A PROMINENT Israeli writer has won a significant court victory in his battle not to be officially registered as Jewish.
Yoram Kaniuk
Yoram Kaniuk, 81 – born and raised in Tel Aviv and an internationally acclaimed author and critic – petitioned the Interior Ministry in 2010 to change his status on the population register from “Jewish” to “no religion.”
The Ministry, according to this report, turned down his request, and Kanuik took his battle to the Tel Aviv District Court which yesterday ruled in his favour.
Kaniuk explained that while he did not want to convert to another religion, he has never identified as a religious Jew.
In this report, Kaniuk called the court’s decision:
A ruling of historic proportions.The court granted legitimacy to every person to live by their conscience in this land, in ruling that human dignity and freedom means a person can determine their own identity and definition. In this way I can be without religion but Jewish by nationality. I am so thrilled.
Israel registers its citizens according to both their religion and their ethnicity, although it does not include an “Israeli” ethnicity, labelling its Jewish citizens as of “Jewish” ethnicity.
That has raised the ire of secular groups who have petitioned the interior ministry for years to replace the Jewish ethnicity label with an Israeli one.
In his ruling on Sunday, Judge Gideon Ginat cited a paper by Prof. Shimon Sheetrit entitled ‘Freedom of Religion in Israel,’ which mentioned several sources, including Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence, as well as international resolutions that discussed the democratic right to freedom of religion.
Lawyer Yael Katz-Mastbaum, who represented Kaniuk in court, told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday the court’s ruling was consistent with the spirit of the Basic Law on Human Dignity and Freedom. The right to define oneself is a:
Fundamental right that should be taken for granted, without any restrictions.
Another report concerning Judaism revealed at the weekend that that Britain is to get its first “hands-free” pedestrian crossing – so that devout Jews do not have to break the religious law that prohibits them from using electricity or operating machinery on the Sabbath.
The new crossing will hold up traffic every 90 seconds from Friday evening until nightfall on Saturday, covering the Jewish Sabbath period.
The move follows the controversial formation of an eruv – a boundary recognised by Jewish law within which certain activities are permitted – in the same part of North London.
Although observant Jews are allowed to carry household objects such as door keys, and to push prams and wheelchairs within the six-square-mile area, they are still banned from using electricity.
Explaining the necessity of the hands-free crossing, one commentator said:
I understand all your frustrations at the seemingly pointless need for our hands free green man. It must be very hard to understand such complex religious laws in a day and age when religious frameworks are seen as unecessary and dated. However, the Jews will always observe their shabbat, and modern technology must be adapted to allow this to happen. By looking at the green man, we are not violating the shabbat, since we did not cause the initial electrical spark. We are therfore permitted to hear the crossing, since we are not benefiting from something we created, as it was created involuntary. G-d created the world in 6 days and on the 7th day he rested, each week, we emulate that day of rest by not creating anything from sunset on friday until sunset on saturday. An electrical spark is a creation. Please try and respect our communities needs even if you cannot understand us.
Hat tip: Pete H and Barriejohn (little green man report)
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:15 am
“We are therfore permitted to hear the crossing, since we are not benefiting from something we created, as it was created involuntary.”
If the crossing has been designed & installed specifically to cater to their needs, why doesn’t that count as something they created? Did their all-powerful creator queue a few jobs on the 6th day and let them run on their own while he rested on the 7th?
If they wanted a crossing they could use without any “creation” issues, I believe the Zebra Crossing already exists to fulfill that brief, without causing even more traffic congestion that already exists.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 am
Very good news. Who’d have thought it – more common sense in Israel than in Finchley!
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:09 am
“Another report concerning Judaism revealed at the weekend that that Britain is to get its first “hands-free†pedestrian crossing – so that devout Jews do not have to break the religious law that prohibits them from using electricity or operating machinery on the Sabbath.”
So what happens to any that have a pacemaker fitted, or are hooked up to life support? “Ooh, it’s the Sabbath. Better switch off.” Beep. beep, beep, BEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
Utterly pathetic.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:52 am
The Jewish Zebra Crossing beggars belief. Ever more amazing is that they are indulged in their nonsense. They are clearly not following the impossible rules of their religion but going through a pretense to satisfy their religious vanity: look at us and our exhibition of holyness.
Using electricity seems to their distorted “thinking” to be different from making use of electricity. A clear example of having your cake and eating it. Someone else can provide the electricity, ensure the machinery functions and they will parade their phony holyness.
