Does Civilizationalism have room for Ultra-Orthodox Jews?

Submitted by Spinoza (United States), Apr 22, 2020 at 02:47

Dr Pipes,

This Europe of civilizationists you hope for would seemly be hostile not only to Muslims, but to ultra-orthodox Jews.

Having some experience with Hasidim, including an personal audience with Menachem Schneerson as a child, I'm well aware that the cultural beliefs of the ultra-orthodox are similar in many, though not all, ways to those of conservative Muslims, e.g. shadels vs real hair, divorce at will, antagonism to free speech, use of a separate language, preferring a private judicial system (Beit Dien) for their community, and, of course, what some would call "genital mutilation" of men.

What traditional civilization do you hope the Civilizationists want to preserve? Obviously not the truly traditional one that marginalized Jews for many centuries. Aren't you talking about one that emerged relatively recently with its liberal values combined with powerful regulation by a central state?

In short, the argument you've made leads logically to places that I suspect you don't want to go.

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