One of the most cynical uses of religion in Israel is the "fashionable" wardrobe addition of a kippa -- on the heads of criminals.
People that never before wore a kippa are suddenly wearing kippot on their way to courthouses for pre-trial hearings, during testimony, before sentencing, in jail, or anywhere possible they believe they can persuade people that they are "religious, do-gooders" deserving of leniency for being religious or that they aren't guilty in the first place.
Let's take the 17 year old youngster at our left. He is accused (and has admitted to) stabbing and killing attorney Anat Plinner 2 years ago at her home in Ramat Hasharon in April 2006, in front of her young children.
In all the pictures of him in the media that I've seen till now, he is always bare-headed. (see picture below on the right). However, today in court the youth decided to don a kippa, and vent at reporters outside the court prior to the hearing. His rants included rather foul language, swearing at the reporters, throwing a microphone in their direction and telling them to "get out of here." The suspect then said he was "sorry," before being hushed by his lawyer.
Luckily for the kippa-wearing community, the Plinner family are no fools. They became enraged at the suspect's religious appearance and shouted "don't shame our religion," as the suspect left the court.
"For two years, detectives were left without a lead in the case, until they arrested a boy for stealing a moped. A DNA sample taken from the suspect matched fingerprints taken by forensic officers from the murder scene. Police launched a major undercover investigation, which resulted in the suspect's arrest.
After initially denying the killing, the youth confessed, providing police with details that proved he was at the scene during the murder. He later reenacted the slaying outside of Plinner's home, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and a baseball cap.(JPost)"
Hiding behind religion in Israel is nothing new. Convicts have grown tzitzis and kippot overnight...newly added beards and black hats have been added to "frumify" the seedier members of society. Unfortunately, the vast majority of these people are not returning to the fold of religious Judaism, but cynically looking for clemency.
In a similar vein, in the days of the Bible people attempted to hold on to the corners of the mizbeach -- the holy alter as a method of refuge from the law.
Exodus/Shmot Chapter 21: 14: And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die.
The Book of Kings/Sefer Melachim, Chapter 1: 50 And Adonijah feared because of Solomon; and he arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar. 51 And it was told Solomon, saying: 'Behold, Adonijah feareth king Solomon; for, lo, he hath laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying: Let king Solomon swear unto me first of all that he will not slay his servant with the sword.' 52 And Solomon said: 'If he shall show himself a worthy man, there shall not a hair of him fall to the earth; but if wickedness be found in him, he shall die.' 53 So king Solomon sent, and they brought him down from the altar. And he came and prostrated himself before king Solomon; and Solomon said unto him: 'Go to thy house.'
Back then it was for refuge, and the expression has even been incorporated into modern Hebrew. "לאחוז בקרנות המזבח" To hold on to the corners of the mizbeach translates in today's terms, to cynically use a political, military, or Jewish spin as a means of circumventing justice.
Picture Credits:
Top picture,
YnetSecond Picture
Channel 2.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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