Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sfmag.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxb!mhuxm!sftig!sftri!sfmag!samet From: samet@sfmag.UUCP (A.I.Samet) Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish Subject: Re: "Sabotage of Humanitarian Efforts by Political Opportunists" Message-ID: <500@sfmag.UUCP> Date: Fri, 22-Feb-85 15:11:48 EST Article-I.D.: sfmag.500 Posted: Fri Feb 22 15:11:48 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 26-Feb-85 08:10:12 EST References: <21577@lanl.ARPA> <490@sfmag.UUCP> <540@fisher.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit, NJ Lines: 49 > > Early arrivals from Ethiopia, and their leaders, consented to the > > quiet proposal by Harav Ovadia Yosef and other major poskim that > > they immerse in a mikveh, lechumra, i.e., to remove any lingering > > uncertainties concerning their halachic status.............. > >.................................................................. > > ............................................................... a > > hue and cry was raised by Shulamit Aloni, Yossi Sarid, > > Conservatives, and other would-be humanitarians, with familiar > > anti-Torah polemics, gaining what political mileage they could > > with their traditional incantations against "religious coercion". > > These fools have caused great harm, undermining what could have > > been a straightforward dignified absorbtion process. They can > > congratulate themselves for causing the new immigrants > > embarassment and confusion, and for dividing the Jewish people at > > a time when economic and military problems are at crisis level. > > > > Yitzchok Samet > > Yitzchok evidently feels it is disruptive to the social peace to have > the Ethiopian Jews choose for themselves. - David Rubin No! I think that they are being manipulated against their interests to get involved in a "war" which is not theirs. Using emotional scare tactics on unwary people is undermining their ability for free choice. That's why consumer laws were written to protect people from unscrupulous high pressure, door to door salesman. People who "choose" under pressure tactics are being manipulated and need time to cool off and reconsider. The lines you conveniently deleted from my article (see below) contain the answer to your charge, namely, that they could only gain and not lose by going to mikveh. The opportunists raised false charges of racism to emotionally confuse the people and obscure that that simple yet essential point. --------- LINES CENSORED OUT: ... The clear, overriding benefit was to assure permanent universal acceptance by all Jews. No racism was intended, and stigma would have been avoided if the mission had been completed quietly. The early arrivals complied, and a quiet "giyur" of thousands proceeded without anyone taking offense. The approach was sensitive and humanitarian. The "sin" was that is was being accomplished by the Orthodox. Opportunists can't bear to stay out of the news. First Operation Moses was jeopardized by leaks. In the same foolish fashion, a hue and cry was raised ...