I have received a number of emails asking me to post this request for people worldwide to say Shema simultaneously in order to "beseech Hashem for divine assistance to nullify the disengagement". Let's hope that it helps!
The wording is a bit ambiguous but it appears that there will be two rallies - one on Wednesday night and another on Thursday evening for children.
AN APPEAL HAS BEEN MADE TO EVERY JEW AROUND THE WORLD TO SIMULTANEOUSLY READ THE FIRST LINES OF THE SHEMA THIS WEDNESDAY THE 3RD OF AUGUST - 27TH TAMMUZ.
WE ARE BESEECHING HASHEM FOR DIVINE ASSISTANCE TO NULLIFY THE "DISENGAGEMENT"
THE PRAYER WILL BE RECITED AT 9 P.M. WEDNESDAY AT THE KOTEL IN JERUSALEM, AND 2 P.M. IN NEW YORK. CALCULATE THE CORRESPONDING TIME IN YOUR OWN CITY.
(Sydney & Melbourne = 4:00am Thursday morning)
CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD ALSO ARE BEING ASKED TO PRAY TOGETHER THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, ONE DAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW HEBREW MONTH OF AV.
CHILDREN AROUND THE WORLD ALSO ARE BEING ASKED TO PRAY TOGETHER THE FOLLOWING NIGHT, ONE DAY BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW HEBREW MONTH OF AV.
FORMER CHIEF RABBI OF ISRAEL MORDECHAI ELIYAHU WILL LEAD THE THURSDAY NIGHT PRAYER AT THE KOTEL.
AN UNIDENTIFIED GROUP OF WOMEN INITIATED THE CALL FOR THE CHILDREN’S PRAYER, WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AT 7.30 P.M. IN ISRAEL, 12.30 P.M. IN NEW YORK, AGAIN CALCULATE THE TIME IN YOUR OWN CITY.
CHABAD LUBAVITCH LEADERS SAID THEY ARE ENCOURAGING CHILDREN TO ATTEND THE PRAYER RALLY AT THE KOTEL, WHERE MORE THEN 20,000 CHILDREN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND.
For anyone who is interested there is a 24 hr live camera link to the kossel at http://www.aish.com/wallcam/
ReplyDeleteHow much of the Shema is to be recited? The first two pesukim or also Ve'ohavtoh ?
ReplyDeleteI understand the time here that will syncronized with the rest of the wordl is 4.00 am
29th Tammuz is the 900th yartzeit of Rashi.
ReplyDeleteA joke going around in Israel
ReplyDeletePM Sharon is visiting a school in order to enhance his popularity.
After his speech, he invites the pupils to ask questions.
Yossi raises his hand. "I have three questions, Mr. Prime Minister.
"First question, why did you receive money from that man in South Africa and did not declare it, as the law requires?
"Second question, why did Likud members buy and sell votes, against the law?
"Third question, why have you not kept your promise to bring us peace and security?"
At that instant the bell rings for a recess, and all leave the auditorium.
When they come back, Sharon asks, "Does anyone else want to ask questions?"
Koby raises his hand.
"I have five questions, Mr. Prime Minister.
"First question, why did you receive money from that man in South Africa and did not declare it, as the law requires?
"Second question, why did Likud members buy and sell votes, against the law?
"Third question, why have you not kept your promise to bring us peace and security?
"Fourth question, why did the recess bell ring ten minutes before it was supposed to?
"Fifth question, where is Yossi?"
I heard you AussieMan.....
ReplyDeleteOrange fever found rabbonim supporters?
ReplyDeleteThe Supreme Chabad Beis Din in Israel calls all Chabad Chassidim to join in the activities of the 'Board for the Preservation of the Nation and the Land'. In addition, the Rabbonim ask that every member of Anash contributes $360 NIS, to assist these activities.
http://www.col.org.il./show_news.asp?0
eventually EVERYTHING is money!
ReplyDeleteAre Rabbis F. Levin, Y.Barber and M. Gutnick Lubavitchers?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteJust because they didn't sign the Oliver Psak- So what!
ReplyDeleteI respect them for not following the rest like sheep!
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ReplyDeleteRabbi Cohen from the Sasoon synagogue spoke pro the disengagement and alsoi signed the Oliver Psak!
ReplyDeleteHow does that work?
Apparently some of the Rabbis who signed the Oliver Psak complained bitterly including to the Jewish News that the ad is false. They apparently signed a Hebrew letter which was totally changed during translation.
