Rabbi Detained for Book Condoning Murder

Rabbi Detained for Book Condoning Murder

What follows is an excerpt:

“It is permissible to kill the Righteous among Nations even if they are not responsible for the threatening situation,” the book says, adding: “If we kill a Gentile who has sinned or has violated one of the seven commandments - because we care about the commandments - there is nothing wrong with the murder.”

MY RESPONSE TO THIS NEWS ARTICLE:

So, if I'm a Noachide and I'm visiting Israel and some sneaky Hamas-bomber gets on our tour bus and the IDF catches wind of him and strikes the bus - killing me and every non-Jew aboard and thereby prevents the bomber from killing Jews ... it's okay?

Back in my Air Force days we called this collateral damage. It ain't pretty, but you do what you have to do for the "greater good." Is that what this rabbi is talking about?

Or, is this rabbi talking about capital punishment for any non-Jews in Israel, who violate one or more of the Noachide Laws? Is capital punishment murder? Isn't the Law to be enforced without malice? If so, then how can executing a criminal be considered murder? Are all of the Noachide Laws addressing capital crimes?

If I violate the Noachide Laws and/or threaten Israel, then ... can I truly be considered a Noachide and one of the Righteous of the Nations?

Here's another question.... What about outside of Israel? Can Irsael launch nukes to destroy a "heathen nation" that is given over to idolatry, whether or not said nation has threatened Israel?

This smacks of forced conversion to the Noachide Laws, no? "Obey or die!" Is this really a job that Israel can afford to take upon their shoulders at this time? What nation doesn't have the right to enforce the Laws of the Land? However, does this obligation to enforce the Law extend beyond one's borders? It's a slippery slope!

It's stuff like this that fuels anti-Semitism and anti-Rabbinism. The LameStreamMedia is going to put a very anti-Orthodox spin on this. I don't see how this is going to help matters. It's just going to re-draw the lines in the sand. :(

UPDATE - ARTICLE and VIDEO:

Rabbi Dances and Sings after Police Questioning

The book tries to show “the public, and especially soldiers in the army, the true ethics of self-defense according to the Torah,” he said. His message also is that people should “not be led astray and endanger lives of soldiers because of false ethical morals that are not coming from a Jewish place.”

The book includes in depth explanation of self-defense according to Torah and the importance of a Jewish soldier saving his life or the life of a fellow Jew even if the consequence is killing those who threaten Jewish lives. Rabbi Shapira has already been questioned and released without any charges being laid.


MY RESPONSE:

Looks like the initial report was a typical knee-jerk reaction by the anti-Orthodox, Secular LameStreamMedia!

A woman, a dog or a pig....

Since You Asked by Reb Gutman Locks at Mystical Paths

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 - What follows is a small excerpt from the article linked above:

When the Rabbis warn about not letting a woman, a dog, or a pig walk between you and your friend, they are not saying that a woman is a dog, or a pig, G-d forbid. What is being grouped is that all three of these have a strong impact on man, albeit for entirely different reasons. Whereas a woman’s very strong impact on a man is through desire, a pig’s strong impact is through disgust, and a dog’s impact might be due to fear. Yes, they are all related in that they all evoke strong reactions, but obviously, they evoke strong responses for entirely different reasons.

MY RESPONSE TO REB GUTMAN LOCKS' ARTICLE:

July 29, 2010 6:41 AM
Crazy Smade said...

It sounds to me like this quote is less about women, pigs and dogs and more about not letting anything distract you from your studies with your friend, no?

Isn't one suppose to go to extreme lengths to acquire a friend (i.e., a study-partner)...?

King Solomon wrote: "Faithful are the chastisements of a friend, while burdensome are the kisses of an enemy" (Proverbs 27:6). Yehoshua ben Perachia said, make for yourself a rabbi, acquire (buy)for yourself a friend, and judge every person favorably." I take this to mean that one should invest time and effort in developing one's relationship with one's study partner.


Isn't one suppose to go to extreme lengths to in order to become a Torah student, even if that means ticking off one's not-so-faithful family members and setting aside wide range of familial obligations in order to study and firmly establish HaShem's Kingship over one's life?

Rabbi Yaakov says like this: "One who walks on the road while reviewing a Torah lesson but interrupts his review and exclaims, 'How beautiful is this tree! How beautiful is this plowed field!' - Scripture considers him to have forfeited his life."

How much more so if one is distracted by a woman, a pig or a dog?

I could quote numerous examples from the Rabbinic Literature about the importance of study and bitul (self-nullification) and kavanah (directed focus) and not allowing one's self to be distracted from actualizing HaShem's Kingship through study, but ... I'm just a Noachide. Y'all know these texts better than I do.

Great article!

A nice new shopping mall opened today in Gaza

A nice new shopping mall opened today in Gaza: Will the media report on it?

New Luxury Mall Opens in 'Besieged' Gaza

Just shows that there are rich and poor everywhere, regardless of geo-political and/or socio-economic situation. Where there's a will, the rich will find a way to take advantage of the poor and thereby increase their wealth. May HaShem speedily level the playing field.

UPDATE:

Egyptian Journalist Describes 'Absolute Prosperity' in Gaza

Challenges Facing B'Nei Noah Communities

I'm not picking on the B'nei Noah, but I'm tired of attempting to reach out to these people and getting ZERO response or the same kind of "fluffy bunny" garbage that all "The Mundanes" and "The Superficials" pollute the Internet with. No wonder so many Noachides end up converting to Judaism! Noachidism is a non-movement, IMO.

Challenges Facing B'Nei Noah Communities