Former Shas Head: Haredim Need Better PR To Fight Anti-Haredi 'Lies'

Aryeh Deri said he did not believe the statistical reports on which anti-haredi claims were based, because much of the research was conducted by hostile agents and presented "in a manner that induces fear of haredim."

Deri: Haredim must develop better PR
Former Shas chairman says his sect must form academia to combat secular research critical of haredim
Kobi Nahshoni • Ynet

Former Shas chairman Aryeh Deri said Thursday that the ultra-Orthodox sector needed better PR, in light of a secular campaign criticizing its small representation in the workforce.

Responding to a secular attack on the haredi work ethic led by journalists Gabi Gazit and Yair Lapid, Deri recommended an ultra-Orthodox research facility be established in order to prove the claims wrong.

"Haredi objectors are using efficient combat methods against us while we respond with combat methods from a generation or two ago," he said in an interview with the ultra-Orthodox weekly Sha'ah Tovah.

"Instead of crying out 'anti-Semitism' and 'racism' – which are unperceivable claims – we need to give a positive answer." Deri added that an academic research center was needed in order to "present the true data".

The politician added that he did not believe the statistical reports on which the claims were based, because much of the research was conducted by hostile agents and presented "in a manner that induces fear of haredim".

He said the ultra-Orthodox research facility could present data on the number of jobs held by haredim at companies such as Tara, Tnuva, Strauss, and Ossem.

"Has anyone checked the profits we provide cabin and hotel owners with? While the seculars go to Turkey, haredim turn to local tourism which provides for dozens of people throughout Israel," he said.

Deri added that the research should also check haredi spending on supermarket products such as food, baby food, and diapers. "And who has checked how many haredi Jews from abroad – the US, France, and England – buy apartments in Israel and provide for its citizens?" he asked.

'We don't all sit and study Torah'
The former Shas chairman also answered criticism about anti-Israeli haredi behavior, such as flag-torching and walking during the Memorial Day siren, calling these "phenomena that create problems".

He said the haredim who study Torah instead of working are only those belonging to the Levy Tribe. "Their studies actually save Israel and protect it, but not everyone gets to be part of the Levy Tribe," he said.

Deri went on to say that yeshiva students were "the people of Israel's Sayeret Matkal", (referring to the elite IDF unit) and that he was proud to represent them.

But he was forgiving towards the secular leaders critical of his sect, such as Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai. "He may really be concerned. To my mind he is a serious man. It seems he is expressing a fear that was ingrained in him and that someone has nurtured," Deri said.

When asked whether the secular public had anything to fear he answered, "I promise them that when we are the majority and the regime is in our hands, we will be more democratic than they are towards us."

Deri added, "The oppression that exists today is not religious but anti-religious." In his vision of the future, he said, no one would tell anyone else how to live.

"The change will be in public. Education will not be haredi, but more Jewish. We want to tell you: we will not damage your lifestyle, and you will run your private lives any way you wish, but the character of the public sphere will be more Jewish."

Comments

[Mr. Apikoros]

Josef Goebbels used to claim, prior to 1933, that the Nazis were "oppressed." In fact, he made those claims after 1933 as well.

What a goddamned liar.

[Mr. Apikoros]

How many Birthright Israel trips to you expect to get, Mr. Devi, if Israel ever becomes Haredi?

Hint: Count the number of American civilians who annually visit Iran.

[mau]

Recent Haredi statements remind Dr. Goebbels too: "...a lie, if audacious enough and repeated enough times, will be believed by the masses". I've heard MK Gafni on radio couple of days ago. Goebbels could take Gafni as one of directors in his ministry.

By the way, two weeks ago was 65-th anniversary of taking Goebbels ministry by Soviet troops.

[who knows]

"Deri added that the research should also check haredi spending on supermarket products such as food, baby food, and diapers."

2 questions to Mr.Deri about this statement:
1)Don't secular Jews buy food in supermarkets? Why he consider this such a heroic act?
2) Who's money do Haredim use when buying food in supermarkets? Hint - welfare and child allowances - i.e. the moneys that haredim extorted from the seculars through the ballot box.

[A E ANDERSON]

Methinks Aryeh shortened his name when he made aliyah... from Derrière.

[Bill]

Aryeh Deri is a convicted criminal who spent time in jail for curruption.

