Time to Make A Choice

22 Then Eliyahu said to the people, “I, I alone, am the only prophet of Adonai who is left, while Ba‘al’s prophets number 450. 23 Let them give us two young bulls, and they can choose the bull they want for themselves. Then let them cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other bull, lay it on the wood and put no fire under it. 24 Then, you, call on the name of your god; and I will call on the name of Adonai; and the God who answers with fire, let him be God!” All the people answered, “Good idea! Agreed!”  Melachim 18:22-24

I have always been one that tried to walk the line. "Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy" is the title of Marc Shapiro's bio on R' Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg. While I wouldn't recommend that approach for all, it seemed like a worthy one when I lived in America. But Israel is different. In America, the Modern Orthodox are insecure. They look up to the Charedim and try to frum up as if for an older brother.

In israel, the MO, generally known as the Dati Leuimi, are emboldened by their association with the Israeli government and the military. They not only don't look up to the Charedim, they despise them. The internecine conflict in Israel is something to behold. 

The result of it is that a person cannot walk to the line in Israel. He has to make a choice. He has to pick a side and let go of any chance for harmony. 

Seems to me that there isn't much of a choice. In the Dati Leumi synagogue near my house there hangs an Israeli flag that is larger than the Aron Kodesh. That says it all to me. 

While the choice is simple, life after the choice isn't so simple. The Charedi world has its problems. Oftentimes, the only way to put up with them is to consider just how traife the DT world has become. And so we talk about that here, without apologetics, without worrying about anybody's hypersensitivities. Criticizing the DT/MO world is like criticizing the goyim where the tag line is always, look, you are welcome to join us. However, we need to discuss your heathenism and decadence in order to keep our own minds straight.