Sephardic community puts lie to assertion that they face discrimination in Israel

[Mediocrates]

In case you stumble upon some BDS types who assert that Israel is the most racist evil sewer on earth....etc etc etc.

http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV...in-Israel.html

[danholo]

It is quite the racist sewer, if you'd just listen to what people have to say about others. The general view of mizrachim is that they are essentially "Arab". They behave the same, sport similar machismo culture and are generally not very educated reactionary buffoons. They support the right and radical elements, live a traditional lifestyle and put little emphasis on academia and rationale, but emotions and aggression. Look up "Arsim" and you'll know what I mean.

[Mediocrates]

The point of which is what? People don't get along? Wow color me stupefied.

[Yala]

It is quite the racist sewer, if you'd just listen to what people have to say about others. The general view of mizrachim is that they are essentially "Arab". They behave the same, sport similar machismo culture and are generally not very educated reactionary buffoons. They support the right and radical elements, live a traditional lifestyle and put little emphasis on academia and rationale, but emotions and aggression. Look up "Arsim" and you'll know what I mean.

WOW. How different from the rest of the world where there is absolutely no racism ever. I mean give me a break, there is racism everywhere. Again, singling out Israel as if it was the only place where ignorance exists, is just plain stupid. YES, there is racism in Israel and it is no different than in the US and maybe even less than some countries in Europe where actual Nazis and white power groups are sitting in the gov't. Just look up the BNP or Jobbik for 2 quick examples. It's not as if some Ashkenazim are going to beat up some Sephardics or what not. As Jews, we all make fun of each other.

[Aliyah1995]

Actually, when my family and I lived in Bet Shemesh many years ago, it was the Moroccans who had all the power in the Municipal offices. They had so much protektzia (personal connections) that virtually everyone in all the governmental offices there were related to each other (cousins would get each other jobs).

It was also so well known that the Moroccans hated the American Olim there that my wife was outright told to NOT take her driving exam in Bet Shemesh because she would NEVER pass, as they hate Americans and would fail her everytime.

Racism works both ways.

[curlyg]

Racism works both ways.

I agree with you. The difference being that the establishment has been overwhelmingly Ashkenazi so that they have been in a position to more effectively discriminate.

I don't think anyone would reasonably dispute that in Israel's early years there was a hell of a lot of racism towards Mizrachim and Spharadim, including from "founders" like Ben Gurion and Golda Meir. That's unfortunate, but they were a product of their societies and their time. I don't think that level of discrimination persists to this day, certainly not on the same scale.

[bararallu]

I think its also fairly arbitrary the way pigeonhole Israeli Jewish society into but two camps. There are many communities in Israel and very few of them now days, speak either yiddish or ladino.

[Womble]

The general view of mizrachim is that they are essentially "Arab". They behave the same, sport similar machismo culture and are generally not very educated reactionary buffoons. They support the right and radical elements, live a traditional lifestyle and put little emphasis on academia and rationale, but emotions and aggression. Look up "Arsim" and you'll know what I mean.

I would not recommend you saying any of the above in the presence of a Mizrahi Jew.

[curlyg]

I think I'm technically Mizrahi. Polish mother and Bukharian father. Guess that feeds in to what bararallu says about pigeonholing.

[Mediocrates]

Even in west Africa people are discriminated upon by each other depending on their clan affiliation or the color of their skin. Even in China, the classic Han face is preferred.

Guess what? People suck.

[bararallu]

That pigeonholing is mostly perpetuated by the crappy way we set up the rabanut. Why only two essential minhagim? Why is a Georgian Jew "Sephardi"? Why is a Farsi or Ethiopian Jew, a Yemenite, a Gornyi Jew, a Hodu, "Sephardi?" Why is a [yeker] German Jew Ashkenazi? They all historically have different minhog and culturally come from very diverse places. It's nonsense to put us all into two categories, that used to mean something very specific. I think we should do away with the terms and stick to either where we are actually from... or where we are going.

BTW, I read a thing a few years ago- whereby in Israel the highest community intra-marriage happens in poorer neighborhoods, and I guess that makes sense. The poorer towns, and neighborhoods, is also where you find there is the most friction between communities. The one large Moroccan wave and the bunch of Soviet waves created a lot of heat all over Israel- ask me how many Moroccan-Russians I know, and you'd be impressed. That's how it goes. Jews should marry each other w/o reflection on their past- our family histories matter but our collective heritage counts a lot more.

[curlyg]

I'd scrap the Rabbanut entirely. It's an unnecessary drain on resources. All of its functions can be performed by Rabbis on a local level instead of a centralised body.

[Womble]

I'd scrap the Rabbanut entirely. It's an unnecessary drain on resources. All of its functions can be performed by Rabbis on a local level instead of a centralised body.

The Rabbanut was actually set up by the Brits under the Mandate.

It's high time it was abolished.

[bararallu]

I'd generally agree... accept the other Rabbis do pay deference over all to the "establishment"- the trends are set from the rabanut. I would personally like it seriously reformed, whereby at least every community has a Rabbi, kind of like a Sanhedrin of sorts. If there are more than say the historical 23 ravs, then there should be rotation or enough seats to suit 99.999% of the population- including even the non rabinical and non halachic branches.

[redcake]

I've talked about this for a while now. Israel has always had sub-tribal infighting based on regional origins, and it's come from all sides....all sides. In the big picture, it's meaningless, and comes and goes depending on what's happening politically. Like Yala said, there's nothing abnormal about Israel. If there's classism or prejudice, it's no worse than anywhere else...and I appreciate Medio posting this, because the idea that the Sephardim are instituionally second class, and that Israel is a European colonizer supremacist country is total utter garbage.

Also, Mizrahi is not a proper term, in any way shape or form. You can't discuss bias and use that term without playing into such a bias. We're sophisticated enough today that we don't need to lump an Iraqi, with a Yemenite, with an Ethiopean, and then designate Europeans, Australians, and Americans as some whole other thing. It's dire that we achieve clarity on this.