Today's post will not be posted here. They will be posted only at the original Emes Ve-Emunah and on substack. As will all future posts. Comments to today's post and all future posts can be made there. You have to subscribe but it's free.
Thanks to all of my readers for your patience as I try to navigate my way through this new forum. Which as of now is free.
 |
| Four rabbis that support Mamdani (Israel Hayom) |
This should not be happening in a city whose Jewish population is the largest of any city in the world. Because of that, candidates for mayor in the past were uniformly pro-Israel. But not this time. Zohran Mamdani, a little-known New York Assemblyman who was given little chance to win the Democratic primary, won big!
And now, according to most polls, he has a double-digit lead over his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo — who, although a strong supporter of Israel throughout his political career, ran afoul of the Orthodox Jewish community because of some heavy-handed tactics during the Covid pandemic. That, along with accusations of sexual misconduct (which forced him to resign as governor), would have prevented any chance he might have had to become mayor.
Having lost to Mamdani in the primary, Cuomo is now running as an independent in today’s general election. Although both candidates have been polling below 50%, if Republican Curtis Sliwa had suspended his campaign, there is little doubt that the majority of his voters would have gone to Cuomo.
That being the case, the Jewish community has not given up. Over 1,100 heterodox rabbis have signed a letter urging Jews to vote against Mamdani. Agudah and other Orthodox Jewish institutions and rabbis have been urging their people to do the same. Most recently, YU’s Rav Hershel Schachter penned a letter urging all Yeshiva University students to vote today, even if it means missing significant parts of their seder (one of their daily Torah learning sessions in the Beis Medrash).
I absolutely agree with the urgency of voting in this election. The issues at stake for the Jewish people have never been greater. So even if the odds are stacked against defeating Mamdani today, that doesn’t mean the Jewish voting public should not do their utmost to try. That means going to the voting booth and casting your vote, no matter how difficult it may be — or how futile the attempt might seem. As I have said multiple times: you never know.
What I have also said is that significant numbers of Jews actually support Mamdani. They are the ones who secured his nomination in the Democratic primary and plan to vote for him in the general. How many is that? A lot more than one might think. As noted by Rabbi Efrem Goldberg on the Aish website:
“Polls ranging from as high as 43% (and on the low end, 21%) show that Jewish voters in New York intend to vote for him. Prominent Jewish actors and media personalities have unabashedly endorsed Mamdani. This week, a campaign video produced in partnership with the organization Jews for Racial and Economic Justice was released, which includes four self-described rabbis expressing open support for Mamdani.”
A lot of Jews appear not to care about Mamdani’s views about Israel. Or worse, actually agree with him. What are those views? Rabbi Goldberg reminds us of the following:
“In the last week, more videos have emerged demonstrating New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s obsessive hatred of Israel. During a panel at the 2023 Democratic Socialists of America’s national convention, he said, ‘We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.’
Additionally, in an effort to blame the problems of his city on Israel, he said, ‘You have so many opportunities to make clear the ways in which that struggle over there (Israel) is tied to capitalist interests over here.’”
He has defended suicide bombers as soldiers, repeatedly refused to condemn the violent and threatening phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” falsely accused Israel of genocide, and announced he would attempt to have Prime Minister Netanyahu arrested as a war criminal if he came to New York. His hateful preoccupation with Israel has been well documented — and many Jews in New York are concerned they will be less safe if he wins.
And yet, with all that, as many as 43% of New York’s Jews plan to vote for him. Why? Because, as I have said — and as Rabbi Goldberg also notes:
“In the best-case scenario, these Jewish poll responders, celebrities, and rabbis seem to be putting their liberalism and progressivism ahead of their Jewish identity and loyalty to Israel. They are prioritizing being part of a socialist movement over the safety and preservation of their own families and their people. In the worst-case scenario, they are not making a choice between two things (progressive politics and Jewish identity) they embrace, rather they are substituting one for the other — rejecting their Jewish identities. Either way, it is deeply troubling.”
Sadly, I agree with Rabbi Goldberg. But then he makes an astonishing suggestion about how we should think about these Jews. Strangely enough, I agree with him. Without using the halachic appellation of Tinok Shenishba (which in our day applies mostly to Jews raised without the slightest idea of what it really means to be Jewish), he says that we must love them as brothers, no matter how misguided their views are.
As I said, although I agree with him in theory, the idea of loving a Jew who runs away from their Judaism or replaces it with progressive socialist values is difficult, if not impossible, to do. The easiest thing to do is to ignore them and lament their eventual demise as Jews — as over 70% of them continue to intermarry.
Ignoring them may be the easiest thing to do, but it is not the right thing to do. These progressive Jews, celebrities, and self-styled rabbis are indeed our brothers. We are required by halacha to be responsible for their welfare — both physically and spiritually.
The question is, how? I don’t know how it is even possible to talk to people whose progressive values supersede, by far, the values of the Torah. Even if they knew what those values were, they would surely reject them out of hand as anathema to their worldview. I can’t begin to understand how you can reach out to someone whose progressive values are so deeply ingrained into their psyche. Which they adhere to with near-religious fervor.
So yes, we must never give up on the near-impossible task of showing them the light. How we climb that steep hill is something I cannot begin to fathom. Reaching out to the majority of secular Jews who understand the dangers of a Mamdani mayoralty is one thing. I wholeheartedly support that.
But even though it isn’t their fault, how can you relate to Jews who believe with complete faith that Mamdani’s views about Israel are the right ones - and who, in most cases, probably consider Judaism completely irrelevant to their lives?
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free
 |
| Tucker Carlson |
The dangers of Mamdani are fairly obvious. He inspires virulent hatred of Israel and thereby, by association, hatred of the Jewish people. Most Americans believe that if you are Jewish, you support Israel. - even though there is plenty of evidence lately that many Jews no longer do. They have been led to believe that Israel has been committing genocide against the Palestinian people through its tactics in Gaza.
They blame Israel’s leadership for that, and thereby Israel itself, seeing what was once a socially conscientious nation as having slid down the rabbit hole of the extremist right. Although this is patently untrue, it would be nearly impossible to convince these Jews otherwise.
