Yosef: No future to Jewish spiritual life outside Israel

Haaretz ^ | May 06, 2004 | Amiram Barkat

[yonif]

Ping.

[Monty22]

In a sense he's right. But with the nuclear card in play by enemies of Israel, I'd hate to see such a total and complete easy small target to take out so much of the Jewish ethnicity.

[Atlantic Friend]

I'm quite the quintessential goy here, but can you help me understand what Sitruk said about "Jewish life in the Diaspora to remain independent" ? Does he mean that Jewish people in France, for example, must strive to keep their own religious identity ?

[greasepaint]

Could someone explain to my why Jewish folks who live in the US are not given West Bankian citizenship by
gov't in Jerusalem?

[Uncle Miltie]

The Reconstructionists rejection of G-d is full atheism.

[hoosierboy]

You dont have automatic citizenship, but if you move to israel you can apply for it and then get it. Also, you must sign up for the reserves. With the majority of leftist, communist, liberal jews in this country. If they were made citizens and given voting rights, Israel as we know it wouldn't exist. Its a good thing they aren't citizens, do you think barbara streisand would take the side of the Israelis or the pallies???

[TomSmedley]

I'm puzzled. Who are the Reconstructionists? And who is your God? The Trinity, the God of the Bible? Or an anti-christian secular socialist political entity "over there?"

[Uncle Miltie]

Who are the Reconstructionists? Leftist Jews who deny the divine inspiration of the Torah.

And who is your God? Hashem. The original monotheistic G-d of the Jews.

The Trinity, the God of the Bible? First five books, yup!

Or an anti-christian secular socialist political entity "over there?" I disagree with the anti-christian label of Israel. They are socialist. And the political entity is certainly not my god.

My turn. Are you a Buchannanite?

[SJackson]

I'm quite the quintessential goy here, but can you help me understand what Sitruk said about "Jewish life in the Diaspora to remain independent" ? Does he mean that Jewish people in France, for example, must strive to keep their own religious identity ?

The issue is the increased persecution of Jews in Europe, resulting in the inability to practice their faith. For example, in France it's recommended that Jews not dress in an identifiable way, not even to wear a Yarmulke.

Sitruk is saying it would be nice if Judiasm could continue to be practiced in France, rather than having the French Jewish community forced to either abandon their faith and move to Israel. Obviously the US would be the other option, but that's not relevant to their discussion.

It's not really an issue one would expect to be disputed in the 21st century, is it?

[SJackson]

If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.

[adam_az]

"In a sense he's right. But with the nuclear card in play by enemies of Israel, I'd hate to see such a total and complete easy small target to take out so much of the Jewish ethnicity."

Hey Monty, he's saying the sky is falling. I'm not shocked that you agree with him!

[Monty22]

Har har, another attack.. amusing.

[adam_az]

"It's not really an issue one would expect to be disputed in the 21st century, is it?"

Considering the 20th, I'm not too shocked.

[Alouette]

Yosef said that in his opinion, there is no future to Jewish spiritual life outside Israel.

The Rebbe oB"M encouraged Jews to practice Judaism wherever they are and sent shluchim (missionaries) to the far ends of the earth.

FRmail me to be added or removed from this Judaic/pro-Israel ping list.

WARNING: This is a high volume ping list

[thoughtomator]

The false assumption the Rabbi is making is that the current state of Israel is the same nation of Israel to which we will eventually all return to live. It is not. It is an abomination, and, in its current incarnation, little more than a tool to assist our enemies in eliminating us.

No thanks, Rabbi. Until the day of the Meschiach draws near, it is pure stupidity to turn Israel into a concentration camp so that our enemies can more easily kill us. And it is my firm belief that any suggestion that the Meschiach is coming soon, as in within the lifetime of anyone alive today, is pure hubris.

[WaterDragon]

This has been an ongoing argument among the Jews for a few centuries, hasn't it? That the State of Israel should not exist til the coming of the Messiah? At least, that's what is reported in Paul Johnson's "History of the Jews."

From my perspective, as a Christian, it seems to be wise for Israel to exist as a safe haven for Jews whenever antisemitism again goes on the rampage, as it is doing now in Europe and Muslim countries.

From Johnson's book I get the sense that the reason Jews have been target is because they won't 'assimilate' and give up their religious practices. Well, duh. America is hated for the same reason -- we aren't interested in submerging ourselves into whatever idiocy is going on in Europe!

[Zionist Conspirator]

I'm puzzled. Who are the Reconstructionists? And who is your God? The Trinity, the God of the Bible?

That joke's so old it isn't even funny.

Or an anti-christian secular socialist political entity "over there?"

You mean Spain, right?

[TomSmedley]

Who are the Reconstructionists? Leftist Jews who deny the divine inspiration of the Torah.

Ahh. Thanks. You answered my question. I've heard the term applied to certain Christians who view Torah as the only legitimate basis for a just civil order. Hence, my confusion when I heard of atheistic "Reconstructionists!"

No, I don't follow Brother Pat that closely.

[Nachum]

It's not really an issue one would expect to be disputed in the 21st century, is it?

It was inevitable. And much more is yet to come.