European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 7, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Conflict Between religious and secular groups threatens country s stability is Israel to be Western democracy or a jewish state by Masha Hamilton associated Pressa deep rooted dispute Between religious and secular israelis spilled into the streets of Jerusalem this summer when Ultra orthodox jews led by rabbis burned Down nearly 100 bus Stop shelters displaying sexy Bikini advertisements. That was t the first demonstration and it s not Likely to be the last. The struggle focuses on two fundamental questions what is the meaning of a modern jewish nation and should Israel be ruled by the Laws of the Bible or the Laws of Man or in the words of one rabbi the question is whether Israel will become a Western democracy or a jewish state. As the religious activism becomes More Radical rabbis and secular politicians alike Are warning that the split threatens the stability of this 38-year-old nation As seriously As the conf it with the arabs. I Don t fear Arab enemies around Israel they Are Many but they will not destroy us. What i am really afraid of now is that we could be destroyed from within says Shlomo Goren 69-year-old former chief rabbi of Israel. Secular israelis feel themselves under terrific pressure. So do the religious says Teddy Kollek the 75-year-old mayor of Jerusalem the nation s capital where recent tensions have focused. One Day somebody will do something bad. Prayers Are very valuable particularly in Jerusalem and we need them  the growing Militancy of religious orthodoxy also has fuelled conflicts Over the Temple mount in East Jerusalem known by arabs As harem Al Sharif or the Noble enclosure. A group of orthodox israelis has made several attempts to Pray at the Temple mount where the Golden dome of the Rock and the Al Asa mosques Are located. The wailing Wall Borders the Temple mount and both religions claim the area As one of their holiest. Attempts by jews to Pray there this year have sparked riots and demonstrations by palestinians and angered secular israelis who accuse the religious of fueling the Arab israeli conflict. Rafael Kleinman is a 27-year-old israeli who grew up in a secular household. As a teen Ager he thought of Stop Fol Prattt Tony a made   Puig Bikini  marched Chr Tel Aviv Latt june. Page 14 the stars and stripes religion As mystical nonsense about As relevant to his life As astrology. He left Israel and lived for several years in new York i City developing his acting career. Kleinman routinely " stayed up until the Early morning hours drinking and talking with actor friends. He knew Shakespeare far better than the Bible. He rarely visited a synagogue. A year ago he became part of a growing movement known in hebrew As Baal Ishva or the returnees to religious Faith. Today he rises at 6 30 . Or the first of three daily prayers and his Day is filled with the study of holy books. He lives in one of Israel s Many exclusively religious neighbourhoods and always wears a Black Yarmulke or Skullcap that is the hallmark of religious jews. He observes a strict religious diet. Kleinman now has Little tolerance or the secular lifestyle and says his old friends Are shallow and misguided. He recently joined fellow orthodox jews in opposing the Bikini advertisements on bus Stop shelters. Why should our children be forced to see breasts and thighs Kleinman asks. This is not Good for Israel. What s Good for Israel is the whole state i becoming  secular jews Are just As alarmed at the thought of men dressing in Long Black Robes with fur trimmed hats or women ensuring their modesty by wearing wigs and Long dresses. Shulamit Alonidas born in Palestine 56 years ago and fought in the elite strike orce known As pal Mach during the 1948 Arab israeli War that followed Israel s declaration of Independence. Today a lawyer and legislator with a wide following of Liberal israelis she is fighting the religious establishment in the parliament. She has infuriated Israel s rabbis by publicly admitting that she once had an abortion and by performing More than 100 secular marriages in j violation of religious and state Law. She avers absolute separation of synagogue and state. \ the orthodox rabbis who Rule our lives Are ignorant backward and bigoted Aloni said in an interview in Israel s Knesset or parliament. Why should our personal rights like marriage and divorce be under their supervision this religious coercion must  even though Only 20 percent of the population of 3.5 million considers itself to be observant religion sunday