Be that as it may, Mamdani’s views about Israel are clear. He has openly stated more than once that he does not believe Israel has the right to exist as a Jewish state. He has spent most of his adult life making that view well known. It is a view shared by Hamas, which Mamdani has refused to condemn. The only difference between Hamas and Mamdani is that Hamas actually tried to act on that belief on October 7, 2023. But short of that, Mamdani has supported and even attended many Palestinian protests that called for the destruction of Israel and restoring the land to its ‘rightful’ owners - the Palestinian people.
Not that he can implement his views as mayor of New York. But he can - and will - set a tone that encourages increased protests against the Jewish state, which will no doubt lead to increased violence against the Jewish people of New York. The victims will most likely be those of us who are most visibly Jewish, living in large Jewish neighborhoods. That is where the danger of a Mamdani administration lies: the anti-Jewish violence he will surely inspire, even if unintentionally.
That said, I do believe he will be vigilant to assure that such violence doesn’t happen. And that if it does, he will act quickly to stop it. He surely does not want to be accused of looking the other way when Jews are hurt. Nonetheless, that danger exists, and he will have to be vigilant if he wants to avoid validating accusations of antisemitism.
So, as dangerous as Mamdani is, at least he is clear about his views. And most Jewish clergy across all denominations know it.
Carlson, however, is a far more dangerous enemy. First, because he has built up a following of millions of people based on his conservative politics. He is an icon of the right and a leader of public opinion in conservative circles. He is charismatic and articulate. Until recently was not seen as any kind of antisemite. After he was fired from Fox, he started his own podcast, which now boasts over a million devoted followers. No longer constrained by Fox’s standards, his antisemitism has become increasingly exposed.
Carlson is very clever about it. Denying he’s an antisemite but is openly hostile to Israel. Couching his hostility in terms of his Christian faith. Thankfully, some Christian clergy have called him out for that. But couching it in his Christian faith is exactly how white supremacists frame their antisemitism.
Some of what Carlson says about Israel mirrors what far-right white supremacists and other fringe right-wing antisemites have been saying for many decades. For example - that Israel has infiltrated the U.S. government and now runs the show. Some of his rhetoric even mimics what the anti-Israel left says. As far apart as these two camps are politically, antisemitism is the one thing they have in common.
Carlson’s followers have followed him down that same rabbit hole. Where they once supported Israel, Carlson has disabused them of that support.
I do not believe that most mainstream conservative Republicans agree with him. However, the fact that over a million people do is nothing to sneeze at. Add to that Carlson’s relationship with the president’s son, the vice president, and the recent defense he received from Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts—for hosting avowed antisemite Nick Fuentes on his podcast - and that makes for an unprecedented and dangerous influence on political discours in this country.
Roberts has since made clear that he rejects Fuentes’ antisemitism in totality and reaffirmed his organization’s determination to fight it. But I suspect Roberts still has a warm spot for his old conservative colleague even if he disagrees with him.
So yes. We are getting it from both sides: from the left and from the right. But the right is more dangerous, because I believe that conservative values are more mainstream.
This could turn back the clock to a time when Jews were persecuted simply for being Jews and marginalized as second class citizens by a dominant Christian culture.
I don’t think we are anywhere near that now. We still have many friends in high places who defend us and consider us equal citizens. But the Carlsons of the world are trying to change that, and they have made some inroads.
 |
| Nick Fuentes and Tucker Carlson (TOI) |
An American who now resides in Israel - where religious politics often define who you are, Friedman does not seem to bend to the political winds of the world she inhabits. Friedman is sharp, articulate, concise, and gets right to the heart of the matter very quickly. That is my impression after reading her columns which I rarely miss, and with which I rarely disagree.
This week she struck a particular chord with me. And, as usual, I agree with her. Remarking on the recent discovery of extremely antisemitic rhetoric by young Republicans, here is what she said:
I noticed a disturbing story in the news. Politico had obtained and published a private Telegram chat. Its members were young Republicans — aspiring future leaders and politicians — and their conversation was a noxious brew of racial slurs, violent language, and Nazi references.
When one member promised that the group would vote for the most right-wing person to lead the organization, a member responded, “Great. I love Hitler.” The response: a smiley face.
Friedman goes on to wonder if this is some sort of trend of the right or just a bunch of young Republicans saying stupid things online they don’t really mean. Either way they paid a price for it.
But then says some of the very same things I have said. That although in the past antisemitism was mostly found on the fringes of society, those fringes were on the right. The KKK, neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and the like were found solely on the extremist fringes of right-wing politics. There was nothing comparable on the left.
But as Friedman also notes, the antisemitic fringes of the right have been marginalized to the point that few of us felt threatened by them. The American body politic had largely rejected their version of right-wing politics.
Now, the greater danger comes from the left. The left actually inspires real fear among Jews living in areas where it now dominates public discourse. Here is how Friedman puts it:
We didn’t view those radical fringes as immediate and as dangerous as the radical leftist sentiment that swept toward the moderate mainstream, bringing havoc to cities and hatred to campuses as it muzzled intellectual discourse, educators and thinkers, and even individual liberties.
That being said, it seems that antisemitism on the right is no longer as unacceptable as it was just a couple of years ago. Now there are voices on the right that are far more mainstream than your typical white supremacist. As Friedman further notes:
Now the voices on the radical right — Fuentes, Owens, Carlson, among others — have been getting louder. The voices on that leaked chat are nowhere near as resonant, but they serve as a troubling harmony to those influential choruses. Extremes always exist and are never a healthy place for us. The question is whether their influence remains limited to the fringes. On ideological, social, religious, and political issues, we’ve seen the radical ideas of the Left influence, tilt, and sometimes even overtake, the views of the moderate faction. Are we seeing the same trend take root on the other side? Are those young Republicans the future of the party? Are their violent pro-Nazi statements a harbinger of more hate to come?
I would add Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene to the list of radical voices on the right. Friedman’s concern should not go unnoticed. It’s one thing when fringe groups like white supremacists spew antisemitic hatred. But when mainstream figures with millions of devoted followers start making antisemitic noises… when a powerful right-wing member of Congress starts doing the same… it ought to make our ears perk up and pay attention.
