roads because transit just doesn't work the way it should. Gas mask, anyone?
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
What Makes Canada Great?
Usually I use this blog to complain about something. I don't call my blog a rant for nothing after all. And oftentimes I complain about things that I think need to change in Canada. But since today is Canada Day, I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about what makes Canada great. So what is it about this country that makes people so proud and grateful to be Canadian? Perhaps I should begin with the country itself. Canada is the second biggest country in the world, and within this vast landmass that Canadians call home are many varied and majestic landscapes. In fact, as I write this, I'm sitting right in front of one of Canada's many lakes in Ontario's cottage country. And believe me, sometimes looking at the lake and surrounding landscape while listening to the sounds of wild animals makes me want to sing O Canada. But of course, the land that we call Canada is more than just something to look at. It's also teeming with natural resources. Many if not most countries in the world would give almost anything to have the natural resources that Canada does. This country has everything including oil, lumber, precious metals, fish and game, and lots of fresh water. But of all the resources that Canada has, I think the most important resource is its people.
Canada has around 35 million people living within its borders; people of every race, culture and creed. Indeed, Canada has always been a place of many cultures, even before the first Europeans set foot on this land. As we all should know, the people we call Native Canadians or Aboriginals were the first human beings to settle in this land. Their various cultures and civilizations have had an everlasting imprint on this country. Even the name Canada, which literally means, "village", is derived from one of this country's many Aboriginal languages.
Today's Canada is a nation of immigrants that have come from every corner of the world. One just has to walk a few blocks in the streets of downtown Toronto to hear countless languages and see restaurants offering a multitude of international cuisines. In fact, I would say that one of the greatest things about this country is that anybody can become a Canadian regardless of where they come from, so long as they respect and uphold Canada's values. But what are Canada's values?
When I think of the values that make us Canadian, I usually think of the ideals that are consistent with all mature democracies. Things like freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the right to vote and equality before the law. These are the kinds of ideals that drive many people to immigrate to this country. I would also say, however, that Canada attracts newcomers because of its economic prosperity. After all, it's not just the United States that has spawned rags to riches stories. Many immigrants to Canada, including members of my own family, came to this country with almost nothing, yet they were able to prosper and become upstanding members of Canadian society.
We should also remember that many people have chosen to make Canada home in order to escape the troubles in their countries of origin. Members of my family, for example, came here to get away from the war and persecution that they endured in Europe. After all, Canada is a peaceful society and has been for quite a long time. We've had our wars, of course, but since Confederation in 1867, the vast majority of our armed struggles have not been on Canadian soil. Instead, Canada has been a significant contributor to the fight for freedom in the world, from the First World War up until today. For although Canada is a peace-loving country, Canadians have always been willing to join in the fight for freedom against aggression and oppression wherever it may be taking place.
Canada does of course have problems, just like any other country; problems like crime, poverty, inequality and racism. We are by no means a utopian society. But I think it's fair to say that compared to many other nation-states around the world, Canada is a pretty good place to live, so despite its shortcomings, I am very grateful to call this country home.
Canada has around 35 million people living within its borders; people of every race, culture and creed. Indeed, Canada has always been a place of many cultures, even before the first Europeans set foot on this land. As we all should know, the people we call Native Canadians or Aboriginals were the first human beings to settle in this land. Their various cultures and civilizations have had an everlasting imprint on this country. Even the name Canada, which literally means, "village", is derived from one of this country's many Aboriginal languages.
Today's Canada is a nation of immigrants that have come from every corner of the world. One just has to walk a few blocks in the streets of downtown Toronto to hear countless languages and see restaurants offering a multitude of international cuisines. In fact, I would say that one of the greatest things about this country is that anybody can become a Canadian regardless of where they come from, so long as they respect and uphold Canada's values. But what are Canada's values?
When I think of the values that make us Canadian, I usually think of the ideals that are consistent with all mature democracies. Things like freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the right to vote and equality before the law. These are the kinds of ideals that drive many people to immigrate to this country. I would also say, however, that Canada attracts newcomers because of its economic prosperity. After all, it's not just the United States that has spawned rags to riches stories. Many immigrants to Canada, including members of my own family, came to this country with almost nothing, yet they were able to prosper and become upstanding members of Canadian society.
