The elements who tried to harass the tefillin stands were surprised by the waves of anger that arose against them, specifically among non-observant Jews. They received harsh reactions both in the media and on the ground, as more and more Jews came to the tefillin stands and expressed support for the activists.
Last Shabbat, one could hear everywhere about the surprising response to the observance of the mitzvah last week. All the activists, who volunteer on Fridays to man the stalls, said that many came and extended their arms to place tefillin, out of a desire to express support and solidarity. Some came and joined the activists and called on passersby to observe the mitzvah.
A small and vocal minority
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The big mistake of the harassers lies in their dichotomous view. In their eyes, the world is divided into black and white, the ultra-Orthodox and the 'secular.' If they have a negative attitude toward faith and observance of the commandments, they are sure that anyone who does not wear a kippah also holds such attitudes. In any case, it is clear to them that the 'ultra-Orthodox' have no business in 'secular' areas.
They do not know the reality that Chabad followers experience every day – that the Jewish people are not divided into black-and-white divisions. That even a Jew who does not wear a kippah has great faith in his heart. That even a woman who is not dressed in the utmost modesty is connected to tradition and loves the Torah of Israel and its commandments.
These Jews happily roll up their sleeves to put on tefillin, and ask where they can check the kosherness of mezuzahs. These women ask for Shabbat candles, and are interested in the laws of kosher or purity.
When these Jews meet Chabad emissaries, they do not feel that there are two sides to the fence, but that we are all Jews, connected to Jewish tradition.
This reality is not perceived in the minds of the anti-religious elements. It is difficult for them to digest that they are actually a small minority, feeling hostility towards the heritage of their people, while the majority of the people are not in this place. They pretend to represent those who are called 'secular,' but it quickly becomes clear that when it comes to their attitude towards tradition, they actually side with the observant.
From Tefillin to Education
The problem is the noise that this vocal minority creates. It creates hostility, tries to intimidate. Turns every synagogue building into a threat to 'freedom'. Not to mention the desire to build a mikveh - which already raises battle cries, to 'save' the neighborhood from becoming Mea Shearim. It's hard for them to understand that people who look like them need a synagogue and want to purify themselves in a mikveh.
These vocal groups scare school principals and kindergarten teachers from instilling Jewish content in children, thereby deepening ignorance and alienation. They are open to Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist culture, but woe betide them if they take children to a synagogue, show them what the Ark of the Covenant looks like, and what a Torah scroll is.
The rallying of the masses of traditional Jews to the right of the tefillin stands should also lead to support for educators who seek to instill Judaism in children. To strengthen them so that they will not be deterred by extremist elements. To make it clear to all education systems that a Jewish child in the Jewish state should know Israel's heritage and be proud of it.
