After his latest remarks, members of the non-frum faction of the Bayit Yehudi party have moved forward, seeking legal action against Rabbi Shalom Cohen. Rav Cohen is Rosh Yeshivat Porat Yosef and a member of Shas’ Moetzas Gedolei Hatorah. He spoke out during a shiur, stating anyone that voted for Bayit Yehudi is destined for Gehenom. This follows other recent statements comparing the dati leumi community to Amalek.
The non-frum faction of the dati leumi party announced the period of restraint has ended. They sent a letter to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein citing the above-mentioned incidents and the harsh words of the rosh yeshiva.
In the letter they cite how the rabbi simply branded a large segment of the population with unacceptable language, doing so publically, and they feel the attorney general must instruct Israel Police to open a case against the rav, who should face charges of defamation of character and incitement.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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18 Responses
Incitement is incitement.
Whether it is against Arabs, Ethiopians, Sefardim, Right-Wing, Settlers, Charedim or Nationalist Jews.
“Watch before you leap” should be a new mantra for speakers. Perhaps there is a new employment option in the making…..pre reading/examining of schmoozing, shiurim and dvrei hashgafa before a lecture is given.
In Israel, criticism of the regime is a crime. In the United States, its a civil right.
What they call “incitement” we called “seditious libel” – and it has been largely decriminalized so long no one remembers when such comments could get you prosecuted (back in the 18th century).
The Israeli Police can do whit against free speech expressing a Jewish religious opinion, as Rav Cohen shlit”a lawfully did.
‘In the letter they cite how the rabbi simply branded a large segment of the population with unacceptable language”
Is that not what the non-religious press does to the Charedim daily?
Were Chilonim and Daati Leumi taken to court for their incitement against charedim and calling them parasites, blood-suckers and whatnot?
Kol hakavod to Rabbi Cohen shlit”a for sticking up for kavod haTorah and saying what was known by everyone for generations. If they have problem with the truth, let them do tshuva.
Wasn’t there some sort of form Shin Bet director or something who said quite publicly at a graduation ceremony for soldiers or students or something that Charedim are a bigger threat to Israel than Iranian nuclear weapons? Did the AG ever investigate him for defamation of character and incitement?
What about all the brainwashing the army did on soldiers prior to having them kick innocent Jews out of their homes in Gush Katif teaching them that they are all dangerous religious extremists who have it coming to them in order that the soldiers shouldn’t’ feel a moral dilemma and perhaps disobey orders. Did the AG ever investigate any leadership in the army for defamation of character and incitement?
What about that arab lady in the Knesset who was aboard the flotilla that brutally attached Israeli navymen? And all the propaganda she spewed on the ship (as well as what she probably spewed before and after the incident as well). Did the AG ever investigate her for defamation of character and incitement?
The Rav’s comments personally don’t sit with me well but do the merit this? I don’t think we need to get the authorities involved every time somebody says something offensive, even if we find it highly offensive. There’s more appropriate ways to go about voicing protest over such things.
When Congresswoman Maxine Waters famously and very publicly shouted, “The Tea Party can go to Hell!”, there was no talk of charging her with defamation of character and incitement. What a strange legal system exists in the Zionist wonderland! Did Waters get a free pass because she’s black and represents Inglewood, California, which bears a close resemblance to Detroit?
Go for it..!! These “chareidim” want war… Give’em war… Enough..!!!
As despicable as his comments are, freedom of speech should take preference. I happen to agree with those who say that Israel’s claim of being a democracy, is a joke.
Even in the United States, the freedom of speech is not UNLIMITED. Additionally, there are laws agaisnt slander. Whether the inflamatory statements made are subject to legal action will be decided by the Israeli authorities.
Freedom of speech only applies to chilonim and daati in Israel; chareidim need not apply. Freedom of religion is almost non-existent.
To all the anti-zionists bashing Israel for lack of free-speech, just go into any chareidi yeshiva and make a slightly critical comment about their Rosh Yeshiva or Admor. Let me know how much tolerance is displayed (assuming you live to tell about it.)
Yanky55 — What dispicable comments? If Rav Cohen was prosecuted for defamation, he could plead truth as a defense (note that under common law, the rule was the greater the truth the greater the libel, so he would clearly be guilty – American rejected the common law rule over 200 years ago). Those who seek to uproot Torah are an existential threat to the existence of Klal Yisrael – and that’s the clear meaning of comparing someone to Amalek.
apukerma_I don’t know why I bother but some of your statements are so outrageous that ,for the sake of kovod shomayim, you must be called out! the existential threat comes from people like you- who are advocating to join forces with our worst enemies, endangering seven million jews. Every time you and your ilk write something, they give support to our sonei yisroel! The words of Rav Yosef apply a lot more to those who ally themsleves with our enemies!
“….Those who seek to uproot Torah are an existential threat to the existence of Klal Yisrael – and that’s the clear meaning of comparing someone to Amalek.”
SHTUSSIM !
No Jew has ever been called Amalek no matter how bad he is.Show us anywhere in the Torah where it even hints at such a crazy thing. But no svoreh, pilpul spin, please. Let’s see mareh mekomos.
to Herschel Krustofsky ; Free speech is a concept as to whether the government can use the coercive powers of the state to surpress speech it dislikes. It’s an issue because you can’t choose the government. If I’m living in Jerusalem, I can’t just get up one morning and announce that my house, my business and my person are now covered by Ruritanian law.
The private sector is a different issue. Private people are free to oppose whatever speech you like. If you claim to support the Mets, and I’m a Yankees fan, I’m free to kick you our of my house, and free not to talk to you.
If you don’t like a given yeshiva, you are free to choose a different one. That’s what “private sector” means.
Restrictions on free speech in Israel, are a function of what the sovereign does.
This is exactly what Sinat Chinam is, not just baseless but hatred out of proportion.
Instead of finding peaceful solutions to be one as one nation under one GD no matter how one is towards his creator bickering over stupidity will only lead towards a greater Chillul Hshem .
akuperma – your apologetics for chareidi intolerance couldn’t get any weaker. Tell me, is:
a) spitting at 8 year old dati-leumi girls
b) vandalizing egged busses
c) attacking frum soldiers
simply personal intolerance in the “private sector”??? If not, then your public tolerance is by any definition much more inexcusable than any alleged Israeli “persecution” of dissidents.
If yes, then your definition is at odds with the entire Masechet Eiruvin 🙂