We should also remember that many people have chosen to make Canada home in order to escape the troubles in their countries of origin. Members of my family, for example, came here to get away from the war and persecution that they endured in Europe. After all, Canada is a peaceful society and has been for quite a long time. We've had our wars, of course, but since Confederation in 1867, the vast majority of our armed struggles have not been on Canadian soil. Instead, Canada has been a significant contributor to the fight for freedom in the world, from the First World War up until today. For although Canada is a peace-loving country, Canadians have always been willing to join in the fight for freedom against aggression and oppression wherever it may be taking place.
Canada does of course have problems, just like any other country; problems like crime, poverty, inequality and racism. We are by no means a utopian society. But I think it's fair to say that compared to many other nation-states around the world, Canada is a pretty good place to live, so despite its shortcomings, I am very grateful to call this country home.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
There's Never Any Justice in the Weather
I just read a news bulletin saying that Environment Canada is predicting cooler than normal temperatures for my home province of Ontario into July, and more rain as well (see: Summer Forecast Calls for More Cool Weather in July for Ontario, Quebec). Terrible news if you're looking for some nice hot, sunny weather up at the cottage. I don't know why, but in the last few years I've become really sensitive to bad weather, even though I know there's nothing I can do about it. Let's face it, Mother Nature has no sense of justice whatsoever. For example, this past winter, eastern Canada had a very cold, hellish winter, whereas much of the rest of the world had one of the warmest winters on record. You'd think we'd get a break from Mother Nature after a long, harsh winter that felt almost as bad as the previous winter in which the so-called polar vortex reared its ugly head. Fat chance! We're getting the shaft again. In contrast, western Canada, much of which experienced warmer than normal temperatures last winter, is getting another gift from Mother Nature in the form of above average highs reaching 40 degrees in some cases.
But before you pack your bags and head out west, let me tell you that the hot, sunny weather they've been getting isn't all good news, especially if you're a farmer or have a home or cottage anywhere near a heavily forested area. The hot, dry weather in western Canada has brought on a major drought and farmers are losing their crops. At the same time, forest fires are flaring up. So if you ask some people in western Canada, I'm sure that they would gladly send some of the hot, dry weather they've been getting eastward to us in Ontario if they could. Let's face it, no matter what the weather's like, there will always be someone that isn't happy about it.
Now of course, weather forecasters can be wrong and often are. Indeed, as time passes, the weather is getting harder and harder to predict. Why is this? Well, I can pretty much sum it up for you in two words: climate change. In fact, most experts will probably tell you that climate change is the main culprit when it comes to "unjust" weather patterns. And who usually gets the worst of the effects of climate change? Usually developing countries. But why? With the exception of China, developing countries are not the biggest causers of climate change. It's mostly the industrialized economies, plus China, that pollute the most and hence are the main contributors to climate change. But again, the weather has no sense of justice which is why although developing countries are not the main polluters, they're usually the ones to bear the worst effects of climate change.
So inasmuch as we like to complain about crappy summers and harsh winters, maybe we should be grateful that at least we're not dealing with killer storms that regularly hammer countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines, or droughts that last for years and kill thousands in Africa. Easier said than done for me and many others who feel that they're entitled to good weather after enduring Mother Nature's wrath for awhile.
But before you pack your bags and head out west, let me tell you that the hot, sunny weather they've been getting isn't all good news, especially if you're a farmer or have a home or cottage anywhere near a heavily forested area. The hot, dry weather in western Canada has brought on a major drought and farmers are losing their crops. At the same time, forest fires are flaring up. So if you ask some people in western Canada, I'm sure that they would gladly send some of the hot, dry weather they've been getting eastward to us in Ontario if they could. Let's face it, no matter what the weather's like, there will always be someone that isn't happy about it.
Now of course, weather forecasters can be wrong and often are. Indeed, as time passes, the weather is getting harder and harder to predict. Why is this? Well, I can pretty much sum it up for you in two words: climate change. In fact, most experts will probably tell you that climate change is the main culprit when it comes to "unjust" weather patterns. And who usually gets the worst of the effects of climate change? Usually developing countries. But why? With the exception of China, developing countries are not the biggest causers of climate change. It's mostly the industrialized economies, plus China, that pollute the most and hence are the main contributors to climate change. But again, the weather has no sense of justice which is why although developing countries are not the main polluters, they're usually the ones to bear the worst effects of climate change.