We cannot afford to be complacent and focus only on the left just because the right had been relegated to the fringes. Because now, antisemitism is being echoed by some on the mainstream right. We need to be concerned and do whatever we can to fight this trend.
That being said, I do not see the Carlsons and Taylor Greenes of the world having much influence on the vast majority of congress on both sides of the political aisle. And perhaps more importantly, on the attitude of the current administration. The president has proven its pro-Israel and pro-Jewish bona fides time and again. Both during his first term and his second. I say this knowing full well there have been instances some point to where the president seemed to ‘dog whistle’ to the fringes on the right or otherwise appear less than favorable to Israel or the Jewish people.
But one has to look at the big picture. Not isolated incidents open to interpretation. If one does that, one can see a lifetime of support for the Jewish state that existed long before he ever thought about running for president.
This is what I look at. Some remain cynical about his support and say that he is neither pro-Israel nor pro-Jewish—that he is only pro-Trump and will abandon both Israel and the Jewish people if he sees profit in doing so.
I don’t think so. Abandoning the Jewish people would mean abandoning his own daughter, and I don’t believe he would sell her out for some ulterior motive.
I also do not see the American people abandoning Israel or turning on their fellow Jewish citizens. The decline in support for Israel is a direct function of media bias in reporting Israel’s conduct in the Gaza war. A media that sees Palestinians as the oppressed and Israelis as the oppressors will always slant its reportage in favor of the oppressed. Regardless of context or fault. The war in Gaza only magnified that perception.
But now that the war is over and Palestinians in Gaza begin to restore their lives, my hope is that Israel will once again be seen as it once was. As an example of what a Jewish democracy can accomplish and contribute to the world.
And with that, opinions from the likes of Carlson and Taylor Greene will once again be relegated to the fringes of public opinion, and eventually to the trash heap of history where they belong.
What about the ascendancy of the left? If my hunch is right, if Mamdani is elected mayor of New York, he will prove to be a massive failure and will be replaced in the next election by a more mainstream, pro-Israel leader.
Bottom line for me - things may look bleak right now. But I am an optimist and don’t think they will stay that way.
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free
 |
| The Hashmonaim Brigades (TOI) |
To be clear, these leaders would never claim to speak for God, nor are they so arrogant as to believe that literally. But they do believe they are somehow channeling His will in drawing on a lifetime of Torah study and communal leadership. They are not infallible — and would be the first to say so. And yet their policies toward the State of Israel are shaped by a long-standing belief that the government acts with hostility toward Torah Judaism.
That suspicion may have had some justification decades ago. But even then, any anti-religious intent was far from universal among Israel’s political leadership. Nevertheless, once early policies produced what they perceived as intolerable religious results, the Charedi worldview hardened. Ever since, many of their leaders have viewed anything the government does as malicious.
This mindset filters down to the rank and file. Ordinary Charedim, who are by definition Chareid L’Dvar HaShem - trembling at the possibility of transgressing God’s will - naturally defer to their rabbinic authorities. They have been taught that to question these leaders is to risk violating God’s word itself. Thus, their opposition to army service stems not from selfishness or indifference, but from a deeply ingrained Emunas Chachamim — faith that their sages know best.
Without such direction, I believe most Charedim would not instinctively oppose military service. Deep down, I think many understand the sacrifices soldiers make: that many are observant Jews; that families endure pain, fear, and loss; and that religious Zionist rabbis consider IDF service a religious obligation. They know of the Hesder yeshivot where Torah study and service are combined. And I suspect that in their heart of hearts, many Charedim realize they are not doing their part.
Still, cultural pressure is immense. A Charedi man raised to distrust the state faces enormous personal conflict in enlisting. Even joining the new Charedi units - such as the Hashmonaim Brigade - is condemned by much of the leadership. Those who enlist do so at great personal sacrifice. They are quite literally, heroes.
Professor Adam Ferziger captured this tension perfectly in a powerful observation he made at the Kotel:
“Before me stood a contingent of IDF soldiers — bearded, many with peyot — inductees into the new Hashmonaim Brigade. Families with black hats and long skirts watched proudly. Yet just steps away, a much larger group of black-clad young men prayed loudly in protest against the draft. Amid the fervor, I saw heads turn toward the soldiers — a flicker of curiosity, perhaps even admiration, crossing their faces.”
That scene, Ferziger wrote, ‘captures Israel’s national dilemma’. Indeed, the ongoing war and the enormous sacrifices of Israeli soldiers have only deepened resentment toward the Charedi sector. But it is precisely here, in the example of the Hashmonaim Brigade, that a potential bridge exists.
These young men deserve our admiration. They have not only risked life and limb like every other soldier — they have also defied powerful cultural and social pressures within their own community. They serve the Jewish people with devotion while maintaining their faith and standards.
Professor Ferziger himself approached the soldiers and said simply, 'Tizke le-mitzvot - May you continue to merit God’s commands'. That gesture captured the spirit of what our nation needs.
He added that these soldiers are heroes — not despite their Charedi identity, but because of the immense inner struggle they have overcome to affirm it alongside their service.
If there can be a grass roots effort that can begin to heal the bitter rift between Jew and Jew, this might just be it.
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free.
 |
| The million man rally in Jerusalem (YWN) |
One may wonder how this squares with my oft-mentioned complaint that Charedim need to serve in the military. Well, the two are not mutually exclusive. One can both learn Torah diligently and serve as well as prepare to serve when the time comes (such as in war).
This is, in fact, what a Hesder Yeshiva does. But I am not opposed to the idea that there should be yeshivas where full-time Torah study exempts one from the military. This too is in line with what the Charedi world seeks.
The big difference between us is the extent to which exemptions like that should be given. In my view, they should only be given to those who have the potential for greatness in Torah study. Those with the potential to guide others in advanced learning. Or who have the ability to rule on complex halachic issues. Or to lead the Jewish people in other ways.
