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| Taken from: Walla.co.il |
This is a news report is following a previous one about children starving in Bnei Brak, a seclusive Ultra Orthodox residential neighborhood where the level of poverty is one of the highest in Israel. The head Rabbi of Israel - Yona Metzger commented "If children are starving in Bnei Brak, the state has bankrupted morally."
I hate to break it to people of his sector, but living off of welfare to provide for 10-12 (and more) children with just one parent financially supporting the family as the other one studies the Bible 24/7 and blaming the state for this condition is absurdly ridiculous. If this truly bothers the Ultra Orthodox sector they should start working in order to provide for their families rather than demand and complain about anything and everything that is within their responsibility as concerned parents.
The Ultra Orthodox sector chooses to live in disgraceful poverty under the excuse of religion and God yet they have the nerve to demand the Israeli government taxes the secular sector higher so they can get more money off of social security. It is not within the responsibility of the secular sector of Israel to provide for these families through the Israeli government.
The Rambam Moses Maimonides has said it better than I ever will:
"Anyone who decides to be engaged in Torah [study] and not to work, and will be supported by Tzedaqa (charity) - this person desecrates God's name (*Chillel et Hashem*), degrades the Torah, extinguishes the light of our faith, brings evil upon himself and forfeits life in *Olam haBa* (The world to come); since it is forbidden to derive benefit from the words of Torah in this world. The Rabbis said (Avot 4:5): Anyone who derives benefit from the words of Torah in this world, forfeits his life in Olam haBa. They further commanded and said: (Avot 4:5) Do not make them [the words of Torah] a crown to magnify yourself or an axe with which to chop. They further commanded, saying: (Avot 1:10) Love work and despise positions of power (*Rabbanut*). And: (Avot 2:2) Any Torah which is not accompanied by work will eventually be nullified and will lead to sin. Ultimately, such a person will steal from others."
Shelly
