If one were to ask MK (Ichud HaLeumi) Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, a shomer shabbos Jew, opening the gates of Gaza to import lulavim for Sukkos is indeed a case of mitzvah ha’ba b’avera.
Ben-Ari is referring to the announced decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who adhered to a request from Religious Services Minister R’ Yaakov Margi, permitting lulavim from Gaza. Margi was concerned that without the Gaza lulavim, the prices would skyrocket due to the shortage that would be created. A Kikar report quoting some dealers explains that the shortage is “man made” to get the price they seek, and the Gazan lulavim are not need, but in actuality, there is ample supply without them.
Ben-Ari calls on the tzibur not to being “Gaza into our midst… but pay a bit extra instead of giving funds to the kidnappers of Gilad Shalit”.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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6 Responses
If in fact, there are lulavim to be had WITHOUT the ones from Aza, then without a doubt, a few extra shekels should be paid, and they should NOT be brought in from there. If they are NOT available otherwise, I think a Gadol has to be asked a shailah.
James Woolsey, a former head of CIA commented in a similar vein that everytime we fill up the tanks of our cars with gas, we support Middle Eastern terrorism: “If you want to see who’s paying for all that, next time you pull in to fill up, turn the rearview mirror a little bit so you can look at yourself for a minute as you get out with your credit card,” Woolsey said …”
Better that we should buy just one lulav per family then create the need to buy lulavim from Gaza.
A kol koreh (for this year)limiting the number of lulavim, with a concerted effort to plant new trees to alleviate the problem in the coming years is preferable to funding terrorists.
This is not just a Mitzva Ha Bo be Averah.
This is Avizrayo de Shefichas Domim mamash.
And the Halocho is “Yehoreg Ve Al Yaavor”.
Don’t let anybody fool you into thinking otherwise.
I’m confused how this is supporting “terrorism” does anyone really think the 10 cents that the arab is going to get for a lulav is going to anything more than feeding his family. By the logic being espoused here the Spanish lulav should be banned because they give money to the PA. And why limit it to lulavim every European product should be banned?
As #5 says. Stop the nonsense.
As for Ben Ari: he is a lunatic, representing the most extreme right wing, the sort of Baruch Marzel and Itamar Ben Gvir (who are his assistents). I do not see why a ‘yeshivish’ site should spend one letter on him. Now if Rav Eliashiv, Rav Steinman, Rav Kanievsky, Rav Sheinberg or other major rabbonim would speak about this, it would be worth writing about.