“How is it possible that non-religious Israelis, often associated with those who want to talk directly and immediately with the Palestinians, are not prepared to consider similar discussions with their religious counterparts?

And how is it possible that religious, who constantly talk about the unity of the land of Israel, are prepared to dismiss so readily the views of their non-religious counterparts?” 

Thus wrote Yair Lapid in this Friday’s Hebrew edition of the Yediot newspaper. Lapid is the son of a Holocaust survivor, Tommy Lapid.

Tommy was a leading journalist turned politician, who made a name by lashing out at the power of religious institutions. His son has made no secret of trying to find a way back to religion, but outside the convenient definitions that societies hand us.

OK, Lapid junior’s questions are challenging, but so what? Dip into Jewish history. There have been two Temples. One was destroyed because of false religious practices. The other because of the horrendous way Jews treated each other, despite many being openly religious.

Skip to my experiences in recent years. How often do I get surprised looks when I talk to my non religious friends about contemporary music or tell them how my daughter mixes with young men of her age? In parallel, just as frequently, I am offended by religious people who say “those leftists don’t know what damage they are causing to the country”.

Both extremes are an anathema to me. I just wish that I had more courage to challenge directly those who make such statements.

Last week, I met somebody, who by dress and appearance could be taken for a typical non-believing person. After our discussion, he was due to go to his weekly study session in Torah texts. We stereotype to an extent that is a danger to society’s future.

Yair Lapid’s comments should be hung over the entrance of every school in country, unless we wish that differences of opinions also means different societies…….and the Jews of the Temple period saw what that can lead to.