ReplyDeletemalka, not only that, some Rabbis also complained that they were told by Elkman that the petition would be going to Sharon and were totally shocked and appalled that it went to the AJN instead. In other words, the Rabbis who signed were conned!
ReplyDeleteRabbi Groner was extremely upset that the Psak was changed but then made part of Elkmans ad. This really hurt him, but nobody says anyhing.
ReplyDeleteIf you are all correct and the wording was changed etc what will the consequences be? Surely there should be some sort of explanation demanded from Mr Elkman and Oliver. It seems like they have done the cause a great disservice as well as causing a huge chillul Hashem.
ReplyDeleteThis lie will not be between the first 50 lies!
ReplyDeleteBut unfortunately it puts chabad in a very bad light!
Not only that but Oliver Twist messed up and his interpretation of the halacha is off the mark.
ReplyDeleteWhere is the integrity in the actions of these activists? Do they believe their righteousness of theimr cause gives them the right to con Rabbis?
This is what happend when self appointed overly zealous activists are allowed to run rampant.
Elkman told me that the Rabbis who signed have courage and the ones who didn't are weak. I didn't want to argue with him because I won't get anywhere. Most of them would not have signed if they knew it would be translated into meaning something different and that it would be in the Aussie Jewish News and because they do not have courage but because they do not believe in what it says in English.
ReplyDeleteI meant that most of the rabbis would not have signed if they knew that it would say what is says now in English because they do not agree with what it says and not because they are scared.
ReplyDeleteAlso the Rabbis did not want to be seen associated with the 'orange People'.
ReplyDeletethe Rabbis were conned but shouldn't they have been more careful? Did they ask questions or sign without thinking? Why didn't they realize they were dealing with fanatics and fanatics are unpredictable? Or were the 'orange people' very convincing? Either way, the rabbis look bad.
ReplyDeleteTo con rabbis is very wrong. To con a whole community of rabbis is deplorable. To con a whole community of rabbis and then to publicly misrepresent them and the entire Lubavitch organisation plus the Rebbe is repugnant. To turn around afterwards and accuse the rabbis of being cowards for protesting this is unconscionable. These guys need to do a big teshuvah.
ReplyDeleteGefilte fish:
ReplyDeleteI totaly agree with you. Except for the main man who did most of the work, I beleive he did it most sincerely but without too much planning or thought, He let his emotions take him over. Orois of tohu into keilim of tohu instead of keilim of tikun. His sidekicks are all tohu vovhu in evey aspect.
Elkman is a good guy. He has been 'used' by fanatical militants!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteA "good guy" does not deceive Rabbis.
ReplyDeleteElkman I believe is in Canberra today. I'm sure he will fix everything up!
ReplyDeleteThe tragedy of all this is that the Rabbis acted like such sheep. They followed Oliver Twist without thinking. It will take alot for them to live this down.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteI know Moshe Elkman personally and i can vouch for the fact that he would not decieve anyone let alone Rabbis or the Rebbe intentionally. We have to give him the BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT. Thats what it says in Pirkey Avos last time i checked. Correct me if i am incorrect.
ReplyDeleteBesides for that, Moshe is a very honest person in general, with regards to his business and every aspect of his life. Besides for that he is a Baat Teshuva therfore we must me extra nice to him.
melbournian, the Rabbis say he lied to them. What more do you need? Nice guys don't do things like this.
ReplyDeleteBut is it your job to bad mouth him to everyone?
ReplyDeletemelbournian, look in today's Jewish news. The deceit has been exposed and not by me. If someone is untrustworthy it is an obligation to warn people about it. Sometimes the emes is unpleasant but always preferable to sheker.
ReplyDeleteWhat the Rabbis said in the AJN was no less sheker to what Oliver did!
ReplyDeleteber, What have the Rabbis done that is sheker? Nothing at all. They admit they were duped. You castigate all 33 of the Rabbis for lying? You have no basis to make such a claim. You have unmitigated gall!
ReplyDeleteElkman & Oliver show lack of integrity by not owning up to anything. Bad enough to mislead an entire community of Chabad Rabbis and shluchim, bad enough to make a phoney 'psak', bad enough to call the Rabbis 'cowards' when they take offense at being deceived--but to add insult to injury, Elkman & Oliver do not even have the decency to come forward with an explanation or an apology. Their silence condemns them and highlights their selfishness and callousness towards the entire Chabad community whom they used for their own nefarious purposes. What cause is important enough to shame an entire community of good Jews? What cause is holy enough to have to put an entire community's welfare at stake?