So inasmuch as we like to complain about crappy summers and harsh winters, maybe we should be grateful that at least we're not dealing with killer storms that regularly hammer countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines, or droughts that last for years and kill thousands in Africa. Easier said than done for me and many others who feel that they're entitled to good weather after enduring Mother Nature's wrath for awhile.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Fire Israel's Religious Affairs Minister
Israel's current Minister of Religious Affairs, David Azoulay, who is a member of the Shas party, recently said that Reform Jews are "a disaster for the people of Israel" (see: ADL slams religious affairs minister's 'derogatory' comments). In doing so, he insulted millions of Jews around the world that belong to or identify with Reform Judaism, including members of both my immediate and extended family. Such remarks are unacceptable, especially from a minister in the government of the State of Israel, which is the ancestral homeland of all Jews, not just the ones that agree with Mr. Azoulay's religious point of view. For this reason and this reason alone, Mr. Azoulay should be dismissed from the cabinet immediately.
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time one of Israel's leaders has insulted his or her fellow Jews and it probably won't be the last. In fact, the article whose link appears above mentions comments by another Knesset member, Israel Eichler, a member of another Haredi party, United Torah Judaism. Apparently, Eichler saw it fit to compare the Women of the Wall to the arsonists who burned a church in northern Israel. Both Azoulay and Eichler have obviously forgotten that without the support of many of the world's Reform, Conservative and other non-Orthodox Jews that they hate so much, they would not have a country to call home. Anyone ever heard the saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you?"
Unfortunately, this isn't the first time one of Israel's leaders has insulted his or her fellow Jews and it probably won't be the last. In fact, the article whose link appears above mentions comments by another Knesset member, Israel Eichler, a member of another Haredi party, United Torah Judaism. Apparently, Eichler saw it fit to compare the Women of the Wall to the arsonists who burned a church in northern Israel. Both Azoulay and Eichler have obviously forgotten that without the support of many of the world's Reform, Conservative and other non-Orthodox Jews that they hate so much, they would not have a country to call home. Anyone ever heard the saying, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you?"
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Hey Airlines, Start Treating Us Like Human Beings!
I decided to write this post after one of my Facebook friends posted a horrid story about passengers on a United Airlines flight who were left to stay at a remote military barracks with little warmth, little food and very little information after their plane made an emergency landing in Goose Bay, a town in northeastern Canada (see: EXCLUSIVE: Hundreds of fuming United Airlines passengers 'abandoned' in remote Canada barracks for 20 HOURS after 'faulty' Chicago-London flight diverts while crew spend night in 'comfy hotel'). I'm actually not surprised that something like this happened, especially with a carrier like United Airlines, who along with several other companies have a notorious record of poor customer service. For those of you who are interested in finding out what other airlines don't make the grade, just look at this list of The 15 Worst Airlines Flying in 2015.
Anyone who has flown at least a few times during their life probably has a bad story to tell about less than stellar customer service on the part of an airline. I've heard plenty of tall tales from friends and relatives; tales of lost luggage, rude staff, flight delays and so forth. What really bothers me, though, is that lately, the airlines have been treating us less and less like human beings and a lot more like chattel. The seats are getting smaller, the fares are getting higher, and the airlines keep finding more ways to nickel and dime us to death. Does anyone remember when those headphones were free? How about those complementary meals on short-haul flights, or being able to check just one bag without having to pay a $25 fee? Those days are long gone, my friends. Nowadays, unless you happen to have the big bucks to fly first class or business class, you'll be crammed into tiny seats, jammed up alongside the people next to you. You'll barely be able to move, let alone do something revolutionary, like cross your legs. In fact, if a dog is flying on the plane below you in the cargo hold, he'll probably have more room than you since most regulations stipulate that pets travelling on airplanes must be in kept in an enclosure that allows them to stand up, turn around and lie down. Does this irony sound stupid to anyone else?
It's time the airlines started treating us like human beings. So for any airline CEO reading this, let me sum it all up for you. Stop cramming us into your airplanes like sardines. Give us seats that will allow us to move a couple of inches or more without having to disturb the person next to us. Better yet, give us seats that will allow us to get up to go to the bathroom without having to wake up the person in the next seat taking a nap. Stop charging us for things that you used to give us for free. Hire staff that will treat us with dignity. And most importantly, do these things for ALL of your passengers, not just those with deep pockets.
