Israeli friends—or just anyone who knows their way around Jewish life— Please explain. I apologize in advance for my ignorance and lack of education, but there’s one thing I’m really curious about: In various Euronews reports about protests in Europe over the bombing of the Gaza Strip, they show that alongside scruffy-looking Arabs, there are also guys in fur hats, long black coats, payot sidelocks, and all the rest of the traditional gear, protesting just as fiercely. They’re holding signs with crossed-out swastikas and slogans about a Palestinian Holocaust. How can that be? By all logic, they ought to hate each other. I could understand it if these were some kind of left-liberal Jews. But guys in long black coats hardly seem like left-liberals. So what’s the deal? I’ve also heard that ultra-religious Jews don’t recognize Israel at all, don’t serve in the army, don’t pay taxes, and believe that things can only really begin once the Messiah arrives, some kind of red heifer appears, and various other cheerful events take place. And until then, there should be no Israel. Is that true? Obviously you can’t fit “everything you ever wanted to know about Israel” into a comment, but still.