The OU and RCA found no reason to question the Obama administration's intentions, but do they understand those intentions are to kick Jews out of their homes?
lTo the point, if you ask me, and not a minute too soon, considering the onslaught of boycott threats and security promises from Kerry and his Israeli and Jewish-American collaborators. Finally someone is putting the Boston Brahmin in his place. Enter the nice rabbis of the OU and the RCA, with a rebuke to these brave men, who are fighting for their homes and their lives. It's nice to have brethren, isn't it: Rabbinical Council of America and Orthodox Union Repudiate Statement by Some Israeli Rabbis Denouncing Secretary of State Kerry Today, the leaderships of the Rabbinical Council of America, the largest Orthodox Jewish rabbinical organization in the United States, and the Orthodox Union, the largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization in the United States, issued the following statement:
"It has been reported that a group of rabbis in Israel calling themselves 'The Committee to Save the Land and People of Israel' has issued a letter denouncing Secretary of State John Kerry and his Israeli-Palestinian peace process efforts. The reports indicate that in the letter these rabbis engaged in extreme and offensive rhetoric, and seem to arrogate to themselves unusual insight into the desires of the Almighty. The letter also claims these rabbis represent hundreds of other rabbis around the world. "We, the leadership of the RCA and the OU, repudiate this letter and the rhetoric they have deployed. While the people of Israel and Jews around the world may properly possess serious concerns about proposals Secretary Kerry is putting forth, such concerns must only be expressed with civility and on the substance of the issues, not degenerating into personal venom and threats. "We have personally engaged in discussions about these matters with Secretary Kerry and other Obama Administration officials, and while we may disagree with their views we have found no reason to question their intentions in pursuing this effort–which are to, as they see it, support the long term security and welfare of Israel, as well as the United States. "The letter of the Committee to Save the Land and People of Israel may represent the views of its signators; it does not represent ours."
I understand that, living on American soil, in the heart of galut-diaspora, these wise rabbis have their own interests to consider. It's possible that a clash is coming between the Jews of Eretz Israel and the Obama Administration, at which point things might get so bad, they would have to make Aliya in a hurry, and who wants that? I also understand that when push comes to shove, some of our Orthodox brethren in America would rather watch us be deported than risk their popularity with the U.S. government. We need to know this as we commit to resisting the second deportation of Jews in Israel in less than ten years. What drove me absolutely bonkers, to the point that if I owned a dog I would have kicked the poor thing, was this excerpt: "We have personally engaged in discussions… with Secretary Kerry… and while we may disagree… we have found no reason to question [his] intentions…" Holy macrobiotic snacks, Batman, these people are so full of hot air, I hope they don't hit the ceiling… I don't question Kerry's intentions either. Kerry's intentions are to kick Jews out of their homes. I was reminded of a passage from tractate Gittin which we usually learn on the 9th of Av. It is a lesson the gemorah has been trying to teach us for two millennia, and, alas, the folks at the OU and the RCA are yet to get it.
*the rest of the post is inaccessible (Robin)
-------------------------------------------
I am not sure why even Arutz7 emphasized the "Divine Wrath" aspect of the letter in the headline. While one might argue that perhaps it was a bad PR move on the part of the Rabbi's to speak about Divine Wrath and not necessary for this discussion, history can back up the facts that those that destroyed the Temple were themselves punished. In Psalms 137 the prayer Al Naharos Bavel, the well known psalm "on the Rivers of Babylon" a prayer recited by all Orthodox Jews before Grace After the Meal in the month of Av, the wording can be quite harsh as well. Would the OU and RCA repudiate the author for extreme and offensive rhetoric?
ז זְכֹר יְהוָה, לִבְנֵי אֱדוֹם-- אֵת, יוֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָם:
הָאֹמְרִים, עָרוּ עָרוּ-- עַד, הַיְסוֹד בָּהּ. | 7 Remember, O LORD, against the children of Edom the day of Jerusalem; {N}
who said: 'Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.'
|
ח בַּת-בָּבֶל, הַשְּׁדוּדָה:
אַשְׁרֵי שֶׁיְשַׁלֶּם-לָךְ-- אֶת-גְּמוּלֵךְ, שֶׁגָּמַלְתְּ לָנוּ. | 8 O daughter of Babylon, that art to be destroyed; {N}
happy shall he be, that repayeth thee as thou hast served us. |
| ט אַשְׁרֵי, שֶׁיֹּאחֵז וְנִפֵּץ אֶת-עֹלָלַיִךְ-- אֶל-הַסָּלַע. | 9 Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the rock. {P}
|
It is quite understandable that those who really feel the destruction of the Temple and the destruction of their homes and communities would have feelings of resentment. Remember that the expulsion of Gush Katif did happen on Tisha BaAv and the day after.
