Enough!
In the Hebrew Bible, one of the passages where God expresses severe disapproval and says “Enough!” to His people is found in the book of Isaiah, chapter 1. In this chapter, through the prophet Isaiah, God strongly rebukes the people of Israel for their religious hypocrisy and social injustice. Here’s a paraphrased excerpt illustrating this reprimand:
Isaiah 1:11-15 (JPS 1917):
“What use is your multitude of sacrifices to me? — says the Lord. I am fed up with burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats.
When you appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?
Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot bear your worthless assemblies.
I hate your new moon feasts and appointed festivals with all my being. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.
When you spread your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even when you offer many prayers, I am not listening. Your hands are full of blood!”
In this passage, God clearly expresses His disgust and rejection of rituals and sacrifices not accompanied by justice and righteousness. He declares that He is tired and weary of empty offerings and ceremonies, emphasizing the need for faithful obedience and morality.
In a grotesque dance of self-complacency, thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at Shabbat Square in Jerusalem last Sunday, brandishing their placards like shields against reality. “We will not enlist in the enemy army,” they proclaimed, as if defending Israel was someone else’s whim and not a shared responsibility. “We will die rather than enlist,” they shouted in a pathetic display of selective martyrdom.
The recent Supreme Court decision to enforce the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men and cut state funding for non-compliant yeshivas is a belated attempt to correct decades of injustice and political complacency. For many in this community, the court order is seen as a brutal invasion of their sacred traditions. But let’s face it: this resistance is less about religion and more about a sick attachment to privilege and exemption from responsibility.
While Israel’s young men and women face real and daily dangers, a segment of the population hides behind ancient texts and flimsy excuses. The Israeli society, with its infinite patience and tolerance, has already spent billions of shekels annually to support this institutionalized parasitism. It’s a burden that weighs on everyone except those who claim to be the most devout.
The reality is that if someone refuses to serve in the army according to Israeli law, they face prison. But how many of these self-proclaimed martyrs see the inside of a cell? The law’s enforcement is a joke when it comes to this religious elite, protected by political parties that trade favors for votes, perpetuating a national disgrace.
The stark truth is that Israel can no longer bear the hypocrisy of sustaining communities that do not contribute to the common good. We must abolish these electoral strongholds that turn politics into a dirty trade of favors and exemptions. Religious parties and their accomplices feast at the expense of collective effort, leaving the proper sacrifice to others.
To curb this travesty, a law should be instituted, stripping political rights from those who refuse to serve in the army. This would dismantle the political power bases that exist solely to maintain the status quo of privilege and indolence. By 2050, nearly one-quarter of Israelis will be ultra-Orthodox. Yet, their participation in the productive sectors remains disproportionately low, with only 51% of ultra-Orthodox men employed compared to 87% of other Jewish men.
This is not democracy. This is a cynical distortion of justice and equity. With each passing day, the indignity of this situation deepens, eroding the nation’s moral fabric. It is not ethical, it is not decent, and it certainly is not sustainable. Defending Israel cannot be an option. It must be an unalienable obligation, without exceptions, without excuses.
Enough of financing indolence and privilege. Enough of bowing to religious parties that treat civic duty as a tradable commodity. If we want a just and strong society, everyone must bear their share of the burden. No excuses, no exceptions. The time for complacency is over. It is time for Israel to rise, free from the shackles of hypocrisy, and demand that all its children, without distinction, serve the land they call home.
The sacrifices Israel makes to sustain this existence, to preserve this hypocrisy, no longer please God. He turns His face away, weary of our offerings. Enough! It’s time for genuine commitment, true sacrifice, and faithful service.