Yesh Atid MK Dov Lipmann accused Yahadut Hatorah MK Yaakov Asher of lacking compassion. Lipmann’s comments come on the heels of his effort to amend animal protection laws, citing how many dogs die annually because of a lack of concern. He therefore turned to Yahadut Hatorah for support as he points out one may not intentionally be cruel to animals.
Lipman turned to the chareidi party about two weeks ago in the hope of gaining its support for his tzar baalei chaim bill to protect dogs that have been abandoned, tens of thousands of dogs that do not have anyone caring for them.
In a long letter sent by MK Asher he expresses admiration for Lipmann’s efforts on behalf of baalei chaim but also pointed out he neglected to turn to him during recent months pertaining to the welfare of tens of thousands of other “baalei chaim” that until now were living under acceptable conditions for their modest lifestyle.
Asher continues to point out to Lipmann that the baalei chaim he refers to stand on their two and only legs and simply asks with all its heart not to compromise its basic needs by tampering with a situation that has been in place for many years, permitting them to continue living an acceptable life in the framework of a modest lifestyle. “However people who lack compassion and are distant from the values of the Torah Yisrael HaKadosha have been toiling for over a year and do all they can to circumvent life’s norms and exploit every loophole and shortcut possible to change this lifestyle…” Asher adds “let it suffice that you are familiar with the pasuk ומרדכי לא יכרע ולא ישתחווה. We will not get down on all fours and will not submit to dictate. We will not wag out tails nor will be cooperate with gezeiros disguised as benefits. We will continue to live our lives according to our faith and our tradition, the Torah, from father to son and from rav to talmid as it has been since Mount Sinai.”
Asher received a harsh response from Lipmann, explaining he turned to him for he was confident the chareidi party understood that putting dogs to sleep that do not pose a danger is contrary to Hashem’s will and possible an aveira d’oraissa for transgressing בל תשחית. Lipmann adds that once there is a disagreement on other matters “you do not wish to be MeKadesh Shem Shomayim and work together towards preventing Torah prohibitions in or state. Now I learned a bit more about you and it is good to know.”
Lipmann adds that regarding compassion for humans, the biggest compassion it to provide people with the tools to get out and work and not to become reliant on handouts. He continues by quoting the Gemara teaches us one must teach his son a profession “and you are fighting not to give these young men the tools they require to learn a profession. Therefore my actions to assist chareidim to enter the workplace continue, a compassion I learned from our Torah HaKadosha, which also guides me with the legislation to prevent cruelty to animals…”
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12 Responses
TWO sides of the fence which will never bisect!!
Neither understands or wants to comprehend the other.
Lipman HaRasha, the radical PETA supporter, would like nothing more than to ban Kaporas and Shechita in Eretz Yisroel. Since he considers man and mammal to be equal, he is only seeking to protect his own beastly instincts.
So there he is again. I wonder what he has to say about his party boss wanting to kick out all Rabbis who say the Halacha… – Did he send any letter there?…
The yukle head doesn’t know what he’s talking about. There’s no mitzva that humans should start taking care of dogs, and if allowing dogs to run wild and multiply presents a real problem for human you are definitely permitted to “put them to sleep” for humans sake.
The איסור of צער בעלי חיים is just that you should prevent any USELESS pain of animals.
Excessive love for animals can lead to cruelty against human beings as the possuk (Hoshea 13:2) homiletically suggests, Zovchei adam agalim yishakun, “Those who murder people kiss calves.
Mr. Lipman has a very strange sense of priorities.
So the street sweeper has opened his peh hatachton again!
Dovy, you claim to be “concerned” about dogs (just like the Nazi’s were, before the holocaust) and perserving their “lives”, but women who want to murder their babys after they commit a sin, you support?!!! Is that what they taught you in Ner Yisroel?
Rabbi Asher is right on the mark! Your contempt for Bnei Torah has reached new lows! Shame on you!
It is sad and discouraging to see the intemperate language used in this thread towards another Jew(a frum jew and a musmach!). You may disagree with Rabbi Lipman’s views but they are valid and by responding to the matter at hand with base insults, the posters totally disqualify themselves from being taken seriously. Sad and shameful.
While I’m not sure why RDL is interested in spending his time fighting for dogs, I completely understand his appropriate quote from the gemarah – one who does not teach his son a trade is as if he taught him to be a thief.
Of course it’s understandable why chareidim prefer to live a simple life of learning, but without earning a living one cannot survive without handouts. It’s very embarrassing to see large communities of people living off of handouts, and to still see the utter poverty in which they live. It is not the way taught to us by chazal.
Dear M [9],
Why do you call a community that gets a fraction of the revenue they bring in “living on handouts”?
Please study the facts
Is Asher comparing two legged animals to four legged animals? This is the problem with Charedim, they lost all sense of logic.
1) Yes, two legged animals are technically animals, but guess what, four legged animals have no control over their activities. Two legged animals, if they’re hungry, can get food. If they’re cold, they can go indoors. You can’t compare the two. Which brings me to point 2.
2) ROB, you should give it up already. YWN readers for the most part are guilty of what is the biggest problem facing Judaism today: extremism. There is no middle ground anymore. Once R’ Lipman says people should work for a living (or whatever it is he is saying), he is now a rash merusha and deserves all that YWN readers can shell out. There is no seeking out the truth anymore, there is no listening to other opinions, now it’s “if you want to cancel all my benefits, you’re Amalek.”
Mr. Lipman is four legged animal.