Unlike the Jewish Press that is difficult to access, media reports blasting the Rabbinic Statement are quite accessible on Google http://www.jpost.com/Jewish-World/Jewish-News/US-Orthodox-groups-blast-anti-Kerry-letter-340628 where they selectively pick and choose parts of what the Rabbi's write in order to put them in the worst light possible! They purposefully omitted the first 4 paragraphs of the Rabbi's letter in their reporting, whereby the Rabbi's make some very lucid points like pointing out the security threat Kerry's plan would place on Israel as well as the expulsion of tens of thousands of Jews. Apparently these points are of no importance to those who only wish to blast the Rabbi's and chose character assassination and delegitimazation as modus operandi.
Why didn't the Jerusalem Post report the Rabbi's comments in full as did Arutz7? In due fairness to the Rabbi's position, Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo is the founder of the Gush Katif Museum dedicated to helping the refugees of Gush Katif and doing what it can to prevent another expulsion. The Jerusalem Post chooses to quote Avraham Avi-Hai. "Avraham Avi-Hai, a former chairman of the United Israel Appeal and a former member of the Executive of the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency, sent a letter to Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein asking him to open an investigation into the letter and its authors on suspicion of incitement to murder."
-----------------------------------------------------
They want to investigate the Rabbi's for inciting murder? Whose murder? Is this the only way to respond to those who voice opposition to a suicidal plan of Kerry? character defamation?
Now I would like to address the Rabbi's of Agudah, Young Israel, OU, Chabad and RCA etc and ask them why they are being Silent when the world is accusing us of "Illegal Occupation".
How is Truth of Torah being defended by the Nation of Israel? Why leave it up to Netanyahu who is not representing Torah but is in a political position.
What about the Gemorrahs about property rights? What is the Halacha about the uprooting of fruit trees in Aish Kodesh in Samaria? Why didn't the Rabbanim protest this Torah inhibition by the gov't of Israel?
Can we be selective in what Torah Commandments we wish to adhere ignoring some when it doesn't fit our agenda and nisht inzera Sugia? Why isn't this a matter of relevance even if it is not my house that is being threatened with destruction?
How can we be silent when there is talk about uprooting 90,000 fellow Jewish brethren from their homes?
How can a seeming apathetic Rabbinic application of Torah to the plight of possibly uprooting of 90,000 G-d fearing Jews living in Judea and Samaria, the uprooting of thriving settlement and communities, stand on any solid ground as being consistent with the Written Torah?
Wasn't the Holocaust proof enough of the wrath of G-d on Israel? Rabbis in Eastern Europe by enlarge, remained Silent and did not take an active role to encourage Aliya with numbers as per their following. With numbers they could have possibly exercised the necessary influence to see that the Zionist gov't of Israel acted in accordance and consistent with Torah which includes the Mitzva of defending the Land of Israel (Milchemet Mitzvah). They were/are content with blasting secular Zionism but did not exercise Rabbinic influence to promote Aliya according to Torah for the purpose of keeping the Commandments in the Holy Land and the dessemination of 6,000,000 Jews was the end result?
I cry and should cry if I am not crying, when I write/think these words since I too am unworthy. How can we fathom G-d's ways or put blame? Only for the purpose of preventing another Holocaust do I even suggest that had Rabbi's spoken up and the people would have demanded they do so, history might have taken on a different course for the good saving countless lives.
Shabbat Shalom Umevorach!
Sincerely,
Robin Ticker
Activist emails sent to my list are L'Ilui Nishmat Yisrael ben David Aryeh ob"m (Izzy - Kaplan) and Howard Chaim Grief great activists and lovers of Eretz Yisroel, Am Yisroel and the Torah. Yehi Zichronum Baruch. May their memories serve as a blessing.
Most of these emails are posted on
Shemittahrediscovered.blogspot.com
Personal emails to individuals will not be posted to my blog.
