Jews leaving town in Guatemala: Not expelled but "coerced"

[alhoon]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-28992743

Some 230 members of an Orthodox Jewish group have begun leaving a village in western Guatemala after a bitter row with the local indigenous community.
The Lev Tahor members were asked to leave San Juan La Laguna after meetings with elders of the Mayan community.

...

"We have a right to be there, but they threatened us with lynching if we don't leave," he added.

...

Lev Tahor members, who practise an austere form of Judaism, also complained that they received threats that water and electricity would be cut if they stayed on.

...

Meanwhile, the village elders said the Jewish members "wanted to impose their religion" and were undermining the Catholic faith that was predominant in San
Juan La Laguna.

Seriously... what? Are we in the 19th century and Jews are treated as nomadic people? Catholic rows with Jews? seriously?!


I believe at the core of this, is not the religion of the locals but the success of the Jews and their business practices.
If they are too successful businessmen for the locals, the locals could step up their game and start supporting more their own businesses than take it on the Jews.

I don't support the crimes of Israel, the blocade of Gaza etc, and I believe Israel should pay reparations to Ethiopian Jews, call back the settlers to 1967 borders and pay for building up Gaza.
But I don't have a problem with Jews, I have a problem with Israel's practices. I can't believe that Jews are prosecuted for their faith in 2014, it's just too hard to accept.

[paleologos]

It's a "they said" - "they said" thing, I don't believe we can take either side's words at face value.

Other than that I second this:

I don't support the crimes of Israel, the blocade of Gaza etc, and I believe Israel should pay reparations to Ethiopian Jews, call back the settlers to 1967 borders and pay for building up Gaza.
But I don't have a problem with Jews, I have a problem with Israel's practices. I can't believe that Jews are prosecuted for their faith in 2014, it's just too hard to accept.

[Basil II the B.S]

Mayans still alive?

[paleologos]

Mayans still alive?

Of course.
They are Roman Catholics, probably speakers of Spanish but ethnically native Americans.

[Salah ad Din Yusuf]

Spain is calling sepharadim back and guatemala expels them! The irony.

[Roma_Victrix]

Spain is calling sepharadim back and guatemala expels them! The irony.

Well, at least now they know where to go.

[sumskilz]

I believe at the core of this, is not the religion of the locals but the success of the Jews and their business practices.
If they are too successful businessmen for the locals, the locals could step up their game and start supporting more their own businesses than take it on the Jews.

As per the usual, the BBC leaves out parts of the story. These are not typical Jews, and the cultural differences between them and another "traditional" community were bound to cause some friction:

[hellheaven1987]

These are not typical Jews

Like Zionist heretics are Jews.

[Treize]

Like Zionist heretics are Jews.

Religious zionists have some very hilarious religious innovations to justify their heresy though.

[Ciciro]

I believe at the core of this, is not the religion of the locals but the success of the Jews and their business practices.
If they are too successful businessmen for the locals, the locals could step up their game and start supporting more their own businesses than take it on the Jews.

Where does it say that? The only thing I read in the article as to why this had happened was that recently some Jews had immigrated from Canada because they had a row with the authorities.

[Vítor Gaspar]

Well, Guatemala isn't exactly the beacon progress.

In any case, those weren't your standard Jews. They're of the crazy orthodox type.

[alhoon]

Where does it say that? The only thing I read in the article as to why this had happened was that recently some Jews had immigrated from Canada because they had a row with the authorities.

I said "I believe" because it's nowhere in the article.

As per the usual, the BBC leaves out parts of the story. These are not typical Jews, and the cultural differences between them and another "traditional" community were bound to cause some friction:

In any case, those weren't your standard Jews. They're of the crazy orthodox type.

So? They're not terrorists. Even if they were worshipping flying pastrami cheese in their own homes and had a very frown-upon stance on men wearing pants, again in their own homes and just expressing their views to the locals, threatening to lynch them or cut electrity is religious intolerance.

[sumskilz]

threatening to lynch them or cut electrity is religious intolerance.

Wow, and this is surprising to you? It is a bit like the 19th Century, sure, except no Jews this strict or "different" existed back then.

[Ciciro]

I said "I believe" because it's nowhere in the article.

And why do you believe that? Do you think it is natural for Jews to be great at business?

[Mangalore]

...

So? They're not terrorists. Even if they were worshipping flying pastrami cheese in their own homes and had a very frown-upon stance on men wearing pants, again in their own homes and just expressing their views to the locals, threatening to lynch them or cut electrity is religious intolerance.

What I gathered the issue was that they did their stuff not at home but were disrupting the community as a whole which was bad for tourism this community depends on.

I don't like the justification but I find it weird what these guys wanted to accomplish in that Guatemala town to begin with since they are a group that doesn't integrate well with others at all.

I also would take all claims with a big pile of salt, e.g. I'd like a little more substance to any lynch claim than the Jewish side giving it as the reason to leave.

[mongrel]

Well, Guatemala isn't exactly the beacon progress.

In any case, those weren't your standard Jews. They're of the crazy orthodox type.

The correct response to sectarianism is not to display ...sectarianism.

[Caligula's_Horse]

The funny thing is, no one in Israel actually seems to care much, and they're usually up in arms in a second over this sort of thing.
This Lev Tahor group is widely considered to be a nut-job cult, especially by other Jews. Now, this doesn't justify threatening them, but it does make it a lot easier to ignore when somebody else threatens them.

It just goes to show you, don't expect anyone to stand up for you unless they also happen to like you, whether you're in the right no otherwise.

[Condottiere 40K]

Are the Chinese great at business?

Not everyone is, but communities may develop networks, practices and informal institutions that individuals can take advantage of.

[sumskilz]

The funny thing is, no one in Israel actually seems to care much, and they're usually up in arms in a second over this sort of thing.

The leader of Lev Tahor said the culture of Israel is ten times worse than the Holocaust, because the Holocaust only destroyed Jewish bodies, but Israel destroys Jewish souls.

This Lev Tahor group is widely considered to be a nut-job cult, especially by other Jews. Now, this doesn't justify threatening them, but it does make it a lot easier to ignore when somebody else threatens them.

It just goes to show you, don't expect anyone to stand up for you unless they also happen to like you, whether you're in the right no otherwise.

The Canadian government was actively trying to take all their children away.

Are the Chinese great at business?

Not everyone is, but communities may develop networks, practices and informal institutions that individuals can take advantage of.

The twelve families of Lev Tahor bring in millions per year collectively, although almost none of them work.

[alhoon]

And why do you believe that? Do you think it is natural for Jews to be great at business?

Nope, but I believe they came in with lots of money which would help. Also, fraternizing etc.

The twelve families of Lev Tahor bring in millions per year collectively, although almost none of them work.

Not everyone is, but communities may develop networks, practices and informal institutions that individuals can take advantage of.

And of course, that was a shock:

The Canadian government was actively trying to take all their children away.

What I found in Wikipedia, is that Canada tried to prevent them from taking their 127 kids with them.
Why on earth would Canada feel he had to prohibit 127 kids from moving to Ontario from Quebec?