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From: ksg@philabs.UUCP (Ken Goekjian)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Socialism (?) in Israel
Message-ID: <27332@philabs.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 14-Sep-83 08:37:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: philabs.27332
Posted: Wed Sep 14 08:37:41 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Sep-83 20:39:58 EDT
Organization: Philips Labs, Briarcliff Manor, NY
Lines: 37

In response to Dave Sherman and in defense of rabbit!jj:

   I don't know if the government in Israel is or is not
truly Socialist (that BIG, BAD word!), however the facts
(I have not been there, but I'll take your word for it)
of medical care and cheap (even free) food for all are
*CERTAIINLY* not enough to so prove.  It so happens that,
under Jewish religious law (hallakha - sp?), it is a
mitzvah (religious duty) to support (i.e. feed, take care
of, etc...) those who cannot support themselves.  However,
this is a religious duty in nature, which Israel has chosen
(I think) to implement by these programs.  It should also
be mentioned that it is a mitzvah to support yourself, by
any honest means, including physical labor, however menial.
Also, this religious law is not "set in concrete"; personal
circumstances are always taken into account, and there has
never been any stigma (as in so many socialist countries)
attached to being wealthy or influential.  At least in 
theory, if you work hard, you will succeed (in the capitalist
sense of the word).  There are no governmental restrictions
to becoming rich.
   Before this discussion gets **TOO** out of hand, I would
suggest that all the parties involved give their definitions
of Socialism (or any other handy -isms you may want to flame
about, discuss, etc...), since I  have often found that what
people think something is *BY DEFINITION* turns out not to be
what the other guy (girl, hermaphrodite, whatever) thinks it is.
How about it, Dave? jj?  For my part, I will admit to not
having the faintest idea what Socialism is supposed to be, I'm
just trying to give some info on Judaism/Israel.

		 Ramblin' on...

		 Ken Goekjian
		 ...(sdcsvax,mcvax,cbosgd,allegra,decvax)!philabs!ksg