What that number should be is something I am not qualified to determine. All I am saying is that there should be exemptions in some cases. The rest should be subject to army service, like everyone else. To the extent that there may be religious issues that might be impediments, they can and should be worked out between Charedi rabbinic leaders and military leaders who can come to a solution where the needs of both sides are met.
The Charedi leadership completely rejects that idea. They are opposed to any of their people serving in the army. First, they fear that serving in a secular army will dilute their religious observance - if not entirely disabuse them of it. And secondly, they believe that Torah study should be full time for every last one of them for as long as possible. Subjecting Charedim to the draft will destroy that paradigm.
So opposed are they that they are going to great lengths to fighting it. And have told their students to ignore draft notices — even if it means being arrested and jailed, as some have been.
Government funding for yeshivas that don’t comply has been cut off.
These leaders are now apoplectic about their situation and have called for a prayer rally. Which is happening today. They are characterizing their dilemma as an extreme attack against the Torah world by the Zionist government.
They consider themselves to be the ones that are suffering. As though what the rest of the country has gone through (and to some extent - still going through) does not exist. There is not a word about what the hostages and their families have gone through (and are still going through), Not a word about the many IDF soldiers that have given their lives in battle for the Jewish people. Not a word about those who have sustained permanent injuries. Or what their families have gone through. Not a word about the disruption to family life that so many in Israel have gone through; the disruption to their livelihoods, Not a word about the sleepless nights by mothers worrying about ever seeing their sons whole again, if at all!
These things were not worthy of a million man prayer rally. Not even a hundred man prayer rally. At best, a couple of verses of Tehilim were quickly recited after every public prayer service and then everyone just went their way.
I understand how they feel about Torah study. And as I said, I even agree with them about its importance. What I vehemently disagree with is their unwillingness to compromise and and their hard core defiance. A defiance that has been accompanied by some very harsh rhetoric against the government and anyone that supports them.
What this shows is that they do not consider the rest of the Jewish world – even those of us that are fully observant – to be part of the Jewish nation. There is only one Jewish nation that matters. The Charedi Jewish nation. They are the ones that will perpetuate Judaism into the future. They practically do not acknowledge our existence!
Right now, they are in the middle of that ‘million-man prayer rally’. Hundreds of thousands of them have been gathering in Jerusalem for an all-day prayer session, closing off all access to and from the city. And if they don’t get their way now, they will take even stronger measures to protest the government. I read somewhere that they are talking about closing down the airport. And if that doesn’t work. What’s next?
I cannot understand why these leaders can’t find a way to compromise. It might be true that their last attempt at compromise failed. They blamed the government for that. But that shouldn’t mean the end of negotiations.
The truth is that the army needs people. And the largest pool of available people to fill that need are the ‘million’ people at the prayer rally.
And yet these leaders are so respected that no one dares challenge them. Other rabbinic leaders of a bit lesser stature just walk in lockstep with them. I suppose many (or even most) of them agree totally with these leaders. But it would not surprise me if there were a significant number of them who might actually disagree privately but fear the consequences of publicly challenging them.
Then there is the call by the American Agudah Moetzes to join their Israeli brethren in prayer characterizing the draft laws in the same evil terms that their Israeli counterparts do. But here too, I have to wonder if there is any private dissent among them? We will never know since they never discuss dissent when they declare their public policy decisions.
I believe these elderly Charedi leaders who have riled up their public are leading them into an impossible situation from which they may never recover. The increased anger and hatred this will surely generate will not go away any time soon.
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free.
This was said by a respected, mainstream Charedi Talmid Chacham and Posek of Anglo extraction about how he viewed his tenure in Israel. It was forwarded to me by a friend who had a discussion with him about the responsibility of Charedi Jews toward the larger Jewish society in Israel. The debate centered on the Charedi rejection of army service. This Posek seemed to feel that he had no obligation to a community he did not consider himself a part of.
He in fact believes that the proper approach for a Jew living in Israel is to completely cut themselves off from Israeli society, which he sees as having nothing to do with authentic Judaism. He takes the adage ‘A People Apart’ to a new level. Which means excluding even his own people. He would be quite content to never have any interaction with ‘Israelis’ and if he never saw another secular Israeli again in his life, that would be too soon for him.
I have no doubt that he believes with complete faith that this is what God wants. That we must separate ourselves from the non-Jewish ways of the secular world. And that isolation from them is the best way to do that,. Thereby staying in the “safe space” of the daled amos of Halacha. What goes on in the ‘outside world’ doesn’t concern him, and is a best a distraction. The ‘outside world’ has nothing to do with him — unless it somehow penetrates his ‘safe space’ and threatens to disrupt it. Then he becomes not only a Jew living in Israel, but a Jew on a warpath to fortify that ‘safe space’ and prevent the outside world from entering.
Zionism - even religious Zionism - lies outside his ‘safe space’ and must be fought with the same vigor as secular Zionism. ‘What’, he would ask, ‘do Charedim have to do with Zionism?’
All that being said, I am 100% certain that he is otherwise a decent, caring man who would give you the shirt off his back if he thought you needed it. He is not the confrontational type and would probably run away from conflict. And is surely a beloved figure in his community.
Therein lies the problem. Second tier leadership like his is the prototype of what is wrong with much of today’s Charedi world. This second-tier leader simply reflects what his superior, elderly rabbinic leaders believe which they consider Daas Torah. No matter how they might personally feel, they suppress those feelings in deference to what they perceive as the greater wisdom of those they consider greater than themselves.
As a beloved figure, his attitude is easily transmitted as the true Hashkafa of the Torah - to the exclusion of every other Hashkafa.
The result is disastrous for the Jewish people. (This Posek might call me an Apikores for saying something like that, but that doesn’t make it any less true.)
The very last thing God wants from His people is for any segment to cut themselves off from the rest. No matter how strongly they might disagree.
