Like the best Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis, Manis Friedman has won the hearts of many unaffiliated Jews with his charismatic talks about love and God; it was Friedman who helped lead Bob Dylan into a relationship with Chabad.
But Friedman, who today travels the country as a Chabad speaker, showed a less warm and cuddly side when he was asked how he thinks Jews should treat their Arab neighbors.
“The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle),” Friedman wrote in response to the question posed by Moment Magazine for its “Ask the Rabbis” feature.
Friedman argued that if Israel followed this wisdom, there would be “no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war.”
“I don’t believe in Western morality,” he wrote. “Living by Torah values will make us a light unto the nations who suffer defeat because of a disastrous morality of human invention.”
Friedman’s use of phrasing that might seem more familiar coming from an Islamic extremist has generated a swift backlash. The editor of Moment, Nadine Epstein, said that since the piece was printed in the current issue they “have received many letters and e-mails in response to Rabbi Friedman’s comments — and almost none of them have been positive.”
Friedman quickly went into damage control. He released a statement to the Forward, through a Chabad spokesman, saying that his answer in Moment was “misleading” and that he does believe that “any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion.”
But Friedman’s words have generated a debate about whether there is a darker side to the cheery face that the Chabad-Lubavitch movement shows to the world in its friendly outreach to unaffiliated Jews. Mordecai Specktor, editor of the Jewish community newspaper in Friedman’s hometown, St. Paul. Minn., said: “The public face of Lubavitch is educational programs and promoting Yiddishkeit. But I do often hear this hard line that Friedman expresses here.”
“He sets things out in pretty stark terms, but I think this is what Lubavitchers believe, more or less,” said Specktor, who is also the publisher of the American Jewish World. “They are not about loving the Arabs or a two-state solution or any of that stuff. They are fundamentalists. They are our fundamentalists.” Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a regular critic of Arab extremists, said that in the Jewish community, “We are not immune to having these views. There are people in our community who have these bigoted, racist views.”
But, Foxman warned, Friedman’s views are not reflective of the Chabad rabbis he knows. “I am not shocked that there would be a rabbi who would have these views,” Foxman said, “but I am shocked that Moment would give up all editorial discretion and good sense to publish this as representative of Chabad.”
A few days after anger about the comment surfaced, Chabad headquarters released a statement saying that, “we vehemently disagree with any sentiment suggesting that Judaism allows for the wanton destruction of civilian life, even when at war.”
The statement added: “In keeping with Jewish law, it is the unequivocal position of Chabad-Lubavitch that all human life is G-d given, precious, and must be treated with respect, dignity and compassion.”
In Moment, Friedman’s comment is listed as the Chabad response to the question “How Should Jews Treat Their Arab Neighbors?” after a number of answers from rabbis representing other Jewish streams, most of which state a conciliatory attitude toward Arabs.
Epstein said that Friedman was “brave” for stating his views so clearly.
“The American Jewish community doesn’t have the chance to hear opinions like this,” Epstein said, “not because they are rare, but because we don’t often ask Chabad and other similar groups what they think.”
The Chabad movement is generally known for its hawkish policies toward the Palestinians; the Chabad Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, rejected peace accords with the Palestinians. Rabbi Moshe Feller, the top Chabad rabbi in Minnesota, said that the rebbe taught that it is not a mitvah to kill, but that Jews do have an obligation to act in self-defense.
“Jews as a whole, they try to save the lives of others,” Feller told the Forward, “but if it’s to save our lives, then we have to do what we have to do. It’s a last resort.”
Friedman is not a fringe rabbi within the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was the English translator for the Chabad Rebbe, and at the rebbe’s urging, he founded Beis Chana, a network of camps and schools for Jewish women. Friedman is also a popular speaker and writer on issues of love and relationships. His first book, “Doesn’t Anyone Blush Anymore?” was promoted with a quote from Bob Dylan, who Friedman brought to meet the rebbe.
On his blog and Facebook page, Friedman’s emphasis is on his sympathetic, caring side. It was this reputation that made the comment in Moment so surprising to Steve Hunegs, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council: Minnesota and the Dakotas.
“Rabbi Friedman is a best-selling author who addresses some of the most sensitive issues of the time,” Hunegs said. “I intend to call him and talk to him about this.”
But Shmarya Rosenberg, a blogger and critic of Chabad who lives a few blocks from Friedman in Minnesota, says that the comment in Moment is not an aberration from his experiences with Friedman and many other Chabad rabbis.
