Comments on: Gas Mask Crisis: Some Chareidim Feel ‘We No Longer Have Any Rights’

By: Gadolhadorah

Gadolhadorah — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 13:07:27 +0000

Obviously, its no big deal to shave now and grow the beard back after the current threat is lifted. By that time there will be more of the special masks for those with beards. Its no big deal except for those inflexible charedim who cannot think for themselves and insist this is one of those issues (yaaleh v’lo yahorg)where death is prefereable to common sense. If that’s your gig, see you in olam haboh.

By: frumhersh

frumhersh — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 12:21:41 +0000

A word of caution.

In the gulf war,on that first terrifying night,some people panicked and were the only people beardless the next morning.They did look a little silly.

We shouldn’t need them IY”H.

By: Aryeh Zelasko

Aryeh Zelasko — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 11:17:39 +0000

The GOI, aka; the Government Of Israel is building a half billion dollar bunker for itself in Jerusalem. It will not be a public shelter but only accessible to a privileged few. Maybe by now the cost is a billion. All of it paid from public money but there is no money for public shelters in the rest of the country or for updated ABC equipment for front-line soldiers. So why is this a surprise?

By: grepsoops

grepsoops — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 10:13:57 +0000

1-7 Not getting into who is wright or wrong, and not being judgmental of other people including chardim .One must note
the sense of the inner hate towards chradim these Opinions seem to reveal, All of your opinions could have been written in a nicer language like a yid should be doing. Are we not we before Rosh Hashana ? the day of judgement !! can anybody say he is so perfect ? don’t we ask hashem to look away from our sins? Don’t we want to be judged with racmunis? how can hashem do just that, if we don’t show a little bit of the same we ask for !! why was word chardim mentioned with such a sense of hate ? are they the only ones with beards? I love you all and wish you all the best of best . PS : I hope my feelings I get from the way these opinions were written are incorrect .

By: onlylettuce

onlylettuce — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:44:15 +0000

TBK*** WE know what’s going on, we either live there, visit often or are in constant contact with family that does.
Please, don’t make yourself out to be a nebisch’el or lemmele.Elements of chareidim brought the ire of many in government upon themselves . End of story.

By: talmud student

talmud student — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:34:57 +0000

these people arent charedi , if they were they would listen to rav chaim kanievsky who says you dont need a gas mask. rather they are what i call “morechai’s” – an acronym for modern orthodox charedi. they have all the external trappings of charedi, but inside they have the same outlook as modern orthodox. they might as well shave their beards.

By: onlylettuce

onlylettuce — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 09:16:01 +0000

coffeeaddict*** I like FoxNews , but it’s a reputable news org. The above article is an orphan however, no source , no proof , just yenta babble to cause resentment from maybe an isolated incident. Maybe.

By: Keeper of the Keys

Keeper of the Keys — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 08:21:04 +0000

TBK if you believe this is the government “out to get you” or “picking on Charedim” please go see a psychiatrist.

As people above already pointed out the beard-friendly mask costs more then 3 times as much as the normal mask, it is needed by the elderly and infirm and by emergency services if you want it pay for it but don’t take it away from other people when the budget is anyhow tight.

Or maybe should kollel funding be cut more to be able to afford fitting all Charedim with the fancier masks? After all the money needs to come from somewhere… Child allowances? Hospital? Military preparedness?

Just point at the budget you think needs to be cut to enable funding a *chumrah* which is 100% trumped by pikuach nefesh.

You want to keep a chumrah, you pay for it, not your friend or the government.

By: idachgissa

idachgissa — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 07:41:06 +0000

Obviously, anyone would shave if there were a clear and immediate danger. But if a missile falls in his vicinity, from the time of the siren until he manages to shave could be too late. If he had a mask ready for him he would just put it on. During the gulf war, the sirens went off as soon as a missile was detected going towards the country, but it took several minutes or more before there was an announcement saying which part of the country was hit. Do you think people should shave from the time of the siren and then hear that it struck at the other end of the country. There’s more danger in crossing the street. And by the time the announcement comes it’s too late.

By: idachgissa

idachgissa — Fri, 30 Aug 2013 05:21:20 +0000

How about the government supplying the masks to anyone who agreed to pay the difference in price, or even the full price? Or at least directing us to where we can purchase them for the list price, rather than ending up at a black market seller for a higher price?