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/07/13/world/israeli-court-orders-jailing-of-party-chief-in-bribe-case.html

[Yerachmiel Lopin]

Deri is trying to revive his career. He lost a lot of power while he was sitting in jail on corruption charges. Naturally, he is saying that we are dealing with appearances not facts when it comes to his bribe taking.

If there is one thing Israel has in abundance it is high quality social science researchers. They do their work well and their numbers are quite telling.

If Deri is serious he can go to work on changing facts, not appearances.

I shudder at his statement: "I promise them that when we are the majority and the regime is in our hands, we will be more democratic than they are towards us."

On the positive side, I do not think anyone outside his camp will be fooled by his words.

[Dr. Dave]

He said the haredim who study Torah instead of working are only those belonging to the Levy Tribe. "Their studies actually save Israel and protect it, but not everyone gets to be part of the Levy Tribe," he said.

I'm a levi and would love to sit and learn all day, but that is not what was done in the time of the beit hamikdash - or any other time. The Kohanim and Levi'im were supported by the other tribes but did have jobs besides sitting and learning all day.

They had their duties in the Temple for several weeks of the year.
They had administrative duties in the prison system (the cities of Refuge).
They were largely the itinerant teachers visiting far flung farms.
The Kohanim had duties to inspect houses and people for certain conditions (tzaraat).
The Kohanim had to work in freezing weather barefoot and in thin linen clothing.
The Levi'im had musical instruments to master.
The Levi'im were the janitors for the temple and its gaurdians. If they fell asleep on the job, they would be woken by having their cloaks set on fire. (the gemara relates that the nights in Jerusalem
were punctuated on occasion by the screams of a Levi with a "hot foot").

And anyway, wasn't it Yissacher who was supposed to sit in their tents learning all day?

[steve]

Sounds like Getzel Rubashkin after the Postville raid. Just make sure not to hire 5WPR and Juda Englemayer.

[David]

"Responding to a secular attack on the haredi work ethic..."

Ridiculous. How can you attack something that doesn't exist?

[Bill]

LOL, David

[Althelion]

In response to just a few of Deri's quotes:

"an ultra-Orthodox research facility be established in order to prove the claims wrong." Who will work there? Last time I checked, there wasn't much in the way of research protocoln and statistical analysis in the Torah, Talmud, and Mishnah. Wouldn't hiring outsiders undermine the whole project?

Deri refers to "hostile agents" as being responsible for the anti-haredi vitriol.
I bet that those "hostile agents" are Jews. Those people control the media and always cause problems. Damn Jews!

Finally, Deri says about the Levi tribe: "Their studies actually save Israel and protect it." How? Why? Because the haredim have decided that THEY should be paid by the public to pray. In order to justify this, the haredim create a value to their "subsidized spiritual activity" - let's create an acronym SSA - and that value is akin to the defense forces of the IDF. Hmmmmm.....

[Mr. Apikoros]

Maybe the "statistical analysis" can explain what happened to the three miles of water covering the entire planet (land and ocean) during the Great Flood.

Perhaps they can put the Goreacle on the case, even though he's not Jewish.

[A E ANDERSON]

Aryeh Derrière. Before he made Aliyah.
;-)

[alternative childcare]

Again with the Nazis? How did this get linked to Nazis? Everyone on this group has "Nazi Tourrette's". I think Mr. A is actually Glenn Beck in disguise.

[Mr. Apikoros]

I think, in fact I know, Alternative Childcare is Maven in disguise.

I can't stand Glenn Beck, btw.

[Bill]

"we will not damage your lifestyle, and you will run your private lives any way you wish but the charecter of the public sphere will be more Jewish."

... with the meaning of "more Jewish" to be defined by the Haredim.

He is absolutely right. This is exactly what Israel will look like in the near future. it's inevitable.

[Bill]

... and when this starts happening, the educated, wealthy and working class will have to choose between living under the thumb of the haredi regime, or seek to emigrate out of Israel to Europe and to the United States. There will be no revolts or civil wars. That's just wishful thinking.

Eventually, many will be seeking -asylum- from religious persecution in these countries.

Israel will be improvished nucear-armed state fully run by haredi rabbis.

It's no longer scary. it's the coming reality.

Israel can do nothing to prevent this.

[Chicago Sam]

Aryeh Deri? Who does he think he is Mr. Integrity? He should change his name to Aryeh Deriere. No amount of spin will sanitize the Haredi and their indecent behavior.