“What he’s saying is the standard normal view of a Chabadnik,” Rosenberg said. “They just don’t say it in public.”
For his part, Friedman was quick to modify the statement that he wrote in Moment. He told the Forward that the line about killing women and children should have been in quotes; he said it is a line from the Torah, though he declined to specify from which part. Friedman also said that he was not advocating for Israel to actually kill women and children. Instead, he said, he believed that Israel should publicly say that it is willing to do these things in order to scare Palestinians and prevent war.
“If we took this policy, no one would be killed — because there would be no war,” Friedman said. “The same is true of the United States.”
Friedman did acknowledge, however, that in self-defense, the behavior he talked about would be permissible.
“If your children are threatened, you do whatever it takes — and you don’t have to apologize,” he said.
Friedman argued that he is different from Arab terrorists who have used similar language about killing Jewish civilians.
“When they say it, it’s genocide, not self-defense,” Friedman said. “With them, it’s a religious belief — they need to rid the area of us. We’re not saying that.”
Feller, the Chabad leader in Minnesota, said that the way Friedman had chosen to express himself was “radical.”
“I love him,” Feller said. “I brought him out here — he’s magnificent. He’s brought thousands back to Torah mitzvah. But he shoots from the hip sometimes.”
Contact Nathaniel Popper at popper@forward.com.
The Forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the Jewish community. In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.
Copyright © 2013, Forward Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Cleveland Kidnapping, Elizabeth Smart and Us
Tracing the Jewish Origins of the Holy Ghost
Ethical Kosher Seal Stalls Amid Orthodox Opposition
Baby Boomers’ Rocky Road to Jewish Love
Rama Burshtein Offers Rare Glimpse of Orthodox World
You've successfully signed up!
Had this been a Christian or Muslim cleric speaking such a load of venom, it would plastered all over the TV and the papers. I thank Moment Magazine for having the courage to expose religious nutjobs within their own ranks.
Hey Friends,
I want to thank the Forward for posting this original statement by the Chabad Rabbi! What courage! Yofi for you!
For Foxman; Shame on you! (Foxman said, “but I am shocked that Moment would give up all editorial discretion and good sense to publish this as representative of Chabad.”) Are we to take this to mean that we are not to uncover the zealots in our midst? Shine a light on them for what they truly are?
Again, much love to Forward for representing ALL jews. Not just the interest of the religious - Foxman. I am quickly loosing love for the ADL with your comments here.
Rabbi Feller, Friedman does not read the Torah I know. Yet, he assures I will never know Chabad.
And what's wrong with pointing out that the "morality" of Western invention is flawed? We DO need to fight them, no-holds-barred. They shoot rockets at our civilians, and people like "Southern James" could care less. Their Imams spew hatred for us and for America, and not a peep. But when we say it's time to take the gloves off, and fight like we mean it, then the little "S.J's" of the world talk about how "bad" we are. Rabbi Friedman is right, if we took the fight to them, and crushed the evil instead of trying to appease it (which, in case anyone hasn't noticed, has not only no worked but makes matters ever more worse), then peace would come swiftly. The West is destroying itself with it's foolish notions. G-d won't let Israel be destroyed, but those who are trying to destroy us, and those who aid and abet them won't survive.
And RoninTT, I don't need your "assurance" of anything, as if you were any kind of expert. Read what King David did to the Philistines of his day, and you will see Rabbi Friedman is pretty mild by comparison.
Our enemies will, as King David said in Psalms, fall into the trap they have made for us.
Believing in Evil, it would follow... and variations on the theme are not hard to find.
Kudos to Forward on this expose. In truth, this is no "different side" of Chabad. Chabad has refined it's "double speak" into an art. Towards the outsiders, (uninitiated jews and gentiles alike) they come across as almost christians in their "universal love", tolerance to all, etc...; they aren't God's policemen, rather God's salesmen. Among Ana'sh -anshei shlomeinu- or initiates however, they feel free to expose their fangs; be it towards the arabs, other jews who don't buy into their version of 'judaism', orthodox and others alike, zionists, officers of the IDF . Love turns into disdain and often overt outright hate!
This is the 2nd time in as many weeks that I hear a prominent Jew going Amalek when talking about Muslims. Recently an Israeli politician used similar terminology about Iranians. Sounds to me like hubris. And we all know what that precedes.