First of all, to cut oneself off from other religious Jews who have a different outlook on Zionism - one that has a strong basis in Halacha - is an exercise in Sinas Chinam. You can disagree. Even strongly. Even if that disagreement means protesting a government edict they support, you must still respect a view that is based on a Torah Hashkafa. The last thing one should do is to cut oneself from other religious Jews
But even cutting themselves off from secular Jews — whether Zionist or not — is wrong. Cutting oneself off from the rest of Jewry in order to insulate oneself from their way of life is precisely why the Tzadikim – the righteous men of the generation of the destruction of Beis HaMedrash were killed. They failed to reach out to the ‘secular’ Jews of their time to show them the right way to live as Jews. Instead, they looked inward and let the masses drift as they pleased. Even if they would not have succeeded, they were required to try!
In the case of this Posek, his attitude is one of the primary motivations for aredi opposition to the draft. They fear that the interaction will go the opposite way — that it will influence their people to become less observant, or not observant at all. What, they ask, do we have to do with them? Let them go their way, and we’ll stay in the safe space of our own daled amos.
He says he’s not Israeli?! He may not think so, but he is. He is every bit an Israeli as I am an American If he carries an Israeli passport, votes in Israeli elections, speaks mostly in Ivrit (Hebrew), belongs to Israel’s national health insurance program (Kupat Cholim), or in any way benefits from his status as an Israeli citizen then he an Israeli. Being Israeli or American does not preclude one from being a Jew in every sense of the word.
I’m sure what he meant to convey is that he does not participate in any of the culture associated with Israelis — which he considers anti-Torah. Well, no religious Jew would be involved with anti-Torah activity. But not everything Israeli - is anti-Torah. And not every Israeli is anti-religious.
In fact, the opposite is true. Most Israelis are traditional — meaning that even though they may not fully observe Halacha, they care enough about their Judaism to participate in many of its practices: keeping kosher, fasting on Yom Kippur, refraining from chametz on Pesach, and so on. They may not know the details of Halacha and may err in their observance, but the point is that they are anything but anti-religious.
What they have become, however, is anti-Charedi. Ever since the war in Gaza called upon Israelis to participate in defending their country - Charedim have vehemently refused to do at any level (with some minuscule exceptions). Resentment has grown. What was once tolerance for the Charedi way of life has turned into unprecedented hostility among increasing numbers of secular and even some religious Zionist Jews.
This Posek’s attitude explains why, and it only serves to exacerbate that divide even further. As will the following – as reported in the Times of Israel:
A planned massive “million man” Haredi prayer rally against IDF conscription slated for Thursday is expected to block the main entrance to Jerusalem for hours and cause major congestion in the capital, police say.
Making matters worse is another - related incident that happened:
Several ultra-Orthodox men twice interrupt proceedings at the High Court of Justice dealing with military conscription enforcement for their community, shouting in the courtroom against the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox yeshivas students.
At least two of the protesters shout “We’d rather die than enlist,” a common ultra-Orthodox anti-enlistment slogan, before being ejected from the courtroom by court security guards who handcuff at least one of the men.
So instead of showing secular and religious Zionist Jews the ‘pleasant ways of the Torah’, they are showing everyone how self-centered they are and how little they seem to care for anyone else. Even as the sacrifices made by so many IDF soldiers have ended in tragedy for themselves and their families!
As much as I might otherwise tolerate the views of someone I so profoundly disagree with, an attitude like his - achieves the opposite for me. Even though it is based on his sincere belief that this is what God wants - it makes me intolerant.
I can’t help but worry that attitudes like his - rooted in the teachings of his mentors - will lead to the destruction of us all.
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free.
 |
| Cuomo, Mamdani, and Sliwa (Newsday) |
What makes me even more depressed is that Jews may be one of the key factors in getting him elected. I never realized there were more than just a few Jews whose politics reflected strong socialist values. I had always thought these extremist progressive Jews were on the fringes of the Jewish body politic. I believed that most Jews were indeed liberal and voted Democratic, but were nevertheless very supportive of Israel. I think that is still true even though that support has waned somewhat, for reasons beyond the scope of this post.
What I didn’t realize is that there are enough Jews that are so progressive that they can swing an election in favor of someone who believes that Israel is an apartheid state that oppresses indigenous Palestinians with a brutal occupation, and that it should be boycotted if not dismantled entirely as a Jewish state. Although they are still in the minority, they are growing in number and are increasingly found among younger Jews whose connection to Judaism is, at best, tenuous.
These progressive young Jews have joined their non-Jewish progressive counterparts in supporting a candidate who shares their values. A candidate enthusiastically endorsed by perhaps the most famous Jewish socialist in the US, Bernie Sanders.
What these people are voting for are Mamdani’s socialist promises of better economic times once his progressive policies are implemented. After all, who doesn’t like total rent control, free transportation, and government-subsidized grocery stores? All of which promise to save voters tons of money in their everyday lives. It’s therefore not surprising that even some mainstream Democrats might vote for someone making promises like that.
Honestly, it’s hard to argue with Mamdani’s promises. Why vote for a status quo that has failed you? Give someone with fresh ideas a chance to show he can change things for the better – as promised.
This is what’s going to get Mamdani elected. His being so anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian is not really on the radar of the typical New York voter — unless they are Jewish or Muslim.
I’m not going to go into why this type of thinking is a big mistake — other than to say there is no such thing as a free lunch! And that socialism has failed every time it has been tried.
Aside from Mamdani’s policies being doomed to failure, the biggest concern for mainstream New York Jewish voters is his anti-Israel stance and rhetoric. Although his policies will not directly affect Israel - other than perhaps divesting any municipal funds currently invested in the Jewish state - the very idea of arresting the Prime Minister of Israel is an image I never thought I’d see in a city with the largest Jewish population in the world. Calling Israel’s war against Hamas genocide - and blaming him entirely for all Palestinian deaths in Gaza without the slightest reference to Hamas’s part in that is yet another thing I never thought I would see from the mayor of New York.
His anti-Israel rhetoric will surely increase anti-Zionist activism. Which he will surely support if not join personally. Resultant antisemitic violence that might ensue might be opposed by Mamdani and he will not tolerate it. But it will surely be his own rhetoric that will be responsible for inflaming it in the first place.
This is why so many rabbinic leaders across denominations have urged their members to vote against Mamdani in the upcoming election. As of the last count, over 1,000 heterodox rabbis as well as virtually all mainstream Orthodox rabbis and organizations have signed on to that message.
