“The Insensitivity of Secular Jews” by Eitan Lerer is an ironic article that describes secular Jews in the insulting terminology that Orthodox Jews use but does so to debunk what he feels are the essentially anti-Jewish practices of the Orthodox. In particular he relates to what he feels is the outrageous behavior of the Rabbi Ovadia Yosef and his “court” of followers.
1. Rabbis are not holy. Nothing in Judaism is holy in and of itself except as it relates to God. The “holiness” of Rav Ovadia depends on the financial support of the state and when that is removed so will be his “holiness”.
2. No Rabbi has any right to interpret divine justice. This point is so basic to Judaism that it is a wonder that Rav Ovadia is so familiar with divine justice.
3. This entire disgusting comedy would not be possible but for the ignorance of the great mass of the Israeli public regarding the essence of Judaism. Not only that of secular Jews but also of most religious Jews who prefer to take part in demonstrations and engage in fund raising.
4. Followers of Rav Ovadia as well as Habad (and other Hassidim) are Christian in the way they run themselves in that they venerate they very person of the Rabbi, as the Christians venerate Jesus.
