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Posted on 01/27/2005 12:38:49 PM PST by Alouette
Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, former chief rabbi of Israel and leading halachic authority in the religious Zionist camp said this week that the tsunami that wracked South East Asia was retribution for supporting the disengagement plan.
In the latest edition of "Mayanei Hayeshua", a weekly Torah pamphlet distributed to thousands of synagogues throughout the country, Eliyahu was asked how we are to understand the tsunami.
Eliyahu answered, "The [Babylonian] Talmud [the tractate of Berachot] says that when God is angry at the nations of the world for not aiding Israel - they want to evacuate, to disengage, to interfere in our affairs, He claps his hands, causing an earthquake."
Some 280,000 died in the natural disaster according to the most recent death toll.
Eliyahu also expressed his support for those soldiers who decided to "hand over their guns to an officer and join settlers" against disengagement.
Rabbi Yehudah Gilad of the Religious Kibbutz Movement said Eliyahu's comment was "terrible and incomprehensible".
Gilad, who helped organize a meeting Wednesday of rabbis and religious army officer who oppose disobeying evacuation orders, added "I'm am not worthy of contradicting Rabbi Eliyahu. I'd like to think that he was misunderstood."
Gilad said that rabbis who anathematize disengagement leave no choice for their students but refusal.
"When disengagement is described in such monstrous terms the logical conclusion is unbridled opposition, which will inevitably lead to complete anarchy.
"We are racing toward the abyss - when we reach the brink it will be too late to pullback. "It already happened once," said Gilad, referring to the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
"We must try to stop before it's too late."
Sorry to say it, but the most esteemed former Chief Rabbi has lost his freakin mind.
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Wackos on both sides of the fense.
A schonde, a shlomozel..He is having an out of mind experience..
There is no side or faction that does not have its nut cases.
Christianity has its Pastor Fred Phelps; Judaism has its Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu; Islam has its . . . oh well, THAT list is too long for an FR post.
What a jackass.
Sorry to say it, but the most esteemed former Chief Rabbi has lost his freakin mind.
Um . . . Alouette, you know I love you, but aren't you misinterpreting the article?
As I understand it, Rabbi 'Eliyyahu is saying the tsunami was a punishment on the nations for opposing Israel and supporting the "peace" process. He goes on to praise Israeli soldiers who refuse orders to eject the "settlers."
I see nothing theologically objectionable in this opinion, or in the one that it was a punishment for tolerating male homosexuality.
"Well there you have it, folks. Zionists caused the tsunami.
Sorry to say it, but the most esteemed former Chief Rabbi has lost his freakin mind."That person do not know what that person talk I will write what you have had write good friend"Sorry to say it, but the most esteemed former Chief Rabbi has lost his freakin mind."Thank you
I do not know America good friend that is very strong what Rabbi talk very strong many persons do not life now I do not know Thank you
That is evident from Scripture.
On the other hand, it's quite objectionable that this putz would presume to speak for the almighty in the matter.
Um . . . the "no one speaks for G-d" argument can be taken to ridiculous lengths, to the point of claiming that Moses wrote the Torah or that all "organized religion" being an imposition by men. G-d does have spokesmen. The trick is finding out who they are.
this guy has had some bizarre rants in the past
Well, what's your trick for figuring out who does and who does not speak for God? You seem to have it all figured out. C'mon, we're all freepers here, you can tell us.
Do you also have issues with the Pope?
Find the True Religion and its authentic leaders.
And please, before making some crack about how this is "impossible," read this.
The Rabbi has always been "over the top" with his words. I don't think I would call him insane though. There are some other Rabbi's who attribute the tsunami to prophetic events.
The significance of the tsunami is real. The message from the Master of the Universe is that we must all come together and work things out. We are all god's children. The Holy Land must be a source of guidance and leadership for the world, not a place of continued enmity and chaos. People find sanctuary in good leadership. Unfortunately many of the worlds "leaders" are failing in their job.
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