Chabad showing its true colors in public understandably due to open criticism of israel policy in some US circles they always believed what friedman is saying its just that they're venting their anger as stalwart ally US is understanding the harm these C-L extremists are doing to the US.
R. Friedman can think what he wants, but in my 25 years going to Chabad shuls never have I heard this before. Now that I have it sounds like a good idea to me.
Rabbi Friedman shows the true face of zionism.Amazing how many posts here defend this mad rabbi.I know such Rabbis as late Elmer Berger or the Rabbi who publihes Tikkum Magazine! They are real followers of Judaism. But too bad they are in minority! On political side we have such mad men as Daniel Pieps,Alan Dershowitz,Joe Liberman Schuer the US Congress man et al.They are loud mouth and a disgrace to Jewish people.
That old adage holds true .'fight fire with fire!' The black people of America have a derogatory phrase that holds true as well and especially with my Jewish Bretheren. Unce Tom Jews is a rampant malady with us Jews never mind Uncle Tom's cabin. Also remeber the English Prime Minister who said there will be,"Peace in our Time" Look what happened to the world and to the Jewish Nation of Europe! The Chabad Rabbi deserves praise and support for what he said and a very emphatic, Yash Koach!
I wouldn't be so quick to criticize the Rabbi. Did anyone flinch when the Navy Seals shot dead the 3 Somali Pirates holding the American transporatation boat captian? What's the difference between that and Israeli held hostages? Hard lines have been drawn and not by Jews concerining Israel. They want us DEAD for crying out loud! That includes you Yosef ben Matitya. Judaism is not a Turn the other Cheek way of life. It is forbidden to kill but not to defend. We were given land after the Holocaust by the UN. After constant attack we Occupied uninhabbited areas or areas we had been attacked from. Palestinian refusal to ever work things out diplomatically and bitching and moaning all the while to people like you only strengthen their cry and weakens Israeli stability. Wake up and smell the coffee.
this is monstrous.
Basically, Abe Foxman is saying that this story should not have been published so as not to give Jews a bad name. Is that what the ADL is for? To protect the image of Jews, kind of like - i don't know, not allowing us to see the daily murder and starvation of Palestinians because it may make the Jews look bad? I see how it works, now. Abe has no problem conflating everything that happens in a day with the latest scourge of anti-semitism, but shed some light, tell the truth about the dark side of Judaism, and it's suddenly "hands off"?
My most heartfelt thanks and congratulations to The Forward for publishing this: I already started forwarding the article to my mailing list, both here and abroad. I can only confirm that I heard with my own ears this type of language from Chabadniks.
As a Jew, I say unhesitantingly that Jesus was a better rabbi than Mr. Friedman, and that perhaps he should read some of the man's sermons.
I just want to add, after reading some of the comments, that the Rebbe held different views, largely misinterpreted or intentionally disfigured by some of his followers. After all, we must bear in mind that he always spoke Yiddish: every word is translated (and at times "betrayed"). A very sad case of a very enlightened leader betrayed by some of his own followers/epigons.
Rabbi Friedman has created a massive PR disaster for Chabad.
The only solution to the Arab Israeli conflict is for all of the Palestinians to be absorbed into Jordan.
That territory was ceded to Israel by virtue of the Balfour Declaration of 1917 to be part of the National Homeland for the Jews. Most people have forgotten this. That Transjordan was summarily taken away by Churchill in 1921 and given to King AbdullahI of Saudi Arabia. Therefore, all funding for new infrastructure should come from oil rich Arab countries beginning with Saudi Arabia
This would solve all problems. Israel would be one State without absorbing all of the Palestinians into it. Jerusalem would be its undivided capital.
The two state solution would leave Israel totally vulnerable with borders that would be even more indefensible than they are now.
Status quo would just renew the cycle of terrorism and response.
It's time for Jordan to welcome all of its Palestinian brethren and make permanent peace for the whole Middle-East...and the world.
Of course Abe Foxman would want to censor Manis Friedman. Foxman is editor-in-chief of Hate Speech Legislation which would silence anyone he and the ADL disagree with, effectively eviscerating one of this country's most precious, and important, Bill of Rights freedoms.
Freedom of Speech was guaranteed by America's Forefathers so hate would not fester undercover in the dark of night, but could be cleansed and healed in the bright light of discussion and day.
We must never become vassals of The Thought Police, whatever the pretext.
