Rabbi Dov Lior Shlita, Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh Shlita and others are calling on soldiers and border police to refuse orders when instructed to take part in taking over the Ohd Yosef Chai Yeshiva in Yishuv Yitzhar in Shomron.
A year after security forces took over the beis medrash, rabbonim are now calling on forces to refuse orders and not be a part of the force that maintains and operates in that area.
The pashkavil is signed by the rabbonim mentioned above along with Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, Rabbi David Druckman, Rabbi Shmuel Tal, Rabbi Michael Hershkowitz, Rabbi David Dudkevitz, and Rabbi Simcha Shtetner.
They lament the fact the military took control of the beis medrash on erev Pesach 5774 and remains to this day. They point out that the Torah prohibits the action for a number of reasons including gezel of the building, compromising the kovod of the beis medrash (Rambam Hilchos Tefilla Chapter 11), and due to the bitul Torah because the doors of the beis medrash are locked to them, citing the wicked during the time of Malchei Yehuda. Therefore the rabbonim call for insubordination rather than being a part of this illegal action, quoting the Rambam, Hilchos Melachim 3:8.
It is also pointed out that officials extended the takeover four months ago, as the defense minister gave his approval for the move and the same is expected to extended the order again as the defense minister relies of regulations giving him extreme authority to act in such a fashion.
Yeshiva officials explain that in each generations there are efforts to silence the voice of Torah but these efforts will never succeed.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
3 Responses
It is somewhat hypocritical for zionist rabbanim to tell soldiers to disobey lawful orders of the zionist army. If the medinah is kosher, then the soldiers are obligated to obey orders. If the medinah is not established in accordance with Torah, then why are they in the army (and what business to they have killing Arabs in order to further the conquests of a illiigitimate regime). You can’s have it both ways.
Hmm. where were these people when the Chareid draft law was being passed? Why weren’t they screaming about “the bitul Torah” and “efforts to silence the voice of Torah” then??
Mutiny in the IDF is exactly what the Arab rashaim would love to see. Rav Lichtenstein and Rav Aviner have made it clear that this is not permitted. Rav Lichtenstein’s opposition is particularly noteworthy as he does not often comment publicly on political matters.