Some might say it’s a waste of time when the polls show what seems like an insurmountable lead for Mamdani. But as I’ve said, that does not free the Jewish voter in New York from doing their civic duty. Besides, polls have been wrong before. Even lopsided ones like his. You never know.
As it turns out, Mamdani’s ‘insurmountable’ lead is shrinking. Although he still leads Cuomo by a substantial margin, Mamdani is not projected to get a majority of the vote. That’s because of a third candidate — Republican Curtis Sliwa will get a small percentage of the vote. Which might otherwise go to Cuomo. If Sliwa were to drop out of the race, it might become competitive.
I believe the entire mainstream Jewish establishment — from Orthodox to Reform — would agree that Cuomo is far from ideal. Under normal circumstances, he would be getting very little, if any, support from any of these organizations or rabbis. But I think they all agree that Cuomo is by far the lesser of two evils. A city government led by a centrist Democrat would fare far better than one led by a socialist.
And perhaps most importantly for the mainstream Jewish community, Cuomo is not anti-Israel. He is a longtime supporter of the Jewish state. We will not be hearing talk about Israel as an apartheid state or accusations of genocide in Gaza. Nor would anyone be talking about arresting the Prime Minister of Israel.
It is late in the game. Early voting has already begun. The media is reporting the highest early voting turnout in New York history. The stakes are high. Many New Yorkers know that and are responding by voting early. The only question is: how are they voting? Is it a progressive surge or an anti-progressive backlash – a surge driven by fear a New York governed by socialism? It’s hard to know.
One thing seems clear: Sliwa is not backing out, even though he has no chance of winning. It’s also clear that people that will vote for Sliwa would never vote for Mamdan If Sliwa were out, they would likely switch their vote to Cuomo.
I strongly urge people who do not want to see a Mamdani mayoralty in New York not to help elect him by voting for Sliwa. Because every vote for Sliwa is, in effect, a vote for Mamdani. I urge every Sliwa supporter to switch their vote to Cuomo. If enough Sliwa voters do that; and if my hunch is right that most New Yorkers don’t want to see their city turn socialist; then the polls may be wrong and Cuomo might win.
If he does, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. If Mamdani wins, Jews may find themselves in a very precarious situation, as pro-Palestinian rallies will surely increase - rallies that will be heartily supported by the new mayor. And that is surely something not to look forward to.
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free.
 |
| Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef (TOI) |
It is therefore a mistake to denigrate or worse - humiliate - these great figures. Regardless of how much one disagrees with them. They did not become leaders by accident. They became leaders because many other rabbinic authorities recognized them as such. That, together with the wisdom that comes with age, makes them leaders.
So, I respect those leaders even when I disagree strongly with them. Some would say that my very disagreement is an insult regardless of how respectfully I state it. That is pure nonsense. Others might say that my disagreement is meaningless in the face of their superior Torah knowledge, wisdom, and piety. That may - or may not be true. But that has never stopped me from expressing my difference of opinion about some of their policy positions and statements. Most often those disagreements are the product of influences from my own rabbinic mentors who - even though many are no longer alive - were nonetheless great leaders who themselves possessed Torah knowledge, wisdom, piety, and life experience.
But sometimes lines are crossed where I cannot in good conscience respect such a leader. When I read something like the following, I lost any level of respect I ever had for him. I dare say that my rabbinic mentors might even agree with me. I am talking about a story involving Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the rabbinic leader of the Sephardic Shas party and former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel.
If what the Times of Israel reports is true, I can no longer respect Rabbi /Yosef. No matter how much piety, Torah knowledge, and life experience he may have.
It isn’t only that I have profound differences with him; it is what he said about another rabbinic leader:
Former Sephardi Chief Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, who is also the spiritual leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, calls a fellow rabbi and bereaved father a heretic for advocating conscription for yeshiva students.
“Who is an apikores?” Yosef is heard saying in recordings first leaked by Kol Chai radio and published by Ynet, referring to the traditional Jewish term for a heretic. “He says, ‘Everyone should go to the army.’ What do you mean by everyone [should go] to the army? They study Torah. Just as there is an air force, there is the ‘God force’ of those who sit and study Torah and protect the entire people of Israel.”
In the recording, Yosef explicitly criticizes Rabbi Tamir Granot, who serves as the head of the hesder yeshiva Orot Shaul in Tel Aviv — which combines Torah study and military service — and whose son, Cpt. Amitay Granot, was killed by an anti-tank missile on the Lebanon border in October 2023.
“Several heads of yeshivot attacked me,” Yosef says. “There was one rabbi — I don’t know if he’s a rabbi — Granot, the head of a hesder yeshiva. The way he spoke against us on television. Aren’t you afraid of the humiliation of the Torah scholars?”
“I think there are some of them who, if they were to come to join a minyan (prayer quorum), we would not include them in the minyan,” Yosef continues. “They fall under the category of apikores. Not all of them.”
I cannot understand how someone who is supposed to be a leader of the Jewish people can be so callous as to call a fellow rabbi a heretic merely because he suggested that yeshiva students should serve in the army. That would be bad enough. But to call the head of a Hesder yeshiva who lost his son in battle an apikores is beyond disgusting.
Even if I grant that Rabbi Yosef is entitled to his view against conscription of yeshiva students, to call a Rosh Yeshiva, who believes that Torah study and military service can coexist to protect the Jewish people... and Rabbi Yosef calls him an apikores?! That he said it about a man who lost his son in battle makes it one of the worst things I have ever heard a rabbinic leader ever say. It is the height of insensitivity and callousness.
Although I profoundly disagree with him, Rabbi Yosef is entitled to his religious views exempting yeshiva students from army service. But tin my view he has lost any claim to moral authority with those comments. I believes it disqualifies him from any claim of leadership among the Jewish people..
I would therefore advise anyone who considers Rabbi Yosef their spiritual leader, to find another one. Because I believe Rabbi Yosef has lost his way.
Emes Ve-Emunah is now available at substack. To receive posts you must subscribe. It's free.
