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Post details: And all you got to do is wear wool?

05/23/08

11:24:22 am, Categories: Announcements [A], 168 words

And all you got to do is wear wool?

Although the article linked to in the title to this post is about a rabbi who left his religion, the following quote from the article was news to me. Assaf not only gave up his religion, but in doing so, now has to pay taxes.

It's perhaps surprising that in the world's only Jewish nation, so much friction exists between the Israeli majority who consider themselves secular and the 700,000 Haredi Jews, who follow the most theologically conservative form of Orthodox Judaism.

The problem, as many secular Jews see it, is that being Haredi carries certain privileges, which include not having to pay tax or work or do three years' military service.

Haredi Jews receive government handouts to help support their families in the absence of a breadwinner. And with most Haredi Jews having large families, often with 10 or 11 children, their number is expected to double from about 10% of the population to 20% by 2020.

Would you give up religion if it meant you had to start paying taxes?

Peter Nuhn

13 comments

Comments:

Comment from: Kahomono [Member]

I was Orthodox Jewish, but the milder American version. Have seen the Israeli Haredi life up close, though.

I would give it up again if it meant paying DOUBLE tax!

05/23/08 @ 11:56

Comment from: mouse [Member]

you mean if i go back to religion i can skip the taxes? is that taxes on gas too? lol

you know, I can sort of understand tax exempt status for churches, but individuals? i thought the US laws on religion were screwed...

05/23/08 @ 12:41

Comment from: alexatheist [Member]

Finally a posting that is critical of judaism!

05/23/08 @ 13:56

Comment from: David Silverman [Member] · http://www.atheists.org/

Well, actually it appears to be more of a criticism of Israel.

Tax exempt status should be relative to actions, not religion. If a church actually does enough charity work to qualify for tax exempt status, they should get it, but the requirements should be the same for nonreligious institutions.

05/23/08 @ 14:31

Comment from: What [Member]

Alex

Finally a posting that is critical of judaism!

Well, actually it appears to be more of a criticism of Israel.

A twofer!

05/23/08 @ 18:54

Comment from: quantum_flux [Member]

Don't practicing Jews tithe though?

05/23/08 @ 20:03

Comment from: reason [Member]

cut off aid to israel. by giving aid the united states is indirectly funding the haredi loafers.

05/23/08 @ 22:15

Comment from: thx1138 [Member]

Um, can anyone become a Haredi Jew?

05/23/08 @ 22:42

Comment from: drchris06 [Member]

thx...

Maybe... but you gotta get circumcised first !

05/23/08 @ 23:16

Comment from: What [Member]

Circumcised? Word analysis alert.

cir: Title for adult males.

cum: Slang for a load, spooge, jiz, wad, manthrax.

cise: It does matter!

d: Now I get it.

05/24/08 @ 02:02

Comment from: Hoodlum [Member]

Where is the GOP and allied right-wingers bitching about these people?

Is there moral outrage only limited to minorities who abuse the system? Or is getting on welfare and breeding for more benefits okay, like many things, when done for god?

05/24/08 @ 10:39

Comment from: bombria [Member]

The article is about a government sanctioned cult and we are discussing tax exemption? Did all of you miss:

"Nearly a decade since defecting to the secular world, he still has no contact with his parents, but has been able to gain twice-weekly contact with his son."

Would you leave a religion if you had to pay taxes??? How about if you had to give up your family? A little tougher, eh?

05/24/08 @ 15:06

Comment from: VegeBrain [Member]

As I read this it occurred to me that religion should be like drinking: you're not allowed any until you're 21. That way we won't have this constant problem of children that don't know any better being indoctrinated like this.

05/25/08 @ 08:51

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