העורך Editor

Where Satmar Has No Problem With Zionism

Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar opposed benefitting from Zionists to the extent that he forbade visiting liberated holy sites. What does he do with the verse יכין וצדיק ילבש, Iyov 27:17? But I digress. The Rebbe also regarded thanking Zionist individuals or thanking God for the results of Zionism as heretical.

But the question must be asked: Rabbi Yoel himself was saved from the Nazis through notorious Zionist Rudolph Kastner. He accepted a seat on the train of rescue, and he and his followers celebrate the “Yom Hatzalah”, or day of personal redemption, ever since.

Kastner was mentioned later but in a different way.

Also, it’s rumored the Rebbe accepted a certificate for immigration to Palestine, which raises other problems (Rabbi Teitelbaum forbade his congregants from accepting these certificates until the Nazis invaded), see “The Rebbe” by Rabbi Dovid Meisels.

Yes, yes, I’m sure there’s a perfectly good answer, but these facts do need to be juxtaposed.

This article is inspired by Rabbi Yitzchak Brand, in this piece.

Wait, Peres Is Still Around?

Shimon Peres was stricken by a stroke. He is one of those mainly responsible for the Oslo Accords and their aftermath. I wonder what Moshe Feiglin will say.

I cannot find a link for the following story:

Peres was heckled during a speech with “Why did you give them guns?” Eventually Peres got sick of hearing the slogan and shot back with “So take the guns back!” To which he was told: “What one fool breaks, a thousand wise men cannot fix”.

First They Came For the Arabs…

This story happened to a friend of mine whom we shall name Yitzchak:

Yitzchak was travelling on an intercity bus one night, when three Arab labourers boarded. Apparently fearing for their safety, one of the passengers  called the police. Three cops came to check whether the Arabs had entry permits or not. Since one of the Arabs appeared to be sleeping, a mean-looking cop roughly shoved the Arab’s head back demanding his papers. Upon seeing this, Yitzchak arose and loudly accused the cop of disgracing his government uniform, demanding the cop’s badge serial number and other details. “But he was only feigning sleep”, the cop tried to explain. Yitzchak would have none of it. “And what if he was? He’s a person, is he not?! This will end up in Machash (the Israeli version of Internal Affairs)!”

Once the bus had resumed its route, another traveller, a Gerrer Chassid, turned to Yitzchak and said: “I see you are an Arab-lover…” Yitzchak replied, this time calmly: “This is not about the Arab at all. Tomorrow you and I could be at a demonstration protesting the desecration of Shabbos or the like and this same cop, having been given free reign once, could assault either of us, as well. What will you say then?” The Chassid had to agree.

And no, it didn’t end up in Machash…

By the way, to lodge a complaint against a policeman, see this guide.