How arrogant are Elkman & Oliver? All of the choshever learned people of the city agree that their actions were despicable and yet they stubbornly refuse to concede that they had done a grevious wrong! They are as stubborn as they say Sharon is. They are no different.
A mench does not fight for an honourable and just cause in a dishonourable way. They besmirched and mocked the very people who trusted them to be working to right the same injustices that they all believed in, and turned itinto a travesty.
Not only that, Elkman and Oliver refuse to consider the long term effects and ramifications of their heinous actions on all of the rest of the Jews of Melbourne. They are self centered and consumed by their passions, blinded by a dissprportionate sense of their own self importance, and completely callous towards anyone else's feelings or interests. They have hurt good Rabbis and shluchim and shown absolutely no regret or remorse for anyone else.
I say, the Rabbis have been extremely kind in light of what they have done to them. It is a credit to their ahavas yisroel that so far they have not taken further measrues against Elkman & Oliver.
The people who give support and succor to Elkman & Oliver in light of what has been exposed show a very bad sense of judgment and a very bad sense of reality. Any right thinking mature person would see and agree that to continue backing such people is WRONG!!!!!
Take stock of what is true and realign yourself until it is too late. These two have shattered our community. DO you want to help them further?
gEFILTE fISH i MUST DISAGREE. Elkman has no idea what is going on. Most if the Chabad Rabbonim encouraged him to get involved and hyped him up. He has spent big money because he is a good jew without to much brains who is being led astray by some Rabbis. Everyone who signed knew it is going in the Jewish news as it was told to them and written in the Jewish news and on many emails prior! The Rabbis are trying to pass the buck as they are in damage control. If they knew Rabbi Oliver is involved they should have known to run in the other direction as some Rabbis dide. Everyone knows Oliver. So the Rabbis who signed for Oliver cannot cry now!
ReplyDeleteThe non Chabad Rabbis weren't fooled! Guess why??
hershel I agree with everything you wrote (except your spelling!)
ReplyDeletehershel, if you believe that then you are suffering from a serious moral and ethical deficit.
ReplyDeleteGefilte fish, you have been out of the fridge for too long!
ReplyDeleteMoshe Elkman is a good decent Jew. He is not really a Chabadnik but is on good terms with all.
ReplyDeleteIt was our own Chabad rabbis (check out their names with him) who set him up, talked him into taking over this fight, spend tens of thousands of dollars and made him do all the hard work.
THEN they spit in his face and try to publicly make him a liar and cheat. He should sue them all as well as the AJN for defamation.
He won't because he is a good man.
Our gutless Chabad rabbis should be totally ashamed of themselves for trapping and convincing a decent person to sink into this quicksand.
S Gurewitz and Rabb Groner plus a bunch of othe other signatories were quite happy to join Moshe at Werdiger Hall and be part of his protest. But the minute the AJN criticises it, they all run for cover.
Shame on all of you and also - shame on those Chabad rabbis - who know very well that if the rebbe were alive today - he would be supporting Moshe 1000% all the way, but these scared weak men care less about the rebbe than they do about their jobs and frei moneybag donors.
In our heart of hearts 99.99% of Lubavitch chassidim know that Moshe is right and Moshe is doing the work of the rebbe but we too are embarrassed about what others amy say.
THAT IS THE TRUTH
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ReplyDeleteEmes v'emunah:
ReplyDeleteIn judging debates whenever someone says "the fact is" or "the truth is" you know they are short on convincing argument.
By all means you can give your opinion - but do you seriously expect us to believe simply on your say-so that YOU know the truth and YOU know what is doing in the hearts of "99.9% of Lubavitch Chassidim".
And if you are trying to convince us that the Rebbe wasn't concerned with reaching out to the masses beoifan hamasim then there's another blemish on your so-called truthfulness.
Moishe Elkman follows what the Rabbi of his Chabad house tells him!
ReplyDeleteHis words.
It's time for all of us to see the original Hebrew Psak.
ReplyDeleteIt's also time for certain Rabbis to stop hiding behind Moshe!
Nu! Where is the original Psak!
ReplyDeleteYou don't really think that they are going to put it on this site just beacause some anonymous dude is asking for it do you? And even if someone posts something how are we going to know its the real thing?