Shutting people up is not equivalent to shutting hate down. Congratulations to MOMENT! Tell it like it is!
I would like to paraphrase a Christian, Macchiavelli. It is better to be feared than loved because is someone loves you and a third party scares the person (or country) that loves you, your lover will become your enemy.
It is interesting to note the truism: if you have two Jewish people in a debate, you will have three opinions. Leib
"They shoot rockets at our civilians, and people like "Southern James" could care less."
When the fourth most powerful military in the world (Israel) is being "attacked" by the military equivalent of bottle rockets, my sympathies are with the underdog (the Palestinians).
My Judaism is about compassion for the underdogs, not about murdering the locals.
I think my earlier comment about this Holy Meshuge has been deleted.
Wasn't I warm and cuddly like the Rebbe?
I'll re-post my comment on my blog:
http://vleeptronZ.blogspot.com
but I thank The Forward for this astonishing story, and hope The Forward will let me say again:
Arabs, Palestinians, Muslims are children of God, and thus my brothers and my sisters. May we all, as the Vulcans say, Live Long And Prosper, in respect, brotherhood, shalom, salam and Peace.
It's a desperate move on the reporter's part to quote Steve (Shmarya) Rosenberg. He has always hated Chabad, and uses any excuse, truthful or false, as reason to discredit Chabad.
As for Foxman, is there ever an article written about Jewish-Arab relations that does not quote Foxman's opinion? Who made him king of the Jewish community?
What disgusting comment, particularly from a religious leader. Guess true behavior is showing - the world should take note who the real villains are.
American Jews have cast Chabad in the light of their superficial humanism, and Chabad has played the part quite effectively to encourage them to see the movement that way. But Chabad is true to Torah while trying to make it palatable to the dejudaized Jewish masses.
Golly, why am I not shocked. A country and philosophy that has committed ethnic cleansing for 61 years produces someone like Friedman.
Somewhat reminiscent of a certain European country back in 1935. The abused child grows up to an abuser. Surprise, surprise.
Mr Kotler, some of your camp are haters of all non haredi creatures, be they jewish or not. This is triggered by their being indoctinated in a falsified faith they consider: judaism. The result is their assaults on all ways of life, different than theirs which they perceive as a threat to their 'so called' neshomos, rather than daring to utilise their own brains (one wonders - is their any?) to discern between good and their silly ways. (which they name 'daas theuyroh'). Rather than joining those they hate,avoid and disparage (to use their masses of flesh shaped as brains), they choose the easier way out. In short, the truth hurts. But...Alas, there is no brains! But why sideestep the issue? The issue here is a 'meen' of 'ota kat- jewish?' giving a bad name to all jews. What do u make of him? Mr Kotler!
Congratulations Forward! Another piece of anti-semitic propaganda! Just look at how gleeful all the virulent antisemites are in responding to this purported "expose". What does the Forward have against Chabad? The better question is what does the Forward have against Jews and Israel? (Just look at the Forward's "news stories", "columnists" and editorials - with "friends" like the Forward, who needs enemies?)
Characterizing Chabad Lubavitch as "fundamentalist" is absurd. Actually, they are apostates.
I live in Jerusalem. I have family members here in Israel who have becom members of Chabad. I know for a fact that prior to our February elections, Chabad in Israel directed their people to vote for our most right-wing party, HaIchud HaLeumi (the National Union.)They had not done this before. The reason they did it now: number 4 on the party list is Michael Ben-Ari, an avowed Kahanist. The party got four seats in the election. So now, for the first time in about 25 years, an open supporter of Meir Kahane is sitting in the Knesset, thanks in part to aupport from Chabad. I feel it is a disgrace.
A perfect example: The Forward's despicable "Editorial" about "natural growth" in the Jewish Israeli "settlements". Siding with the most anti-Israel president since Israel's founding, the Forward attacks the government of Israel, chosen and supported by the people of Israel, on a subject involving the security and borders of the Jewish State of Israel.
The Forward's editors, using arab and far-left anti-Israel code-words, "occupied territories", as opposed to "disputed territories", use their Editorial space to try to convince you, the Jews of America, to betray your support of Israel in its sovereign decision to allow Jews to reproduce! The absurd argument that Israelis have no right to add homes, schools and synagogues, in their communities, when they are infringing on no one else's land?
