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Do we need greater gun control?: Jewish texts support right to bear arms as ethical obligation
J Weekly - Covering the SF Jewish Bay Area ^ | January 10, 2013 | Robert D. Altabet

Posted on 01/10/2013 11:37:05 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet

The tragic Newtown shooting has led to renewed calls for gun control by Conservative and Reform Jewish leaders, who have highlighted this as a religious issue (“As Jews, we must act against gun violence — now,” op-ed, Dec. 21).

These emotional reactions are understandable, but their one-sided presentation of Jewish tradition fails to distinguish between the requirements of the real world and our hopes for the messianic age.

Jewish tradition speaks both to defense preparation and the need for_training and safety with the best tools available, firearms, which are susceptible to misuse in the wrong hands.

Exodus 13:10 tells us, “The Israelites were well armed when they left Egypt.” Speaking to this verse, Nachmanides says the right to arms is a characteristic of free men, and the Jewish nation “did not go out looking like fleeing slaves, but went out as an independent people that could be armed.”

The commentator Me’am Lo’ez ponders how the Egyptians “were able to gain control over the Israelites, since the Israelites were so numerous and powerful,” suggesting the use of subterfuge to take away the Israelites’ weapons.

Though that Midrash may not be historically true, it offers insight into the values of the Passover Haggadah’s authors, who could not understand how their forebears did not have weapons to defend against oppression. “This year we are slaves,” the Haggadah reads, and in the coming year we will be free men. In 1848, Rabbi Ehrenburg of Berlin published a Haggadah omitting that line, in the belief that German Jews had gained freedom and were no longer enslaved. With hindsight, we see his error.

Exodus 22:2 permits killing an intruder as a justifiable homicide, Rashi explains. Even when the thief has not shown deadly intent, one can assume such intent, since the thief is prepared to murder...

(Excerpt) Read more at jweekly.com ...


TOPICS: Current Events; Judaism; Moral Issues; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: banglist; guncontrol; secondamendment

1 posted on 01/10/2013 11:37:08 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

If you read 1 Samuel you will find that “gun control” is nothing new.

The Israelites could not sharpen their weapons or implements without the consent and oversight of the Philistines.


2 posted on 01/10/2013 11:49:41 PM PST by conserv8 (It's not the end, it's the beginning.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
"Gun Control" is a firm grip, steady breathing, accurate aim (developed by lots of practice), and a slow trigger pull.


The Swiss have got it CORRECT !
We need to learn from the Swiss and implement their "gun control measures" here in the United States right now, today!
The Swiss have got it CORRECT !
Remember: Read Second Amendment: It’s Not About Hunting, IT'S ABOUT TYRANNY .
3 posted on 01/11/2013 12:03:40 AM PST by Yosemitest (It's Simple ! Fight, ... or Die !)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

He has the wrong verse. It isn’t Exodus 13:10.

Exodus 13
18
But G-d led the people about, by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.


4 posted on 01/11/2013 12:22:11 AM PST by MestaMachine (Sometimes the smartest man in the room is standing in the midst of imbeciles.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

5 posted on 01/11/2013 12:39:01 AM PST by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Mater tua caligas exercitus gerit ;-{)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
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7 posted on 01/11/2013 5:13:06 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

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8 posted on 01/11/2013 5:13:28 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: dennisw; Cachelot; Nix 2; veronica; Catspaw; knighthawk; Alouette; Optimist; weikel; Lent; GregB; ..
Middle East and terrorism, occasional political and Jewish issues Ping List. High Volume

If you’d like to be on or off, please FR mail me.

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9 posted on 01/11/2013 5:14:26 AM PST by SJackson (The Pilgrims—Doing the jobs Native Americans wouldn’t do !)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I have been having a great deal of revelation about gun control and self defense.

I believe we are to both turn the other cheek and comfort our enemies, and also rise up when God builds His army. There is a time for both concepts.

The Lord, God, our Father is a movement of mercy and justice. The left has a social justice movement , and is trying to rob God of his plans to bring people into redemption in peaceful ways. But the ability to shake his kingdom, even violently, is always there.

The left , as usual, wants to control mercy and justice- away from God.

So- God tells us there is a time for everything under the sun, even war.

We, as faithful, are not to war until we are directed to do so. And then when we are fighting because we are seeking the kingdom, we are to protect ourselves and arm ourselves and be courageous.


10 posted on 01/11/2013 5:21:59 AM PST by Truth2012
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