53 Comments
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Victor Leon Ades's avatar

Excellent news! I follow Einat Wilf for quite some time, she´s a brilliant mind.

EJV's avatar

Love you. This is excellent news. As a religious Zionist Jew I feel that in order to vote people must participate in the IDF, or National Service. No service, no vote. Also no more free rides to Charedi sector for not working or serving. Enough is enough. Happy Birthday. I’ve followed you for a long time and have your books. G-d willing I hope to make Aliyah next year with my dog and will be happy to vote for you. Am Yisrael Chai🦁💪🇮🇱

Zev Spitz's avatar

As a religious Jew, how do you feel about 50% of religious recruits entering the army coming out secular? Or that the IDF hierarchy is exceptionally adept at weeding out strongly religious/right-wing ideologues from its upper ranks?

Alan, aka DudeInMinnetonka's avatar

Where do you base those numbers on and have you considered how little faith they had to lose if half are losing it? Remarkable to see it fall so fast if it is falling that fast which I don't think it is

Zev Spitz's avatar

An interview with Rabbi Aviad Gadot, of the Torah Lechima organization; and a lecture by Rabbi Yigal Levenstein.

Social pressure is a very real thing, especially in an institutional hierarchy whose purpose is to effect behavioral change (army training); even more so, in an institution which has reeducation as an explicit goal (the people's army).

But you've missed the point of the question, which was: as someone who identifies as a religious Jew, presumably the OP cherishes Judaism; how does he feel about an institution which educates away from Judaism. You may not value Judaism, or may reduce it to amorphous, ambiguous "faith", but he doesn't seem to agree.

Rachel A Listener's avatar

Good to read

Jill's avatar

Yasher koach, Einat! Best of luck with your newly formed party.

Maria Petrova's avatar

And it's her birthday! I loved Einat Wilf's book "The War of Return"!

Ana Luiza Daltro's avatar

I am not even Jewish, let alone Israeli. But how I wish I could vote for all this!

Steven Simpson's avatar

But Israel must recognize that there is no such entity as an Arab "Palestine." Only when the *Arabs* living from "The River to the Sea, and from the Negev to the Gallilee" accept this, then and only then, can a small possibility of co-existence begin. Two very different peoples cannot exist harmoniously on the same piece of land. Add religion to the conflict, and it only makes matters worse. Islam rules the "Palestinians." History before Muhammad is not recognized. How do you make peace a reality with such a people and such a religion that believes that "al-Yahud" are the greatest enemies of Allah and stole the land from the Muslims?

Stanley Grill's avatar

You’ve set yourself a tough row to hoe but I hope you manage to succeed where others have continually failed. ❤️

Anita's avatar

Please PLEASE stop calling them Palestinian. They are Arabs from Egypt Jordan Lebanon and elsewhere. The Palestinian Scam must end, they billions of dollars in aid to keep these people dysfunctional and easily indoctrinated must be cut off. A new system of education has to happen, otherwise the ancient hatred will never die.

Tony P's avatar

I think Ms. Wilf actually gets this distinction, from what she’s written.

SBSNYC's avatar

How can the diaspora support you?

Andrew Ack's avatar

I have really enjoyed listening to your mind work on interviews and articles. I am an American but you seem to really hit the sweet spot between left and right. While I believe you were more left when you previously served it seems time and circumstances have shifted your perspective some. I am very impressed with your boldness and vision. I’d like to hear more on the economic front as I may have to make Aliyah at some point if the far left and far right continue to grow. Very strange times here. Thank God for the option and don’t give in to the crazy people there. They are probably paid like they are here.

Elliott Steinberg's avatar

I wish you behatzlacha. You’d be a breath of fresh air in Knesset. Won’t be an easy road…

David Sher's avatar

Best of luck. You are spot on.