What makes a 'real Haredi'?

"When he does something good, he's Haredi; when he does something bad, he's not": Iran spy case ignites debate 

Does waring a black kippah make you Haredi? Seems it's not quite as simple as that.

Benjamin Weiss (Photo: Hadas Porush / Flash90)

The arrest of an alleged Iranian spy in Bnei Brak has sparked an unlikely social media storm - not about espionage, but about who gets to be called "Haredi."

Benjamin Weiss, charged with tracking nuclear scientists for Iran, wears a black kippah and lives in Israel's most religious city. But Jewish social media can't decide if he's "really" Haredi.

"His parents are hardcore Haredi," argued one user. "Sure, he had a non-religious phase, but he's married now, back in the community." Others pushed back: "A black kippah doesn't make you Haredi any more than a Yankees cap makes you a baseball player."

The debate took a humorous turn when social media star Melech Zilberslag weighed in: "The rule is simple - when someone from Bnei Brak does something impressive, suddenly everyone claims him as Haredi. When they mess up? 'Oh, he's not really religious.'"

Behind the dark humor lies a serious case. Weiss allegedly agreed to spy on strategic Israeli targets for Iran in exchange for payment. He's part of a larger Iranian operation targeting Israeli citizens that security services exposed last week.


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It is indeed complicated.
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