HaGaon HaRav Bentzion Mutzafi Shlita, a prominent sephardi posek in Eretz Yisrael, addressed the accident which claimed the life of Rabbi Dovid Levy Z”L, who was hit by a bus during a visit to Morocco. “It teaches us a lesson not to visit countries that hate us” Rav Mutzafi exclaimed.
Rav Mutzafi was asked by one of his talmidim about the accident, citing the driver of the bus was a non-Jew, who explained he mistakenly stepped on the gas pedal instead of the brake. The talmid asked if he thinks he was killed because he is a Jew?
The rav’s response was harsh, citing the loss is most unfortunate, but it teaches us a lesson, not to visit a hostile nation, “a nation that hates us”.
Over the weekend, a brother-in-law of the niftar, Rav David Netanel, stated the family is certain the so-called accident was an intentional attack and this was determined after interviewing persons who were there. The driver was quick to tell the media that he accidently hit the gas, not the brake.
Netanel made a public appeal to the King of Morocco and the president of the Jewish community to probe the death, which the family is certain was a terrorist attack and not an accident.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
So how does he explain car accidents in countries that dont hate Jews? What about car accidents in Israel?
Don’t Visit Countries that Hate Us i.e. Place a Cherem on Germany and Austria which caused the Holocaust. Albeit 8 decades late:- Better late than never.
Meanwhile of-course, patronize our Amazing Medinas Yisroel, and keep going there, and just keep going back to our glorious Medinas Yisroel.
Good news for Israeli’s then. You won’t be needing to renew your passport.
I’ve been told by people who live or visit Morocco that there’s a thriving community there and it’s a very good place for Jews to live. I understand that it’s the only country in the world where the government gives batei dinim the power to administer corporal punishment to Jews who deserve it. Oneof the king’s closest advisors is a Jewish businessman who received a special prize from Shimon Peres for his work in promoting good relations between Jews and Muslims. How do the Jews there feel about this story?
Por’s comment is something to think about. Even back in the 1970s, when most of the Arab world boycotted us, Morocco was comparatively moderate. Morocco is one of the few countries in the Arab world that has allowed its Jewish citizens to live without persecution. Even if this was terrorism and not an accident, it was the work of an individual, and Morocco should be viewed as a whole.
Jews shouldn’t visit American cities and states that elect people who vote against Israel (and against America).