In an effort to improve the reading and commenting experience for my readers, I am experimenting with another format - Substack - and do not have enough time to research and write a new post today.
For what it's worth I have not had any great success thus far. New post tomorrow.
What we have in the Israeli Knesset is a conflict between ideologues who do not understand the value of restraint of not trying to advance their ideals in the face of the horrible consequences of doing so - versus ideologues who understand that compromise is often necessary in order to survive. In fact, compromise may very well be the best of all possible outcomes.
But to the hardcore ideologues of the extreme right, compromise is not an option. They are true believers in their cause — to the point of thinking that God will ultimately assure their victory, despite the obvious and impossible challenges that promoting their policies will bring.
It is, in fact, ironic that the ideals and beliefs that inspire right-wing fanatics to lose all rational thought and proceed carelessly with goals that will almost surely bring tragedy to the people of Israel (and possibly to Jews all over the world by virtue of their association with Israel) are the very same beliefs and ideals that I share. I too believe that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people, as promised by God in the Bible. There is no denying that fact. It is stated in black and white several times and was the ultimate goal of our exodus from Egypt.
The difference between us is that the conditions on the ground do not allow us to restore our sovereignty over all of the land. There is simply no possible way to accomplish that now. First, because there are people living there who have their own religious claims to the Land of Israel — and they will certainly not relinquish the parts they now occupy. They have their own right wing, whose religious beliefs require them to fight to the death to achieve what they see as their rightful claim to the land.
Israel has been denying that possibility in a variety of ways — most importantly, through security measures designed to thwart Palestinian terrorist attempts to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, these measures make life very hard for most Palestinian families. That is why Israel’s critics (increasingly including Europe) call Israel a brutal occupying force and even an apartheid state — a big lie that much of the world has bought into.
The idea of taking that land away from Palestinians outrages Israel’s critics — which include most of Europe and several Arab states that have recently indicated an interest in making peace with Israel. They believe Israel has no business occupying that land in the first place.
The most important reason for not even suggesting annexation of the West Bank is that Israel could lose the support of its only true ally — the United States. The president has already suggested as much after the Knesset’s foolish vote to do so a few days ago.
If Israel were to act on the notion of annexing the West Bank, the bloodshed that would follow would be unprecedented. Palestinians will not sit idly by while Israel tries to remove them from land their families have lived on for generations. They will fight back — and the world will cheer them on.
All of this means that the only way we can restore our sovereignty over all the Land of Israel is when Moshiach comes. Now is not the time. Any attempt to do so now is beyond foolhardy — if not entirely suicidal.
These circumstances are why I originally supported the concept of “land for peace.” I once believed that a compromise could be reached that would allow both peoples to gain some of what they wanted — even if neither got everything they desired. I believed that peaceful coexistence was the only way out of generations of war and terror — that Palestinians would ultimately choose peace over Israel’s destruction.
I have long been disabused of that notion after realizing that they want a Jew-free Palestine more than they want peace. Peaceful coexistence was a one-sided dream — Israel’s dream.
That “dream” persists to this day among many nations of the world that, for some reason, still believe what I once did — that Palestinians would choose peace over constant oppression and war. Many Israelis (mostly on the left) naively believed that as well. But after October 7th, 2023, most Israelis finally came to their senses and realized that this was not a viable possibility. One way or another, Palestinians would continue to try to turn Israel into a Jew-free Palestine.
And yet, the Knesset voting to annex the West Bank was still the stupidest thing Israel could have done. I’m glad to hear that the prime minister distanced himself from it — but the fallout from that foolish stunt hasn’t ended yet. What it does is lend credence to all of Israel’s enemies who claim that Israel has no interest in ending its “brutal” occupation of the West Bank and is determined to occupy Gaza in the same way.
I’ve given this some thought. If I were the prime minister, I would look at the situation now — at the weakening of our enemies, the willingness of Arab nations to make peace with Israel, and the creation of worldwide goodwill — and I would publicly embrace the concept of a future Palestinian state.
How, one may ask, does that square with my belief that such a state is impossible today and could destroy Israel?
I still believe that if a Palestinian state were to be established now, it would be suicidal. There is no possible way to create a Palestinian state with people whose ultimate agenda is to destroy you.
No, I am not schizophrenic. What I am suggesting is that any agreement for a future Palestinian state must be conditioned on a long-term transformation — at least a generation (25 years or so) — beginning with a complete restructuring of Palestinian education.
This must include the rejection of all materials and rhetoric that vilify the Jewish people or the State of Israel. It must start in the home, in mosques, and especially in schools. Curricula must be developed that teach young Palestinians the opposite of what they are being taught now. They need to be immersed in a culture that rejects the old anti-Israel, anti-Jewish paradigm their parents were subjected to. It must be made illegal to refer derogatorily to Israel or the Jewish people.
Independent monitors with expertise in antisemitism should oversee Palestinian life during this transition. The point being: once Palestinians stop hating us, the chance for peace will arise — and it could take the form of a provisional Palestinian state. That state, too, should be monitored by international experts to ensure compliance.
After a period of genuine peaceful coexistence under these conditions, a two-state solution might actually work.
Who might lead such a state in 25 years can be determined then. But it would have to be someone who rejects the idea of destroying Israel as a Jewish state, agrees in principle to peaceful coexistence, and has no terrorist ties or sympathies.
Will it happen? I strongly doubt it. It is nigh impossible to disabuse people of hate instilled in them generationally for well over a hundred years. The logistics of implementing such a plan would be just as nearly impossible. But Israel could accept the idea in theory - IF these or similar conditions were implemented. The world would gladly welcome any such gesture from Israel - and the U.S. might even endorse it.
Which is a far better idea than trying to annex it.
 |
| Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Netanyahu meet in the PM's office |
The Knesset voted yesterday to annex Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). It is a meaningless vote since it will never become law. As noted in the JTA:
“Most members of Netanyahu’s party boycotted the votes, and the bills are seen as unlikely to advance to become law.”