Anyone who has flown at least a few times during their life probably has a bad story to tell about less than stellar customer service on the part of an airline. I've heard plenty of tall tales from friends and relatives; tales of lost luggage, rude staff, flight delays and so forth. What really bothers me, though, is that lately, the airlines have been treating us less and less like human beings and a lot more like chattel. The seats are getting smaller, the fares are getting higher, and the airlines keep finding more ways to nickel and dime us to death. Does anyone remember when those headphones were free? How about those complementary meals on short-haul flights, or being able to check just one bag without having to pay a $25 fee? Those days are long gone, my friends. Nowadays, unless you happen to have the big bucks to fly first class or business class, you'll be crammed into tiny seats, jammed up alongside the people next to you. You'll barely be able to move, let alone do something revolutionary, like cross your legs. In fact, if a dog is flying on the plane below you in the cargo hold, he'll probably have more room than you since most regulations stipulate that pets travelling on airplanes must be in kept in an enclosure that allows them to stand up, turn around and lie down. Does this irony sound stupid to anyone else?
It's time the airlines started treating us like human beings. So for any airline CEO reading this, let me sum it all up for you. Stop cramming us into your airplanes like sardines. Give us seats that will allow us to move a couple of inches or more without having to disturb the person next to us. Better yet, give us seats that will allow us to get up to go to the bathroom without having to wake up the person in the next seat taking a nap. Stop charging us for things that you used to give us for free. Hire staff that will treat us with dignity. And most importantly, do these things for ALL of your passengers, not just those with deep pockets.
Sunday, June 7, 2015
End "Status Quo" Religious Dictatorship in Israel
In the last few days, I've come across more stories out of Israel that have raised my level of anger towards the country's religious establishment. The latest story I've read was about Haredim threatening protests if Jerusalem's new cable cars operate on Shabbat (see: Haredim threaten protests over Jerusalem cable car), even though the Jerusalem Municipality issued a statement reassuring everyone, including the anti-Zionist Haredim, that the new transportation initiative would not be operated on the Jewish day of rest. A few days prior, another story came out about an IDF soldier who faced the wrath of Israel's dictatorial religious laws because he brought a pork sandwich onto his base. He would have been sent to a military prison for eleven days had it not been for the efforts of his relatives, who spoke to the media, and an unnamed Knesset member who wrote to the defense minister about the incident (see: Punishment Withdrawn for Israeli-American soldier who indulged in pork). I actually remember posting this article on my Facebook page withe the caption, "I'm beginning to wonder, is this Israel or Iran?" Also worth mentioning is that after the IDF cancelled the prison sentence for the secular soldier, the deputy defense minister, himself a rabbi and member of the religious Zionist Beit Yehudi party, scolded the military for backing off from the punishment. Now of course, I have much more respect for religious Zionists than I do for the anti-Zionist Haredim, because religious Zionists are great contributors to Israeli society. Unlike most Haredim, they work and contribute to the Israeli economy, yet they still devote themselves fiercely to their religion. That being said, however, they do not have the right to impose religious laws or values on Israel's secular public. It is just as wrong for Israel's religious Jews to have a penalty imposed on a secular Israeli soldier for eating pork on his base as it would be for secular Israelis to have a religious Israeli soldier be punished for not eating pork.
Unfortunately, stories of secular individuals and government authorities being threatened or punished for breaking or even being suspected of breaking the country's dictatorial religious laws are commonplace in Israel and have been since the founding of the state in 1948. The reason is the so-called "status quo" arrangement made between Israel's founding fathers and the fledgling Jewish state's religious establishment. The arrangement dates back to a letter sent by David Ben-Gurion to leaders representing the Haredi community in which he made assurances that religious laws and ordinances on matters including Shabbat, Kashrut, family law and educational autonomy would be upheld and enforced in what would become the State of Israel. Ben-Gurion, who as we know became Israel's first prime minister, did this because he needed to ensure a united Jewish stance in favour of the United Nations' 1947 Palestine partition plan. Without this united stance, the partition plan granting Jews an independent state in the Land of Israel may not have passed. The irony is that the "status quo" arrangement that allowed Israel to be established with international legitimacy is the same thing that is oppressing much of Israel's public today.