By the way, where is the Forward's outrage about arabs colonizing portions of Jerusalem, squatting in other people's property, refusing to leave when ordered by the legal authorities, and garnering support for their unlawful conduct by appealing the antisemitic media and NGO's? Where is the Forward's outrage about the arabs multiplying like crazy and building illegal housing in Israel? (To say nothing of the Forward's luke-warm criticism of the terrorist arabs having raised three generations of the worst antisemites since the effort was first made in the Nazi youth camps.)
The Forward's editorials are an obscenity. They serve as enemy propaganda, and a fifth column within the Jewish community. A Jewish publication should be editorializing about the existential risk to the Jewish people posed by a nuclear Iran. It should be screaming about the betrayal of American Jews and Israel by the most anti-Israel president and administration since the birth of the Jewish State of Israel. It should be urging Jews to write their representatives and demand that our government not abandon Israel, and not attempt to impose the president's personal preferences on when and where Israel's final national boundaries will be finalized, and to stop trying to bully Israel and extort it to jeopardize its security.
The Forward should be loudly proclaiming that the Jews of America have disastrously joined in electing a president who is intent on destroying America's long-standing support and alliance with Israel - that they should recognize the enormity of their error. That they should put aside all petty parochial politics, and stand as one against the broad-based attack by the Obama administration on Israel. They should be exhorted to lend their voices, money and votes to preventing this slow-motion train wreck.
Now is a moment in history where the Jews of America need to stop all the petty lefty attacks on Israel, and stop hiding reality. The reality is that the Jews are in grave jeopardy. The real issue is the physical security of Israel posed by Iran. The real issue is attacks on Israel by the Obama administration.
Is it simply cowardice which prevents the Forward from being a real voice for American Jews, or something more sinister?
This is called Hypocrisy:
Friedman argued that he is different from Arab terrorists who have used similar language about killing Jewish civilians.
“When they say it, it’s genocide, not self-defense,” Friedman said. “With them, it’s a religious belief — they need to rid the area of us. We’re not saying that.”
And this is just plain projection:
Friedman’s use of phrasing that might seem more familiar coming from an Islamic extremist
“When they say it, it’s genocide, not self-defense,” Friedman said. “With them, it’s a religious belief — they need to rid the area of us. We’re not saying that.”
Its the Arabs who are 'defending' their homeland and the Rabbi is the one quoting the Torah to justify killing children - and then saying that "with 'them' its a religious belief'. So what is the Torah if not a religious book?
I'm not at all surprised by the spiteful statements of the "true believers" here. It reminds me of John Sack's book "An Eye For An Eye". To think that rabbi Manis Friedman and his followers have a superior morality and are somehow privileged to act out or condone a Palestinian genocide is pure evilness.
There was an experiment done years ago in which a pair of mice were caged in a perfect breeding environment with plenty of food and water. After generations of breeding the cage was so full of mice that life was unsustainable. Mice were at war with each other in their hopeless attempts to survive. In the end they wiped themselves out. No doubt rabbi Friedman has this in mind when he talks about wiping out the Palestinians.
Unfortunately the Rabbi's comments are all to common amongst the Chabad talmudist crowd. Their sages have penned some of the most vile concepts as to how the "chosen ones" should view their relationship with the rest of humanity they call the "goyim". It amazes me how they can read "hatred" into all the holy books of all religious groups while keeping their hatred of all others so well concealed. You can criticize and slander Islamists, Christians, Buddists, etc. and it's all fair game, there is no retribution, but try to even disagree with the policies of the "chosen"(a title they have anointed themselves with and the goyim accept) and you will be tainted with the scarlet letter of "anti-semitism" forever and always. When will the world wake up and realize the Emporer is not wearing any clothes and there is no Oz behind the curtain.
In the 64 years since Hiroshima and Nagasaki "mutual assured destruction" has deterred warfare between the major powers.
We need to remember that Rabbi Friedman seeks peace, not war. All Israel asks is to live free of violence in a world that recognizes its right to exist. He does not seek the oil of Israel's neighbors or to impose Judaism on others. Is he really so wrong, unrealistic or cruel -- or is he simply concerned about a people that has suffered immensely and uniquely for too long?
i'm back
"Friedman told the Forward that the line about killing women and children should have been in quotes; he said it is a line from the Torah, though he declined to specify from which part. "
What deceit: it is from the Torah's condemnation of Amalek and call for Amalek's complete extermination.
Yes, in analogizing the Arabs to Amalek Friedman implicitly calls for the genocide of the Arabs and the perpetrating of a Holocaust against them.