ReplyDeleteAussie Echo should be Emailed the original Psak to give the Rabbis back their credibility!
ReplyDeleteOr maybe to confirm THAT THEY HAVE NO CREDIBILITY AT ALL!
ReplyDeleteA psak by Rabbi Moshe Gutnick
ReplyDeleteDisengagement – A Halachic Perspective
As the date for disengagement approaches I think it appropriate, and indeed my obligation, to share with you my views on disengagement from a Halachic perspective. Indeed it is my duty to do so as a Rav.
Some may wonder as to why I feel the need to make any statement at all as it will ultimately have no effect on affairs in Israel. Equally there would be those that would argue that I have no right to “mix in” while not living in the State. However as a religious leader I feel obliged and duty bound to make my view known at least as a form of protest but also as educator – as indeed it is the duty of religious leaders not to remain silent when a matter such as this is before the Jewish people.
Even though I do not live in Israel everything that takes place there inevitably impacts both directly and indirectly on the Jewish People wherever they may be. The designs of our enemies are not just on Jews living in Israel but on Jews everywhere – therefore decisions in relation to the security of the State affect us all. I believe I have the right not just as a religious leader, but as a person who will be directly affected by those decisions, to comment and when necessary join the debate. Furthermore it is my fervent prayer, that this essay form part of the supplications of the Jewish People to the Almighty, that he protect and guide his people from transgressing Halacha, and through his divine providence and intervention, even should the disengagement be not miraculously averted, He protect us all and ensure no ill consequence.
Precisely because I am a Rav it is incumbent upon me to base my views not on personal opinion but on the writings of Chazal. Admittedly my understanding of Halacha is affected by who I am and how I feel , and my views, despite my best intentions must be subjective, but this is the challenge that faces every Rav in his attempt to arrive at a halachic determination in as objective a manner possible.
The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim Chapter 329, based upon Talmudic teaching, discusses the circumstances surrounding when it is permissible to take up arms on Shabbat. The Shulchan Aruch makes a distinction between a situation where an enemy besieges a town in search of something menial such as food or drink or whether its intent is to harm the inhabitants. If the intent is to harm the inhabitants then even on Shabbat we are not only permitted but obligated to take up arms in defense of the town.
If however their intent is merely for example to take food or drink, and not to cause physical harm, then it is not permissible to take up arms to repel them. Of course one must be absolutely certain that this is the case for even if there is the slightest danger to life then arms must be taken up even on the Shabbat.
Shulchan Aruch then goes on to make the following qualification. This is all talking about a town not on the border. If however we are talking about a border town, then even if we are absolutely certain that the intent of the enemy is only in relation to “Kash V’Teven” matters of “straw and hay” we are not only permitted but we are obligated to take up arms in order to prevent the enemy from occupying the town – “ lest the land be easier for them to conquer” at some later date. Even if one could repel them by allowing them in to take the straw and hay – one is not permitted to do so - because you endanger the security of the rest of the state.
From the above Halacha it is clear that the primary Halachic consideration in issues related to the occupation or otherwise of land is the immediate security implications of the loss of that land. At first glance it would be far easier to just let them in to take the straw and hay. No fighting and no loss of life. Never-the-less Halacha rules that because allowing the town to come under enemy control endangers the security of the rest of the country – it is mandatory to take up arms to defend that town. How much more so if their stated intention is to cause us harm.
Based on the above it is my Halachic opinion that Shulchan Aruch would not countenance the abandonment of settlements that reduce our strategic depth and bring the dangers of terrorism closer to the heartland of Israel.
Disengagement in and of itself erodes strategic depth. The Adelphi strip (and Israel’s security) is being handed over to Egyptian police or soldiers. The disengagement enables the terrorists to arm themselves in the gaza strip and use it as a staging ground. Despite all our protestations to the contrary the enemy views disengagement as a whole as a reward for terror, and unashamedly says so .
Any other considerations, however well intentioned and legitimate, including the demographic arguments put by the government, have halachically no bearing.
The long-term perceived political gains can not halachically outweigh the increased security risks which are all readily acknowledged by the IDF and even the proponents of disengagement.
True we have a political conflict between the democratic ideal and the maintaining a Jewish state at the same time not wanting to give citizenship to millions of people over whom we have no desire to govern or become electors. But halachically the resolution of that problem does not rest in the erosion of the security situation on the ground.
