A Defense of ‘Zehut’

I received several appeals to address claims against Moshe Feiglin’s “Zehut” party. Here’s one (shortened):

I just found out that Zehut’s #3 or 4 guy is against Bris Milah!

While I happen to love libertarianism, I do have my limits – and since Bris Milah is an integral part of Jewish identity, I want it to be made mandatory! (So does Hashem.) It is far different than most separation of church and state issues. Bris Milah is something without the Jewish nation and the state of Israel couldn’t exist.

So yes, Zehut just lost my vote (and that of a number of my friends when I informed them of this.)

Before I begin, I wish to clarify I don’t have a straightforward opinion on these elections, but I do like Feiglin for most of his rhetoric (and enjoy pretending to myself the rest of his entourage agree with him on essentials).

First of all, Korban Pesach is kareis, too…

As was clarified by the party immediately upon this negative campaign, the party has a plank, a platform, a list of things they claim to support and believe in, but opposition to Bris Milah isn’t in there. As always, party members are entitled to their opinions, but these are generally superseded by the official party positions. And every political party has an assortment of people with an assortment of views.

And the statements were made prior to the individual’s joining of the party, and therefore without speaking in its name, so this wasn’t “stupid” either.

Bris Milah is optional and will continue being so. As for the various claims heard against the Mitzvah, see this. And, yes, it should be made mandatory, along with pork and Chillul Shabbos, etc. being made illegal, but by Beis Din, not the state. The means of enforcement must themselves be kosher (as opposed to prison, for instance). And this won’t happen by means of the state, either, but through increased levels of Fear and Love of Heaven.

Now, as far as the “Zehut” party, itself. There are two ways of living life, a long view or a short view. The choice depends on one’s perception of the present. Sometimes one can reconcile the short-term and the long, but choices will often arise where one can only select one.
As Feiglin has clarified many times, he is in politics to ensure a different kind of Prime Minister than the serial illiberal, fake-rightwing ones, such as Bibi. If one sees the political direction of the state in generally positive terms, then it suffices to get various small changes here and there. If one sees the political direction of the state in generally negative terms, then nothing but a change at the top will suffice.
Seen in these terms, there is not a choice between better and worse political parties, but status-quo premiership, and a “Jewish” version. Zehut is the only attempt at this. I am more radical than Feiglin, but something is better than nothing.
Zehut has problems. Not the fake one of Brish Milah, but real ones, like Rabbi Chaim Amsalem. But Zehut is the only vehicle for actually “changing course”.

Some other articles:

  1. Hamodia Forced to Mention Zehut and Rafi Farber!
  2. It’s Almost Tisha B’Av, Time to Vote Zehut!
  3. A Lesson From Rabbi Steinman
  4. The Real Reason Zehut Hasn’t Joined up with Another Party
  5. Comments on Arab Teudat Zehut Reproduction

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