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Democracy, Not
Rabbis, Must Rule

GARY E. RUBIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Still, even those who do not
ewish organizations have
rightly emphasized the counsel violence adopt troubling
obligation of leaders to pub- approaches to peace process is-
licly repudiate bigotry when sues. Significant numbers of Or-
it appears within their commu- thodox rabbis have ruled that
nities. We have demanded that any peace agreement made with
African-Americans speak out the Palestinians is void accord-
against Nation of Islam leader ing to Jewish law. They have as-
Louis Farrakhan, and Christians serted the right to override
denounce religious anti-Semi- Israeli democracy and military
assessments of security in the
tism.
How then should we react name of their religious teachings.
In May 1994, the Rabbinical
when a small group of rabbis
claims to speak for all Jews in Conference of the Religious Zion-
ist Rabbis Association met in
nullifying the peace process?
A small group of religious op- Jerusalem and stated, "The gov-
ponents of the peace process has ernment of Israel is not empow-
declared any agreement with the ered by Jewish law, tradition, or
Arabs
invalid and has forbidden heritage to relinquish the rights
MS
its followers in the Israel Defense of the Jewish people to the Land
Forces from obeying orders to car- of Israel, and any agreement
81. BUSINESS WORK
ry out government decisions in- leading to such relinquishment
DESTALS, TABLES AND MO
volving territorial compromise. has no moral or legal status and
Interest-Free
A few have gone so far as to open- is not recognized as binding by
the Jewish people."
ly call for assassination.
FINANCING
Rabbi Mordechai Rabinowitz,
This trend is evident in pro-
-Limited-
nouncements on PLO leader Yas- head of the yeshiva in Jericho,
offer
sir Arafat. In the June 9, 1994, drew the obvious implication. "As
Philadelphia Inquirer, Michael far as we're concerned; [the
Parks quotes former Israeli Chief Gaza-Jericho] agreement is null
Rabbi Shlomo Goren as declar- and void."
Rabbi Goren extended this
ing, "It is ... a commandment to
kill Arafat, and there is no need ruling, stating that all agree-
to wait to bring him to trial ... To ments made with Mr. Arafat are
kill Arafat is not a sin or a crime, null and void according to Jew-
but will bring a blessing to the ish law.
Future agreements between
person who does it and to his
the Israelis and Palestinians
family."
What applies to Mr. Arafat, of have been declared inoperative
course, would equally cover Is- in advance. Former Israeli Chief
raeli peace negotiators. The June Rabbi Avraham Shapiro has
22, 1995, Jewish Telegraphic ruled that Israeli soldiers should
FURNITURE
Agency news bulletin quotes Rab- disobey any orders to evict set-
bi Avraham Hecht, president of tlers. "You must refuse it like you
PROFILES
the Rabbinical Alliance of Amer- would refuse an order to eat
ica, as stating that Israeli lead- pork," he declared.
It is important to no that not
ers "and all who assist them" in
all
Orthodox rabbis adopt these
'
,
ise
c
wgr,:,;°
relinquishing any part of the land
21930 WYOMING, OAK PARK, MICHIGAN
of Israel fall into the category of viewpoints. The Orthodox Union
"moser," people who betray Jews has acknowledged that different
views on these issues exist
to gentiles.
Rabbi Hecht went on to cite among halachic authorities. Rab-
Maimonides as teaching that bi Shmuel Goldin of the moder-
such people not only deserve the ate Orthodox group Shvil
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death penalty but should be Hazahav has stated, "Numerous
killed before they can perform the halachic luminaries have indi-
cated that territorial concession
[
deed.
Other rabbinical authorities is within the confines of Ha-
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