But, then, why not? After all, the TANYA - Chabad's major theological text- says that Gentiles have the souls of animals, thereby rendering them sub-human.
And we have seen such before: this dismissive attitude toward Gentiles as inferior lay behind the Chabad-affiliated Rubashkins' (Postville, Agriprocessors) shabby treatment of their (non-Jewish) employees! Alas, the 'dark side' of CHABAD is its true face. They are the Jewish equivalent of white supremicists.
Isn't this the group that wants to introduce the "Noahide Laws" for the whole world? They were virtually endorsed by the First President Bush. "Noahide" Laws, extremely "fundamentalist," are supposedly pre-Moses and have the death penalty for almost everything. According to an internet source I read, they are even more barbaric than the laws found in Exodus 21 and 22.
Much of what had been written in torah was wishful thinking. Many, too many descriptions in torah, cannot ever be evaluated as [non[factual.
it is certain that it had been written, edited, and reedited by extremely demented people.
what we know with absolute certainty is that it is a wish hebrews be chosen. it may be that even amelekites had not been totally extirpated let alone other canaanites which seemed far more advanced in weaponry as well than the herdsmen.
we can be sure that judaism with just 5to10mn members cannot forever dictate to or threaten/call names/hate the 6 to 7 bn people. it will end. it is up to enlightened 'jews' to severely condemn their own mad priests. tnx bozhidar balkas vancouver
In an essay on th Chabad web site, Manis Freedman wrote: " G-d created grass, trees, stones, water, animals, humans, and Jews. A Jew is a unique creation, so the soul of a Jew is inherently and basically different than the soul of a non-Jew. The Kabbalah says that all things were created by what the Torah refers to as G-d's speech. G-d said, "Let there be light," and there was light, etc. All creation came about through G-d's speech, except the Jew. The Zohar says that the soul of the Jew was created by G-d's thought -- thought rather than speech. Speech is something you can do or not do. "There is a time to speak and a time to refrain from speaking." Thought, on the other hand, is not something one can discontinue; thought goes on constantly. That which is created by speech is finite because there was a time when G-d had not yet said "Let there be light," so before He said it light did not exist and after He said it, it did. So the world once was not, and now it is, and therefore it's finite and limited. But the statement that the soul of a Jew comes from G-d's "thought" means that the soul of a Jew is not something that comes from an external expression such as speech, but rather from an internal, personal, intimate place similar to thought. Therefore the soul of a Jew is "a part of G-d" (as the Tanya puts it) and not a "creation" at all. The essence of a Jew, that which makes him Jewish, is his soul, and his soul is not a creation. The soul of the Jew is an eternal, infinite part of the eternal, infinite G-d; the Jew is a piece of G-d. Whoever has this soul is Jewish. Whoever doesn't have this soul is not Jewish, but rather is a human being created by G-d, created in the six days of creation through G-d's speech." Maybe this helps explain his attitude, as a semi-divine being....
In the above essay Friedman also said: "When a Jew gives tzedakah, he's basically a Divine being accepting human obligations; he is basically humbling himself, lowering himself into the worldly human condition. When a non-Jew gives charity, he is basically a human being trying to elevate himself to something more Divine. So are the Jew and the non-Jew doing the same thing? Not at all. They're doing opposite things. The same act, but coming from opposite directions and accomplishing opposite results. " eeewww
to be brief. right on rabbi.
"...the daily murder and starvation of Palestinians..." -- Jeff Thu. Jun 4, 2009
Oh, they "suffered" so during "Cast Lead," ...NOT! http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2009/03/video-daily-life-in-gaza-looks-like.html
But, to be honest, there is suffering in Gaza. BUT IT IS AT THE HANDS OF THE ARAB'S LEADERS! http://israelmatzav.blogspot.com/2008/12/so-this-is-why-gazans-are-starving.html
And that pond scum is criticizing the Rabbi, when all he is saying is to do what any other sane nation does... http://www.nowpublic.com/world/international-law-and-civilian-casualties-report ...but which the world forbids us Jews.
I want to know how many freaks like jeff actually condemn the Arabs when they spew REAL hate. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPh-7eS72yk http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=45c_1231682078 (...crickets chirping...)
Why is anyone at all surprised? Lubavitch have always supported rejectionist positions. Who can forget the "Netanyahu is good for the Jews" campaign in the 1996 elections? The role that Lubavich play in Hebron is also corrosive to good relations between Jews and Arabs here and has been since long before the founding of the State of Israel, never mind the 6 day war.