So what if Israel's government decided to drop Ben-Gurion's compromise? What if Israel's leaders suddenly agreed to lift restrictions on activities like shopping and public transportation on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays? Would we be on the fast track to civil war? I don't think so, and the reason I don't think so is that even if the Haredim or the religious Zionist community strongly resented Israel's turn towards secularism, they would still not bite the hand that feeds them. After all, Israel is the one and only Jewish state, and I don't see either the Haredim or the religious Zionist Jews creating states of their own. How could the Haredim create a country of their own? They won't even contribute to the society and economy in the country they have now, to say nothing of their refusal to fight for it in the IDF. Why would they act any differently to create a country of their own? And as for the religious Zionists are concerned, there may be some of them who may openly talk of creating a second, more religious Jewish state, but I think most of them will continue to remain loyal Israeli citizens because they know Jewish history better than most people and will remember what happened the last time the Jewish people were split into two states. Hence, they will not want history to repeat itself.
The point I'm trying to make is that for the sake of liberty, Israel needs to end the religious dictatorship that David Ben-Gurion's "status quo" arrangement has left us with, and we can do this without tearing the country apart. We need to allow ordinary Israeli citizens who want to take the bus on Saturdays or get married without the involvement or the Orthodox rabbinate the right to do so without being threatened or punished. Now I'm sure I'll get a lot of flak from my fellow Jews who are of a more religious persuasion for what I'm saying here. Indeed, I've already gotten responses back telling me that if I or anyone else don't like Israel's dictatorial religious laws, we should live somewhere else. My response to these people is that Israel belongs to its secular citizens just as much as it does to its religious ones, so no member of either community should tell members of the other that they should leave just because they share a different view of what it means to live as a Jew in the Jewish State of Israel.
Unfortunately, stories of secular individuals and government authorities being threatened or punished for breaking or even being suspected of breaking the country's dictatorial religious laws are commonplace in Israel and have been since the founding of the state in 1948. The reason is the so-called "status quo" arrangement made between Israel's founding fathers and the fledgling Jewish state's religious establishment. The arrangement dates back to a letter sent by David Ben-Gurion to leaders representing the Haredi community in which he made assurances that religious laws and ordinances on matters including Shabbat, Kashrut, family law and educational autonomy would be upheld and enforced in what would become the State of Israel. Ben-Gurion, who as we know became Israel's first prime minister, did this because he needed to ensure a united Jewish stance in favour of the United Nations' 1947 Palestine partition plan. Without this united stance, the partition plan granting Jews an independent state in the Land of Israel may not have passed. The irony is that the "status quo" arrangement that allowed Israel to be established with international legitimacy is the same thing that is oppressing much of Israel's public today.
So what if Israel's government decided to drop Ben-Gurion's compromise? What if Israel's leaders suddenly agreed to lift restrictions on activities like shopping and public transportation on Shabbat and other Jewish holidays? Would we be on the fast track to civil war? I don't think so, and the reason I don't think so is that even if the Haredim or the religious Zionist community strongly resented Israel's turn towards secularism, they would still not bite the hand that feeds them. After all, Israel is the one and only Jewish state, and I don't see either the Haredim or the religious Zionist Jews creating states of their own. How could the Haredim create a country of their own? They won't even contribute to the society and economy in the country they have now, to say nothing of their refusal to fight for it in the IDF. Why would they act any differently to create a country of their own? And as for the religious Zionists are concerned, there may be some of them who may openly talk of creating a second, more religious Jewish state, but I think most of them will continue to remain loyal Israeli citizens because they know Jewish history better than most people and will remember what happened the last time the Jewish people were split into two states. Hence, they will not want history to repeat itself.
The point I'm trying to make is that for the sake of liberty, Israel needs to end the religious dictatorship that David Ben-Gurion's "status quo" arrangement has left us with, and we can do this without tearing the country apart. We need to allow ordinary Israeli citizens who want to take the bus on Saturdays or get married without the involvement or the Orthodox rabbinate the right to do so without being threatened or punished. Now I'm sure I'll get a lot of flak from my fellow Jews who are of a more religious persuasion for what I'm saying here. Indeed, I've already gotten responses back telling me that if I or anyone else don't like Israel's dictatorial religious laws, we should live somewhere else. My response to these people is that Israel belongs to its secular citizens just as much as it does to its religious ones, so no member of either community should tell members of the other that they should leave just because they share a different view of what it means to live as a Jew in the Jewish State of Israel.
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