Al Naharot Bavel

If ever a picture was worth a thousand words it is the one appearing in the Chicago Sun Times, December 13, 2006, depicting a Haredi embracing Ahmedinajad. Apparently a delegation of six Haredim was invited to attend the conference on whether or not the Holocaust ever took place. These “esteemed” members of the Haredi community were in the good company of personalities such as KKK member David Duke.

While some refer to their unfortunate participation as a Chilul Hashem, I think not. A Chilul Hashem is when there are regrettable behaviors that are beyond acceptable Jewish norms. Their participation in such a unholy conclave, decidedly removed them from the corpus of the Jewish people. Yisrael Af Al Pi Shechatah Yisrael Who, surely could not apply in this instance.

What I don’t quite understand is why haven’t organizations such as Agudah or the Moetzes not seen appropriate to ostracize (Cherem) publically these people from the corpus of the Jewish people?