What surprises me is the almost complete lack of any sort of theological debate in the Jewish world with a group who believe that the Messiah has come and will return again. Does this ring any historical bells with anyone with half a brain? Lubavich have been very successful empire building as no one in their right minds really wants to be a Rabbi in all sorts of remote communities and they do it for nothing. Their clever trick is to feed the Jews for free. Give us a decent meal, a discounted Rabbi and we will follow you anywhere. You will now find pictures of the Rebbe (icons?) all over the remote Jewish world, whether in Minnesota or in Bukhara, the guy with the square beard is on view with all the other "biggies".
The big black hat, long black coat, beard and Ashkenazi Yiddish pronunciation of mangled Hebrew allows them to look and sound the part of authentic Jews, but to anyone who knows a bit about our culture and history, their ignorance of things Jewish is in general astounding.
Avi from jerusalem made the most serious statement. It is unbelievable the number of educated Jews, sitting in classes given by Chabad so-called-rabbis, who make the most inappropriate and inaccurate statements, and no one challenges them. And no one goes home to a book, or a library, to explore what has been said.
UnBELIEVABLE!!!! I've seen this so many times.
Rabbi. Time for a shower. This way please
Jacob,
"Bottom line, you don't see Chabad, nor any Jews for that matter, blowing themselves up on buses and mosques, shooting missiles at civilian airplanes, randomly killing innocent people."
First of all, that's not entirely true (remember Baruch Goldstein's attack on a Hebron mosque in 1994, killing 29 people). Secondly, why would many Jews be doing those things now? People who are in power, who have countries of their own, generally don't behave that way because it would serve no purpose. But before Israel was created, the Irgun and others carried out a number of attacks on Arab civilians (placing bombs in civilian markets without warning, for example). Granted, this did not mean that there was something particularly flawed about Jews (Arabs in Palestine did similar things at the time as well) but it does put in doubt the idea that Jews "love life" (at least other people's lives) more than other groups.
I just cent a letter to chabad.org, requesting that the organization take disciplinary measures against Friedman: it is too serious, and monstrous, and dangerous for us all: we cannot stand silent, otherwise the world will stand silent when we are in trouble. We must demand of Friedman the same accountability that is required of anybody else in our society, especially of a public influential figure. I encourage all of you who share my concerns, to contact Chabad, ADL, and other Jewish organizations that have supported Friedman. And, if we can, we should spread the news here and abroad.
Rabbi Manis Friedman is a treasure of the Jewish community. It is unfortunate that those of you who do not know him were introduced to him in such negative circumstances, where his ideas on a complicated and sensitive subject were reduced to sound bites and published specifically to rile controversy. I can say with absolutely sincerity and certainty, as someone who has long followed his writings and his deeds, that Rabbi Friedman is utterly devoted to Jewish life, Jewish learning, and in the case of situations where Jewish life is at risk, to Jewish security. He has been an inspiration to many who have chosen to return to Yiddishkeit, and is the epitome of Tikkun Olam.
Speaking purely for myself, and not representing anyone else, I had some thoughts I wanted to communicate, regarding some of the important issues several commentators explored earlier.
Jewish exceptionalism is intrinsic to the Jewish faith. Just as other faiths believe themselves to be "chosen" or exceptional in some way or another - most Christians believe only they will be saved, most Muslims believe only Islam is the truth path to G-d - so, too, the Jewish people have a unique purpose in this world. Our mission is not to the exclusion of others, but a complement to their missions, for the benefit of all humanity.
Just as a right hand is not the left, so too is every nation endowed with a special purpose and the qualities necessary to achieve this purpose in the service of G-d. Does this make the right hand inferior to the left? Of course not, they merely have a different purpose. Imagine what kind of problems would arise if the right hand were pretending it is the left. More ludicrously, imagine if your foot thought it was your elbow, or your nose thought it was your ear. Just as the human body is composed of many specialized parts, each serving a critical role as part of the whole, so have the nations been created, each with a role in the service of G-d.
Adherence to the values of Humanism and Universalism is admirable and important to temper the negative qualities of men in the world. Our Jewish faith is not in conflict with the essence of these ideas, but enriches them with a deeper, fundamental meaning - that the world, and all of us in it, were created to serve G-d. We serve Him in different ways, by design, and we should embrace the diversity inherent in that design, not fight to force our right hand to behave as our left.
