Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, released the following statement by President Stephen J. Savitsky and Executive Vice President Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb in response to remarks by Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe at a rally in Israel where he reportedly compared Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Nazi collaborators and suggested the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Vice Premier Haim Ramon and Defense Minister Ehud Barak would be “hung from the gallows” in a properly run state:
“We unequivocally condemn Rabbi Wolpe’s statements. They are beyond the pale of legitimate democratic protest and have no basis in Jewish law or hashkafa (philosophy).
While we – and many other supporters of the State of Israel – often find ourselves in disagreement with the Government of Israel on certain policy matters, it is unconscionable to cross the line into hate, violence and threats. Debate and dissent must be conducted civilly and respectfully in accordance with our Torah, whose “ways are the ways of pleasantness, and all of whose pathways are of peace.”
We call upon all God-fearing Jews to act in a manner that brings praise to God, his People, Land and Torah.”
The original story was reported by the Jerusalem Post as follows:
“The terrible traitor, [Prime Minister] Ehud Olmert, who gives these Nazis weapons, who gives money, who frees their murderous terrorists, this man, like Ariel Sharon, collaborates with the Nazis,” Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe told a conference of rabbis who oppose transferring parts of the West Bank or Jerusalem to the Palestinian Authority.
“[Olmert’s punishment], and the punishment of [Vice Premier] Haim Ramon, and the punishment of [Foreign Minister] Tzipi Livni, and all these people, like [Defense Minister] Ehud Barak, should be to hang from the gallows,” Wolpe said to the cheering crowd.
The comment came after news circulated during the conference that one of the terrorists who killed two Israelis in the South Hebron Hills last Friday was a PA security officer.
Among those attending the conference were MK Arye Eldad (National Union/National Religious Party), MK Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism), Kiryat Arba-Hebron Chief Rabbi Dov Lior, Kise Rahamin Yeshiva head Rabbi Meir Mazuz, and former MK Elyakim Haeztni, who joined in the accusations that Olmert was responsible for the deaths of the two Israelis last Friday.”
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19 Responses
I DIDNT REALIZE THE OU BECAME DAS TORAH. I WONDER WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT MEIR KAHANE ZATAZEL WHEN HE SPOKE.
LET THE OU WORRY ABOUT HASGACH THEY GOT ENOUGH PROBLEMS
The O.U. (in case you didn’t know) is a multi-
dimensional organization. The people who spoke today have nothing to do with the Hashgochos. They are the political side of the OU. They’re entitled to their political opinion as I’m sure all the commentary to follow is.
Once again, the O-U Machers show that their true sympathies are with the Machers in Israel, rather than the poor AmCha Yidden who have to face Arab terroists armed by Olmert and barak with 50 new armored personned carriers, thousands of AK-47’s, and millions of bullets. Olmert’s friends in the PA just murdered two fine young boys in Chevron.
Rabbi Wolpe is incorrect. Their halachic status are rodfim, and may halachically be disposed of in any method necessary. I am NOT suggesting that this is what anyone should actually do, due to many other factors. Unfortunately, the OU is an organization run by some big people (even some REAL Talmidei Chachamim) however they have very confused hashkofos just like the dati leumi community, and they don’t understand that attitudes and opinions are ALSO TORAH, and not just the boych svaros of anyone. The opinion of the Gedolei Yisroel are the ones to be asked how our view of these haters of Klal Yisroel should be. there is a lot more to express, but the most important thing is to follow in the footsteps of the Gedolim and be subservient to WHATEVER Daas Torah demands of us, whether it be to swallow our tongues or to make a protest.
This exaggeration does not help. The speakers, according to this report, were exaggerating. I do not believe any one of them would want to push the lever at a gallows. Now some of the comments to this article are exagerating about the OU. The OU is looked to by many to comment on and influence as much as they can. Those who want to consider them “da’as torah” will, and those who have other sources may not. It seems to me that they try to say sensitive things in a diplomatic way, which is really the proper thing under most circumstances, at least as the first step.
