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To: College Repub
What specifically about what he says is untrue? Aren't you Jewish too? So what part of his speech do you say is incorrect from the perspective of the Torah?
8 posted on 01/20/2002 8:58:00 AM PST by Demidog
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To: Demidog
What specifically about what he says is untrue?

LOL.
You want to review the Torah? Why change the subject from the essence of the problem: ISLAM

Pick any positive statement about islam in this article, and historical facts and current behavior will prove the opposite.
Every single positive statement.

47 posted on 01/20/2002 10:31:39 AM PST by Publius6961
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To: Demidog
what part of his speech do you say is incorrect from the perspective of the Torah?

The man is entitled to his beliefs and from a religious perspective he stands on his ground. Zionism is a political movement and many deeply religious people avoid politics because it is a diversion from religious duties.

I'm not sure how much you understand his point, as it is grounded in particular interpretations of Jewish thought. Obviously he believes, as many Zionist Jews also believe, that peace in Jerusalem will come when Jews return to God and His commandments. I fail to see how Zionism and a return to God are mutually exclusive. In practice it is true that much of Israel is secular in nature. However, there is nothing inherent in Zionism that demands it remain so.

I would question the rabbi along these lines: Should the Jews return to God and His commandments within the framework of Zionism, or in spite of Zionism, in what way would Zionism negate this spiritual renewal in the eyes of God? I don't think he has any grounds to say that it would.

The rabbi believes that the Messiah will come when the Jews redeem themselves by returning to His word. Zionism does not necessarily preclude that eventuality. He appears to believe that Zionism stands in the way of this return, but I don't see that as so. It may be a convenient diversion from God for some, but it's a faulty argument to condemn Zionism as a result. Zionism did not turn people away from God, but it may have fulfilled in some people what was missing. His efforts would be better suited towards bringing Jews back to God than at dismantling the state of Israel. He will not achieve his goal by discrediting Zionism! That is where he is off base. His effort should be aimed at hastening the Messianic era, which can be attained only (from his perspective) by doing his utmost to bring the Jews back to God.

Finally, and in a different line of thought, there are also many Orthodox Zionists who differ in interpretation. The largest such movement that I know of are the Lubuvitchers who believe that the return of Jews to Israel and to God are the signs that the messiah is immenently arriving! May God hasten his arrival and bring peace on earth.

95 posted on 01/20/2002 11:49:15 AM PST by monkeyshine
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