1.
It was on Sunday, the fast of the 17th of Tammuz.
That day I was invited to a meeting about a new TV show at the educational television studios (they invited me, so why not?). The show deals with influential teenagers and opinion leaders. I said to myself, maybe we can do a Kiddush Hashem, I'll participate.
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Although I am exempt from fasting (due to the law of illness, remember my coughing fits?), despite this - I am not allowed to eat in public.
I took steroid inhalations to soothe the cough as much as possible, and arrived at the "interview", hoping not to stand out too much in the field.
Different types of teenagers came to the studio. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I chose my words carefully, being responsible for the impression I made, as the only one who was supposed to represent the ultra-Orthodox sector.
I eventually received a message that the show had been canceled and our details would be kept in production for other shows.
I was disappointed.
2.
Speaking of television, how can you ignore Amnon Levy's show?.
The program focused on things in the Haredi sector that, out of modesty, I will not mention, but it is difficult for me to ignore the central character in the program, supposedly a Hasidic Gur, who spoke and showed all television viewers things that modesty is good for.
As a present-day Haredi, I was shocked. But I would have been shocked even if I had seen it as a secularist, in my past.
How is a Hasidic Jew living in Mea Shearim not ashamed to cause such a great desecration of God just for a piece of meager ratings?
I followed the comments on Facebook, and saw how even secular people were shocked. I would have expected a respected journalist like Amnon Levy (who doesn't hate Haredim, like many others) not to focus on Gur Hasidism specifically, but to present the beauty in the Haredi sector. But I don't blame him either. He wanted a bit of ratings.
Today everyone wants buzz, and he got it at our expense.
I, in any case, will not embarrass the sector to which I belong for a piece of ratings.
3.
The day after the fast, I 'spent' at Ichilov Hospital, located in the 'Tel Aviv State'. I'm there quite a lot.
I finished my Tel Aviv errands and arrived at the Arlozorov terminal. As I boarded bus 480 to Jerusalem, I couldn't help but notice two ultra-Orthodox men in their 60s getting on the bus. One of them sat down, the other took off his hat and suit and placed them on the shelf above his head.
Behind him stood a typical Tel Aviv lady, about thirty years old, who roared with hatred: "Sir, "You are blocking the entire passage.".
""Just a moment," he replied, trying to finish putting away the things. But she raised her voice again. "Can't you see that you're holding everyone up here?" she screamed, pushing him aside, in the narrow aisle between the chairs, as she continued on her way, walking quickly and full of hatred.
I will never forget her look full of hatred.
Was there a connection between it and Amnon Levy's investigation? Who knows.
When I arrived in Jerusalem, at the central station, I boarded the light rail. This time a similar story happened to me, but completely opposite.
At one of the seats, I noticed a secular woman sitting next to a Hasid. Then she stood up, approached me, and asked politely: "Excuse me, can you move to sit next to him instead of me? Maybe he doesn't want me to sit next to him?""
I admit, it was a rather unusual case, but it showed me something and a half about the qualities of that woman. With my logic, I explained the difference to myself. This one was from Jerusalem, that one was from Tel Aviv.
4.
This is not the first time that news of abuse has been published. This time it happened at Zoglowek, and I am concerned that some of the company's products are certified kosher by the Badatz.
This is not just an issue of animal cruelty, it's much worse than that. Slamming chickens hard on the floor can result in crushed limbs and even predation.
It's very difficult to ignore the increasing abuses in slaughterhouses. I'm not a vegetarian, but after seeing these pictures I was worried: "Maybe the chicken sausage I'm eating now has been through this too?""
And I definitely think we need to do a home inspection - and urgently.
5.
And a word about Yair Lapid.
I hate to hear him say on television channels: "Litzman doesn't want to be a minister because he doesn't want to swear allegiance to the state because he's not a Zionist.".
So like this. This is not the first time nor the last time I've said: Yahir Lapid. You should know that a MK and a deputy minister swear allegiance to the state just like a full-time minister. Did you swear allegiance to the state, or have you never set foot in the Knesset?
And all I can do is cry for the people who believe every word of hate that comes out of your mouth!
6.
And a final word, about Lieutenant Colonel Bracha, who committed suicide due to the 'shaming'.
I will never understand people who commit suicide because of 'shiming', but don't judge a person until you've been in their shoes.