As Jews, we have a rich and treasured tradition that endows us with a unique mission, coupled with special responsibilities and obligations. We are a nation that merited to receive the Torah and its 613 commandments, not from a prophet or savior, not from a vision in a dream, but from the revealed and open hand of G-d at Mt. Sinai. It is on that mountain, and at its base, that millions of Jews simultaneously experienced the will and direction of our Creator - a massive revelation of spirituality that infused us with love and fear of G-d to this day.
This is a limited forum to engage each other in a heartfelt discussion, avoiding recriminations and senseless bickering. I have no doubt that the Rabbi, a true scholar and thinker, will explain himself in due course. I would encourage everyone reading this, Jews and non-Jews, to connect with Rabbi Manis Friedman's many excellent teachings, and discover together how we can infuse our world with greater spirituality, kindness and truth.
You can find more info at: http://www.rabbifriedman.org
Would we forgive a child for saying these things? Would we chalk it up to immaturity? There is no honor in bigotry.
I have known Chabad for over 50 years, since I was a teenager in Newark, New Jersey. I now live in Florida and attend a Chabad shul. I have known many Chabad rabbis and have heard Rabbi Friedman speak many times.
NEVER have I heard the suggestion that Arabs are inferior in any way or that their lives are not precious. I think the rabbi is being maligned unfairly. Yes, he made a bold statement. But he stated clearly his intention: don't allow terrorists to hide in mosques and behind children. This is the view of most conservative thinking people.
The rabbi is a kind man who had the guts to state the truth. We will have to fight such a war eventually. The same with the USA. Thanks to the radical left, we can only do so once we've taken a huge hit. We will have to wait until a few hundred thousand Americans are killed before we strike back appropriately.
Just another extremist hiding behind moderates and rhetoric who in a moment shows who he really is... I believe that God at a time of Gods choosing loosens the lips and the minds of these Wolves amongst the sheep so that we can see who they really are.... What we do after they expose themselves is left to us as Individuals and is withing the remit of Gods greatest gift to humanity INDIVIDUAL FREEWILL!
Remember Jerico, was this not a command from the Torah? I think the Rabbi is just giving referance to this. Those who say this is not in the Torah need to read it.
The rabbi is a kind man who had the guts to state the truth. We will have to fight such a war eventually. The same with the USA. Thanks to the radical left, we can only do so once we've taken a huge hit. We will have to wait until a few hundred thousand Americans are killed before we strike back appropriately.
Hey forward , leave the Rabbi alone . his name is not Rubashkin.
Southern James:
When the fourth most powerful military in the world (Israel) is being "attacked" by the military equivalent of bottle rockets, my sympathies are with the underdog (the Palestinians).
My Judaism is about compassion for the underdogs, not about murdering the locals."
Thank you, James, for summing up so concisely the thought process of the moronic liberal Jew: Might makes wrong.
CORRECTIOIN... In my last, "...people like 'james s..." should have been "...people like "Jeff s. & Southern James'..."
Orthodox Jews have been given a free pass from scrutiny of the Talmud,the most racist document ever written for fear of repraisal of rabid Zionists and having the label of anti-semitism tatooed on the foreheads(figuratively) of the critics. This attitude of killing the goyim,( non-jews) stealing from the goyim, etc. is written in their Talmudic Law. This Rabbi's views are not an aberation, they are his philosophy
You people are crazy
Mr. Popper, congratulations! You've been piublished in the Arab publication "Intifada"!! That must be a real point of pride for you!!!!
You swine. You feed the fuel of hatred for your own self-agrandizement.
You're a disgrace to the Jewish people.
The rabbi clarified his view point and you insist on furthering the ill-informed and missinformed hatred!!!
Shame on you and shame on the forward.
Yes Lebanese guy. I meet and see alot of them every day in my homeland Palestine. and ofcourse blood thirst soliders are the major to see beside the tribes of settler. as we living under their fire and orgnized terror, I kept thinking they are just greedy and led by their greedness. but at the end of the day being greedy for sure will count u as human. after reading all these lists of comments. i have to change my view. they are twisted blood thirst crazy. you honor them if been called animals
My God! & the jews cannot figure out why since the dawn of civilization they have been universally despised & loathed??, Their avarice, their absolute savagery, their insane moral depravity. How can ANY sane mind NOT despise these loathsome creatures?