Anger permeates Yossi Bogacz’s convoluted thinking

Rod Waner

The entire thrust of his letter is no more than religious Jew bashing. Some of his claims are unsubstantiated and others downright vicious.

He claims the massive assimilation of American Jews is because they have become “disappointed with Judaism”. It has been shown that, owing to many social, historical and economic factors, there developed over time a tendency among Jews in the US to be identified as “American first” and “Jew thereafter” and that this could well have played some part, albeit minimal, in their ties to Judaism waning.

Others say that the strong liberal underpinning of American society could also have played a part, with a move to more conservative and reformed Jewish thinking. Yet others claim the very “melting pot” that America became, was the cause of many, not only Jews, being absorbed into a homogenous society with a blurring of identity and even culture.

There appears to be many underlying factors which are more than simply being “disappointed”.

To back up his claim of why American Jews are “disappointed with Judaism”, Bogacz makes this outrageous statement: “Religious Jews, as all other religious people, are fanatics.” And further: “Fanaticism is more and more rejected by the majority of people.” This opinion is clearly distasteful and without feeling and forms the core of his radical take on assimilation.

Bogacz’s theory in a nutshell: If you have a strong belief in the G-d-given Torah coupled with a strong belief in the principles of Judaism, then you become a religious Jew which makes you a fanatic.   

Of course Bogacz doesn’t define what he means by “religious Jews”. Does he exclude those who contribute so much to society, not only in South Africa, but throughout the world in fields such as philanthropy, education, medicine, science, technology, agriculture, etc?

And if perchance these same Jews are shomrei shabbos or lay tefillin, do they then fall into the fold of “religious fanatics” as he claims they should? And, being in the “embrace of fanaticism” should they then be rejected by the majority of people, as again he claims they should? Talk about twisted thinking! 

He’s giving the Jewish Diaspora 100 years before it disappears. And he feels it will be a “secular miracle” (not sure what that means) if Israel will survive. It’s like telling this story at the time to the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Who, one may ask, has disappeared and who has survived?

Sinai Indaba is far from brainwashing. The line-up is diverse, from a Nazi hunter to a rabbi whose work among the disadvantaged in Israeli society is legendary, to a psychologist giving parental advice, to a rabbi’s take on mysticism. No fanatics, just people providing upliftment and a fresh perspective on things. Surely there can’t be anything wrong with that?   

I pick up a sense of acute anger permeating throughout what Bogacz has to say – anger with everything Jewish.

The Jewish people have contributed immensely to humanity. May this continue for all time.

Benmore Gardens, Johannesburg