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:02 pm
Surely by pressing the button they are doing what they see as a Good Thing: stopping those wicked people driving their cars on the Sabbath, if only for a minute or so. Surely more virtue in that than in refraining from using one finger or microamp.second.
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:12 pm
“Please try and respect our communities needs even if you cannot understand us”
I can understand them, (absolutely barking 0 but I can understand that) but respect them – NEVER. How can I repect people who are barking mad?
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:27 pm
As living beings, many of their essential biological functions rely on self-generated electro-chemical processes. Strictly speaking, these people should kill themselves on the Sabbath. Problem solved.
October 3rd, 2011 at 12:30 pm
If this crossing is within an eruv I would think there won’t be much need for a crossing given the amount of traffic at the said times. If it’s anything like where I live there’ll be men in funny hats taking down registration numbers to make sure that nobody does any driving.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:06 pm
It is always good to read that society, somewhere, has lifted itself one more (tiny) step out of the muck of insanity and into the light of day.
But just as this occurs, we read that another stumble backwards has occurred in the street crossing signals timed to suit yet another dumb religion:
“However, the Jews will always observe their shabbat, and modern technology must be adapted to allow this to happen. ”
Actually, no. In my society you have the perfect right to just stand there and make a complete ass of yourself.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:17 pm
More material for the comediennes to use. They seem to be making up their own rules as they go.
I lived in East Finchley and knew that so many did in fact not fast, had bacon sandwiches and drove to synagogue leaving their cars in another road.
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:41 pm
If Mr. Kanluk is no longer a ‘religious Jew’, what has he become in the eyes of ‘real’ Jews? Labelling people, if you’re prone to do that, can be complicated enough, but what happens if they want to get rid of it? I like traditional Jewish food, does that make me a culinary Jew in some people’s eyes, with extra privileges or duties? Food for comedy, indeed!
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:48 pm
Well done Yoram Kaniuk – a small glimmer of secular hope in a region that has been blighted by religious lunacy ever since humans set foot there.
As for the nonsense in London – why are we pandering to these morons? They are like a millstone around the neck of humanity, constantly harping back to that golden era of civilisation called the Iron Age with all its farcical, primitive little rules and rituals designed to appease some scary supernatural being in the sky. Will we ever be able to move on as a species?
Speaking of which, here’s a guy whose videos are worth subscribing to on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xnrk1lORnNw
October 3rd, 2011 at 1:50 pm
What happens if one of them has a heart attack on the Sabbath? Do they really refrain from calling for help until the next day? After all, that would involve use of a telephone, ambulance and defibrillator at the very least. And when in hospital, do they demand that life support systems are turned off on the Sabbath? I’ll make sure that I’m never taken to a Jewish hospital, that’s for sure!
October 3rd, 2011 at 2:27 pm
looking at the green man is ok – its a loophole! its almost like their trying to con god. ah we can look at the green man but we didnt press the button, wink wink.
I wouldnt mind, but whos paying for the new crossing? is it the church or the council? no prizes for a correct guess.
the idea that god worked 6 days and then needed a day off is one of the most idiotic ideas, and the first of many in the bible. i know real life PEOPLE who work 6 days and then work the 7th too without too much fuss. but an omnipotent god who can create the universe with ease needed to put his feet up? stupid.
October 3rd, 2011 at 2:33 pm
I was always told that traffic crossings are almost all automatic anyway, and the only reason they have a button is to make people feel they have some control of the situation so they will not just walk out into traffic. I have certainly seen them cycle between red and green for pedestrians without anyone touching them, even late at night.
On the bright side, at least that commentator was somewhat respectful in their special pleading. Rather than come across with the usual attitude of “you HAVE to do things our way”, there was at least a please in there. Startling how refreshing that is.
October 3rd, 2011 at 4:19 pm
The believers are so quick to want respect from those who do not believe. The result is that they are invited to give their views where they have no expertise and incorporate ancient tribal beliefs into scientific discussions. Why shouldn’t atheists expect similar respect for our opinions? This respect game seems mostly one way. And that, despite the fact that the churches are emptying, and religion is vastly over represented already. Do the preachers believe what they preach anyway?
I like reading poetry and yesterday I came across this which I extract from “The Island” by R.S.Thomas who was a Welsh vicar:
“And God said, I will build a church here
And cause these people to worship me,
And inflict them with poverty and sickness
In return for centuries of hard work
And patience…………”
“………and watch the bitterness in their eyes
Grow, and their lips suppurate with
Their prayers………….
