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| The Satmar Rebbe (YWN) |
Now, I have no love lost for Satmar. (I say this despite all of the legitimate good things they do for our people. Like their Bikur Cholim society in the New York area - Chesed unmatched anywhere else in the world.) That is because of their extreme hatred of the state of Israel. But in the case of this ban, I could not agree more. I even
agree with the Rebbe’s stated reason for the ban, although that is clearly not
the only reason I agree.
The following was reported by Yeshiva World News:
The Satmar Rebbe issued a dramatic and unprecedented directive on Motzei Shabbos to all his chassidim in Israel—banning them from protests following the recent killings of two young bochurim, Yosef Eisenthal, z”l, and Naftali Tzvi Kramer, z”l, by Israeli bus drivers during or after protests.
During a chizzuk talk by the Rebbe at his vacation spot in Palm Springs, California, the Rebbe addressed the tangible danger facing participants in the protests, saying that the reality on the ground has become so dangerous as to pose a real threat to life. He emphasized that the foremost responsibility is to preserve human life, and that there is no heter for putting yeshiva bochurim and avreichim in situations that could end in disaster.
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment that danger to
human life is a foremost responsibility. One that supersedes the
observance of almost every mitzvah. Participation in violent protests
against the draft - protests that can and sometimes do lead to death - should
therefore be avoided.
But that is where our agreement ends.
My antipathy for Satmar has not been softened by this
statement. In fact, it was hardened by the comment that followed:
“They are mamash being mafkir Jewish neshamos. There are murderous Arabs and Zionists. This must be heard throughout all of Eretz Yisrael, to all our people.”
Satmar has every right to oppose Zionism based on its interpretation of Jewish law concerning our sovereignty over Eretz Yisrael. But when they place ‘Arabs’ and ‘Zionists’ in the same sentence and accuse both of being murderers, they earn my continued disdain.
First, even the use of the word ‘Arab’ is inappropriate in this context....
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