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!