Although Thomas was far from being the christian believer his listeners assumed he took the view that his job was to preach the message of his church (C.of E.) and not his private views which came through, often rather elliptically, in his poetry.
This divergence of what the preacher preaches and what he believes seems common and I have no doubt continues to grow. How could it be otherwise? They are often intelligent men and women.
October 3rd, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@RealUnumportant
‘…I believe the Zebra Crossing already exists to fulfill that brief, without causing even more traffic congestion that already exists.’.
The uniform worn by the orthodox jew consists of a black jacket and trousers, a white shirt, and a silly black hat known as a yid lid. Using a zebra crossing whilst dressed in black and white clothing will render them almost invisible, thus increasing the likelihood they will be run over.
October 3rd, 2011 at 5:01 pm
@RealUnimportant
‘… I believe the Zebra Crossing already exists to fulfill that brief, without causing even more traffic that already exists.’
I totally agree. A ninety second timer will stop the traffic nearly a thousand times during a twenty-four hour period, whether or not there is anyone wanting to cross.
They should replace it with a zebra crossing.
October 3rd, 2011 at 5:16 pm
They’re probably not allowed to walk on multi-coloured surfaces!
October 3rd, 2011 at 5:35 pm
And just who is footing the bill for this pedestrian crossing? The tax payer no doubt.
Funny how they like to brag about how they crossed the Red Sea, but seem incapable of crossing the street without a handout from the council.
October 3rd, 2011 at 5:46 pm
Well done Yoram Kaniuk. A little bit of sensibleness just entered the world.
Regarding the traffic-lights, isn’t ninety seconds roughly the cycle-time of signals on a junction anyway? Doesn’t seem much of a big deal, to allow the pedestrian signals to change along with the ones for the traffic.
October 3rd, 2011 at 10:07 pm
Why is every motorist who drives along that road going to be inconvenienced, weather there is a religiotard waiting to cross or not?I go with the zebra crossing idea, but some mps have probably got shares in the traffic light companies.
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:00 pm
In relation to the traffic signals, would it help if we changed the Green Cross Code Man to the Green Star of David Man, or am I just being silly?
October 3rd, 2011 at 11:54 pm
tony e
Bring back Alvin Stardust, I say.
October 4th, 2011 at 1:58 am
For those wondering about using electricity in life support machines, etc.. Jews are at least reasonable enough to _require_ that these laws be broken if necessary to save a life (and to be generous in deciding whether a life is in danger).
The decision in Israel to allow someone previously classified as Jewish to become no religion is important since at this time someone who is Jewish can only marry in Israel another Jew and only in an Orthodox ceremony (hence many non-Orthodox Jewish or cross official religion marriages by Israelis take place outside Israel [Cyprus is popular]). Official Christians (and official Muslims) must also be married by Christian (or Muslim) rules. However two officially non-religious people (or people whose religion is not recognized by the state such as Hindu) can have a civil union in Israel as of earlier this year.
October 4th, 2011 at 9:17 am
Religion must be made a private thing, even a DADT thing, and off the passports.
When people start letting it all hang out, we get pressure to conform to arbitrary and senseless rules and restrictions.
In my experience, the most pious of men (of all religions) always seemed to expect the women in the household to work on the sabbath, insofar as it involved their comfort.
I know that the food must be cooked the day before – but who serves it and clears up?
October 4th, 2011 at 9:50 am
Daz,
When I followed your link and saw a creepy geezer, with dodgy clothing, too much jewellery and hanging around kids, I initially thought it was a recruitment video for the catholic church.
October 4th, 2011 at 11:05 am
@Erp: We do realize that “exceptions” are made to these stupid rules! As has been pointed out here before, special arrangements had to be made over the timing of the Sabbath in the case of Jews residing near the Arctic Circle, as this caused difficulties, especially during the Summer. Obviously, JHWH, who “knows the end from the beginning”, didn’t see that one coming!
@gsw: I knew Plymouth Brethren who always ate salad on Sundays. One reason that they gave involved the people who had to supply gas and electricity on “The Lord’s Day”, but even if they had sat in cold and darkness (which they didn’t) they still used heat and light in their places of worship.
October 5th, 2011 at 2:56 am
tony e
That’d be Cardinal Glitter…