The OU is covering themselves. If CH”V R”L there is another (has m’l’hazkir) Yigal Amir event, they want to be able to say yodienu loi shafcha…
Just use the word Quisling, or Laval. Less offensive but just as true
“Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe said Thursday that the comments he made at the Tuesday conference were twisted and taken out of context.” Quite common for Secular Leftists in Israel to do against Orthodox Jews.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124805
100% I agree with the Rabbi’s comments. Funny, how the Jews in the dispora complain about living in the diaspora, yet seem to embrace galut at other times. What does Torah have to do with Arabs raining death/terror on our people. If diaspora Jews want to have a say, make aliyah, and do something for your Country rather than words. The OU was not there when two IDF Soldiers were murdered by PA Police(sic).
Rather than complain in Selichot, or voice sterile opinions, do something rather than learning a new brachot over a fruit that is no longer around. While Jews die, you live in Galut, and talk.
It seems to me that not to long ago the OU would not comment or take a firm stand on the happenings is Eretz and stated that they could not comment on internal issues in Eretz Yisroel. Is this a change in their policy?
Wether we agree with Rabbi Wolpe or not, he makes some good points. By the way, he is brother in laws with Harav Shmuel Dishon shlita.
R. WOLPE MADE TWO ERRORS:
1) OLMERT & GANG DO NOT COLLABORATE WITH NAZIS. THEY COLLABORATE WITH ARAB TERRORISTS.
2) Hanging is not one of the four methods of execution. In ancient times, had Olmert been PM OR KING and done the things he is doing, the Beis Din haGadol would have tried him and found him guilty of ASSISTING murder, PLUS SEVERAL OTHER FINANCIAL CRIMES WHICH THE GOVT OF ISRAEL IS STILL [HA HA] “INVESTIGATING” [UNTIL MASHIACH COMES]. I don’t know the halachah for such a situation, BUT THE B.D. HAGADOL WOULD SURELY KNOW.
Rav Wolpe was absolutely correct. In any normal state the suicidal treacherous behavior of Olmert and company would have resulted in their being hung from the highest flagpole. Halachically speaking a person who pays another to kill or is responsible for the deaths of others even though he did not do the actual killing was placed in the “kippa.” However as is a stated in the beginning of Choshen Mishpat, a single judge can can judge dinai nefoshos if it is necessary (im hasha’a tzricha lo) even in our times. Where is the single judge? The eyes of klal yisrael are turned toward you.
Shalom Dov Wolpo
From Wikipedia
Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpo – Sholom Ber Wolpe[1], (born 1948) is a messianic Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi, religious author and political activist in Israel. He has written more than forty books in Hebrew, some of which deal with the position of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Lubavitcher Rebbe, as the Jewish messiah. He help set up the Chabad Yeshiva in Kiryat Gat. He has become associated in recent years with right-wing political causes, and has set up a campaign group – SOS Israel – an organisation that runs press and postering campaigns for shleimus ha’aretz.
He’s not talking about halacha, he’s talking about Israeli law. Israeli law provides for Nazi collaborators to be hanged, and all he’s saying is that these people who are undoubtedly guilty should be arrested, tried, and punished for their crime. By an Israeli court of law, not a beis din, so the arba misos beis din are irrelevant, and so is the din of “ein shliach lidvar aveirah”. To leap from a call for the rule of law to some sort of incitement to violence is incomprehensible; by making this leap the OU is setting the scene for R Wolpe to be arrested ch”v.
R Wolpe is a big talmid chacham. His messianic views are irrelevant here. This has nothing to do with the identity of moshiach. He has his opinions on that subject, and we are not mechuyav to agree with him, but it doesn’t make him less right on other subjects.
I agree with # 15
Number #14, I bewilderd that the OU would even waste there breath with a man who belives the Menachem Mendel Schneerson is Mashiach. His problems don’t start with calling the Zionist goverment Nazi, that is only one. He is a extremist with a stentch from Avodah Zara, and Apkashier Das Torah.
How the OU and AGUDAS YISROEL HELPED the 10,000 JEWS that was thrown out from Gaza?????????????
The Lubavicher REBBE said :that not only is a mortal danger to give the arabs even 1″of Jewish Land,that EVEN to sit down to talk is a mortal danger. But the opposite Rabonim paskened that to give away land is ” saving Jewish life” … So now is NOT important if the REBBE IS MOSHIACH OR not , but the fact that all his words about security in ERETZ YISROEL WERE 100% correct and right. As Prkey Ovoice says Mi ze Hahochom??? She roe as hanoilod.