It has been a long time since we saw a more striking realization of the sage's statement, "Whatever is rejected in a falsehood is rejected," than the article that aired on the evening of Lag B'Omer on the news edition of the public broadcasting corporation 'Kan'.
The article was called out for - hold on tight! - 'religious messages' in Lag BaOmer processions.
The article description states: "As every year, the Chabad movement, in collaboration with local councils, organizes a variety of performances across the country on the occasion of Lag BaOmer. Ostensibly, when Chabad organizes an event, it is clear that it has religious characteristics, but this time there were parents whose content surprised them.".
After such an introduction, you expect to see the harsh sights that 'surprised'. And indeed, harsh images. Children's artists proclaim 'Shema Yisrael,' and 'Yuvel the Confused' even dares to mention Rabbi Akiva, who said the shocking sentence: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself - this is a great rule in the Torah.".
And if that's not enough, the children receive a Pentateuch. Yes, a book of Pentateuch, from the five Torah Pentates!
Are parents truly innocent?
The naive observer scratches his head and wonders: Where is the surprise that awaited the parents who came with their children to the parades? Didn't they know that Chabad was organizing the parades? - They knew, since the Chabad logo is prominently displayed on the ads. Were they surprised by the receipt of the book? - No, because that was also published in the ads, alongside a photograph of the book.
If so, where is the surprise?
Onward. The reporter brings excerpts of interviews with three 'parents'. It turns out that none of them came with their children to the parades and were 'surprised'. All are prominent and well-known activists in anti-religious organizations. One is a well-known figure in Rishon LeZion, the second is running on behalf of Meretz for mayor of Herzliya, and the third boasts the title of 'chairman of the Secular Forum'.
And this is where the reporter "gets his ass kicked." He does exactly the things his article purported to be about – he misleads the public and uses public resources to advance a private agenda.
He does not have the honesty to tell viewers who those 'parents' are (only in the third interviewee does his title appear, while the first two are presented as simply 'parents').
Defrauding the public
In the article, he notes that some of the events involve the participation of local authorities.
Well, that's their duty! The role of local authorities is to provide residents with cultural events that they are interested in. When the local authority sees that a large public of residents come to events year after year, it is only natural that they will participate in financing these events (don't worry, even after the support of the authorities, the Chabad House is still required to raise a lot of donations to finance the event).
But a public broadcasting corporation is not allowed to place itself at the service of anti-religious elements and give them a free platform, out of defrauding the public. The corporation is funded by all of us - including traditionalists, religious and ultra-Orthodox - and it must be honest and balanced and represent all segments of the public.
Moreover, the remembrance of Rabbi Akiva and the values of tradition on Lag BaOmer is the duty of the corporation itself.
The Public Broadcasting Law explicitly states that the corporation "shall reflect and document the existence of the State of Israel." Jewish state... and you Israel's Heritage""Those who do not like the law, and those who see Israel's heritage as 'religion' - should be respectful and look for another place to work.".
This unfortunate article raises the question again: do we really need to fund a broadcasting corporation whose products are in question?
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