I have been hesitant to write about this for two reasons. First, it seems to me the social fabric of the Jewish community is irrevocably broken. There is nothing one can say to remedy this deteriorating condition. Second, I am in the midst of the worst crisis of my life, it gets tangled up in everything I write and I am afraid I can’t be objective. But let me say this. It’s inconceivable to sustain a decent social structure without a free press. And I don’t mean the aggregators that steal content from other journalists like Shmarya (under the “moral” cover). I mean a serious investigative reporting. Looking at the money and influence trail with the detective precision. Writing about ideas, sustaining the artistic and intellectual current. Outside of the Israeli secular press the Jewish people are deprived of this vital institutions. I ran out of exclamation points.
In response to my call I received a number emails from the readers. There is a broad range of people with “diverse” (hate the word) backgrounds following the blog. One predictably frum reader writes: “I could be considered one of those cowards that you write about, I am always hoping you will post more on the subject of people who are committing a moral offense by not breaking with their frum neuroses.”
Bein frum is not a “moral offense”. Just like being a communist is not a moral offence, the beautiful abstract theory (a lie but who cares), a positive aspirational creed. Ultimately when a communist becomes a part of the organized communism he inevitably supports the institutions of the injustice and death. Being frum is OK, being part of the social fabric of the religious community in America c. 2000 is reprehensible. And yes if one calls himself frum he accepts the moral responsibility and contributes to the collective and individual injustice of that culture.
Further reading:
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By identifying as frum one is responsible for the injustices within with the frum community? I should hope not. I am an American, but surely this does not mean I am to be held responsible for the tortures of Guantanamo and the bombing of civilians in Pakistan. As Jews, are we responsible then for everything the State of Israel decides to undertake? Collective responsibility leads to some pretty scary implications, in my opinion.
Sammy, in a democracy you either agree with Guantanamo or speak up against it. And indeed many do. Even the current President made it part of his campaign (till he changed his mind as a President). So people who don’t speak up against the crimes, take upon themselves the burden of the crimes.
I agree with you Ben … and I think it goes further. We are responsible for the failings of the groups with which we associate (and, at times, those which associate with us), even if we speak out against their failings (but fail to affect change).
I, for one, am willing to accept (partial) responsibility for the failings of my frum community. However, I am willing to live with my failings and work towards improving myself. Perfection has never been an option for humans.