Hanukkah parties, not chametz bills, will bring Jews closer to Judaism

What is this stupidity, I asked myself angrily this week. I was angry at the people who are once again pushing a patently anti-religious law on us. The chametz bill is irresponsible, and it's not clear who benefits from it: the vote contractors of the Shinui party in its current incarnation as Yisrael Beiteinu, or those who enjoy being depicted as the watchdogs of Judaism.

Maybe a deal will be made, certain newspapers have leaked: one side will give up on a law authorizing civil marriage, the other will ignore chametz, and peace will be restored. But before a deal is made, we ultra-Orthodox have already lost the battle: our ability to bring Jews closer to religion in an agreeable manner. Quashing the possibility of presenting Judaism the way it deserves to be presented to people who not only don't know what chametz and matza are, but who have never been told that once, very long ago, we were slaves in Egypt. And I'm not talking about those who regret that we ever got out of there.

Why, for God's sake, do we need this law? Why do we enact legislation that coerces people - those who don't know what's hitting them - to follow our path, however correct it may be? Will laws cause a single boy or girl to draw closer to Judaism?

Once there were people who said that in any case it is important to preserve the Jewish character of the state, but those weren't our people. We mocked them.

I actually know many people who are pained by the state of religion in Israel. They are pained by the state of the education of Israeli children. The fact that millions of Jewish children don't know to recite "Shma Yisrael," are being educated in an atheist setting, and can't distinguish between themselves and Swedes makes these people lose sleep. But at least they have an excellent solution for the situation.

They are not attracted by clumsy attempts at legislation. They are far more sophisticated. They go into privileged secular neighborhoods and sparsely attended meetings, holding a Hanukkah party here, a Rosh Hodesh meal there, and suddenly, without anyone noticing, even before a Yisrael Beiteinu politician has uttered a word, the residents want a synagogue. They ask for Torah study. They demand a Jewish education for their children. They seek kosher food.

And then, even if such efforts do make the headlines now and then, they cannot be ignored. Because no one forced anyone. It came from within, from the heart, from an inner recognition of the beauty of Judaism.

True, it's difficult and complicated. It isn't simple to operate seminars, home gatherings and lectures. It requires a lot of daring and devotion, and not a little money. It is easier to enact a law with the destructive power of a coalition majority. But only these few organizations - and it's a pity there are so few - penetrate the great darkness with light. The genuine education and warm reception they provide corrects a bit of the damage, hatred and alienation caused by coercive religious legislation.

It is time we let secular people know that we are taking our hands off religious legislation (except for laws with a direct bearing on the ultra-Orthodox public). But at the same time we will explain that we don't plan to give up on them, not even on one of them. We are determined to reach them everywhere they are. We'll bring them to lectures, seminars and symposia. We'll see to it that every Jewish child knows about Shabbat, about the why of Passover and the how of Yom Kippur. We will assist organizations that return people to religion, helping them reach the heart of every Jew. Agreeably, with authentic explanations, with great love, and with a warm welcome.

The writer is columnist for the ultra-Orthodox weekly Mishpacha.