Assurances by the IDF that it can protect the State after disengagement have no Halachic bearing. They are arguments akin to suggesting it is permissible to drive recklessly because there are seatbelts and airbags. That currently there appears to be no other solution to the above demographic dilemma does NOT halachically allow for a security compromise.
The usual counter argument of Land for Peace – ie that in return for territorial concessions we may mitigate the security problem because we get peace is not even an argument that is being argued here. Everyone agrees that this disengagement is unilateral and no commitments from the other side are called on at all! It is not like Sinai or Yamit where we at least got a cold peace, or even Jericho where ostensibly we were at least promised peace – here we receive nothing in return not a single promise not even a piece of paper! Even the American promises to assist us are uncertain and in some quarters even denied.
While halachically I disagree with the land for peace for formula – as based on the above Halachic arguments strategic depth can never be compromised – at least it was an argument! The argument was over which approach will better mitigate our security problem? However in relation to disengagement no such argument is even being put forward!
Because we don’t yet have a solution as to how to deal with the problem of governing over millions of Arabs is not sufficient justification halachically to compromise security.
At the outset of the Yom Kippur war, the government made a political decision not to make a pre-emptive strike in order to appease the Americans – with disastrous results. The withdrawals of Oslo led to an Intifada with hundreds of korbanot and we were forced anyway to retake the ceded lands – after a terrible price was exacted from our people. The proposed and hoped for political gains from disengagement are uncertain. That the security situation is immediately eroded by disengagement is clear to all.
Everytime we sacrifice our security for an imaginary or even real political gain the results are disastrous. The Torah in its wisdom, as codified in the Shulchan Aruch mentioned above, taught that there can never, ever, be the compromise on our security that is created through the ceding of land. How many tragic lessons do we have to learn until we realize that the Torah is the only Tree of Life, and only when we follow her wisdom do we secure life!
All the above should not be confused with Halachic issues regarding the sanctity of the land. In theory the laws of the sanctity of land would indeed be suspended for the purposes of pikuach nefesh ( saving of life). However it is the halachot of Pikuach Nefesh that are here in force. It is the halachot of Pikuach nefesh not those of “sanctity of the land” that require strategic depth. It is the laws of Pikuach Nefesh that do not allow disengagement
However, I must emphasise that as adamant as I am that disengagement is not halachically acceptable I am equally adamant that the rule of law and the proper functioning of an army and state – without anarchy- are also matters of pikuach nefesh .
Furthermore there is no greater Chilul Hashem or danger to the Jewish people, and nothing gives greater succor to our enemies, than the sight of Jew fighting Jew .This is clearly demonstrated in the Gemoro Gittin and the recounting of the fall of the Second Temple. Divided we simply can not stand. If this applies to the nation as a whole, how much more so it applies to the Army. An undisciplined and divided army, with its morale eroded, can not defend the People of Israel.
As such while all forms of democratic protest to prevent the disengagement would be permitted, Halacha, in my opinion, can not endorse any illegal means or Chas V’Shalom any violent means of protest. In relation to the vexed issue of “siruv pekuda” ( conscientious objection) in my view, to disobey an order is not halachically acceptable. A soldier by definition must obey orders.
However the IDF is an army that prides itself on morality and has within its own codes the right of a soldier to disobey an order that he feels is illegal or immoral. Each soldier must consult his own Rav, and preferably his Rav Tzvai, for guidance as to his behaviour - bearing in mind his individual circumstances and the enormous responsibility and even pikuach nefesh associated with “siruv pekuda”. Even his “conscientious objection” should he choose to follow such a path, must be within the framework of the existing codes of the IDF and in line with specific and careful Halachic guidance.
As we as a nation face the coming weeks – let us at least show the world that we are a united people. We may have divergent views that are passionately held – but most passionately held must be the view that “Who is like you O’Israel ONE Nation on this Earth “. Never again can we allow a repeat of the Chilul Hashem of a Jew raising his hand against a fellow Jew. Lo L’Alimut under any and all circumstances. May we be blessed on the other hand with the blessing of Peace and the fulfillment of the promise “HaShem Oz L’Amo Yitein, HaShem give his people strength – and there is no greater strength than the strength of Torah - and May HaShem bless his people with peace.” Amen.
Rabbi Gutnick said:
ReplyDeleteBecause we don’t yet have a solution as to how to deal with the problem of governing over millions of Arabs is not sufficient justification halachically to compromise security!
But according to most experts this problem is a major long term security issue?
The Rebbe said we must consult the experts!