Although this area is part of biblical Israel and belongs to the Jewish people by virtue of the word of the Creator Himself, asserting that right legislatively now was a huge mistake for a variety of reasons. One of which became obvious immediately when Israel’s most important ally condemned it. You do not want to bite the hand that feeds you—especially one that has been as generous as the U.S., in spite of the rest of the world doing nothing but criticizing Israel for its war tactics. That alone should have been enough reason not to proceed.
But it doesn’t even make sense politically. There is no chance that Israel will have sovereignty over all of biblical Israel when the Palestinian people, all of Israel’s neighbors and potential peace partners, and the rest of the world reject it.
Annexing the West Bank sends the wrong message. It will only increase the already intolerable number of terrorist attacks from Judea and Samaria. And while Israel has done a decent job of minimizing those attacks over the last few years, they have not disappeared entirely. Annexation would surely increase them to the point where they would overwhelm Israel’s security apparatus.
This was a victory for right-wing extremists and nothing more. I hope I’m wrong—but I see nothing good coming out of this. What were they thinking?!
 |
| Conservative Rabbi Elliot J. Cosgrove |
On to the subject I do want to talk about: the upcoming election for mayor of New York.
According to most polls, the openly anti-Zionist Zohran Mamdani will win the election against his two opponents handily. The polls don’t even make it close. Mamdani is a shoo-in. And ironically, it may very well be the case that progressive Jews will hand him that victory. Because to most progressive Jews - if they even have an opinion about Israel - it is usually very similar to that of the Palestinians: that Israel is an apartheid state whose decades-long ‘brutal occupation’ over Palestinians must end. And that everything possible must be done to make that happen, including supporting BDS.
This is precisely Mamdani’s position. He is open and unapologetic about it.
This man is about as anti-Israel as one can get. Which is why I am happy to see that, more than ever, not only are Orthodox rabbis and organizations (like Agudah) urging people to vote against Mamdani, but even heterodox rabbis and organizations are doing so.
As noted in the JTA:
As the New York mayoral election draws near, more than 850 rabbis and cantors from across the United States have signed onto a letter voicing their opposition to mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and the ‘political normalization’ of anti-Zionism.
The letter, titled A Rabbinic Call to Action: Defending the Jewish Future, cited Mamdani’s previous defense of the slogan ‘globalize the Intifada,’ his denial of Israel’s legitimacy, and his accusations that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza.
The letter quotes Rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, the leader of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue on the Upper West Side, and includes a wide range of rabbis and cantors from over 30 states as well as Toronto. It was organized by the new Jewish Majority advocacy group, led by AIPAC veteran Jonathan Schulman.
The letter also quotes Rabbi Elliot Cosgrove of the Conservative Park Avenue Synagogue on the Upper East Side, who urged his congregants during a sermon last week not only to vote against Mamdani but to convince other Jews they know to do the same.”
I am both surprised and pleased that heterodox rabbis - who generally lean left of center - have come out publicly against voting for Mamdani. They are usually reticent to endorse or oppose candidates. And a progressive like Mamdani is only a bit further left than many of them. Not to mention that younger secular Jews tend to lean even more progressive. So it’s refreshing to see a bit of cross-denominational unity among the Jewish people. At least on this one, very important issue.
Thing is, this may all be beside the point. As noted the polls are predicting a near landslide for him. This does nrt mean the New York Jews should give up and stay home on election day. They need to do what they can. You never know.
Does this mean the Jews of New York are doomed? Are they, for example, going to lose protections against antisemitic acts? I don’t think so. Mamdani is too smart to let that happen - thereby lending credence to those who have accused him of antisemitism. My guess is that he will go out of his way to protect the Jewish community from antisemitic attacks, if only to ‘prove’ he is not an antisemite.
But what his election may do is increase those attacks indirectly by emboldening people to act against us based on anti-Israel sentiment. The anti-Israel rhetoric, which is vile but with which he agrees will surely be defended by Mamdani as ‘free speech’. That will inevitably generate more violence against us.
The day Mamdani takes office will be a sad day for the Jewish people. Not only in New York, but for Jews all over the world. If attacks increase there, they will increase elsewhere. We will simply have to be more vigilant for at least the next four years. Until Mamdani is defeated in the next election. May it be God’s will.
 |
If Hamas refuses to disarm in short order, the president has made it abundantly clear — in no uncertain terms and on multiple occasions — that “we will eradicate them.” As the Daily Wire headline succinctly put it:
“Trump: ‘End to Hamas Will Be Fast, Furious & Brutal.’”
That seems to be the likely scenario in the coming days (or weeks, depending on how much time the president decides to give Hamas to comply). It will be the IDF that does it.
Sadly, I find myself in complete agreement with Mali Brofsky. My heart goes out to her and others like her for what they have gone through and continue to go through. She wrote the following in the Times of Israel:
For those of us with family members in the army, that see war is not over. Our loved ones are holding the line against the Hamas terrorists who are constantly testing the boundaries. Our soldiers will be the ones to ‘take care of it’ (in the parlance of the president of the United States) if Hamas does not disarm.
I can tell you that I am still holding my breath. I am still not sleeping at night. And I am not alone. There are countless parents with children in active service and in the reserves — some with one in each. There are wives waiting anxiously for their husbands’ return; one newly married woman moves back and forth between the apartment she should be sharing with her husband and her parents’ home, praying for his safety. There are mothers caring for four young children on their own while their husbands guard Israel’s many fronts.
For those brave Israelis who have risked their lives in combat with these 21st-century Islamist Nazis - the war is not over. It will resume soon, likely with more ferocity than before. As much as I hope and pray that I am wrong, and that Hamas will lay down its arms and disappear, I fear that will not happen. Sadly, more blood will be spilled. Plenty of it.
When I predicted that the ceasefire deal would be a win for Israel, I was careful to include the possibility that such a ‘win’ might take the form of the complete destruction of an unrepentant Hamas. One that still believes it can survive even in defeat. Should that happen, Prime Minister Netanyahu will have the full backing of the president to do whatever is necessary to finish the job.
If the world again declares him a war criminal because of the inevitable Palestinian casualties — well, that has already happened. Israel will do what it must to ensure its security, and only then can the business of peace proceed as envisioned in the original agreement.
Meanwhile, across the ocean in New York City, another scene has unfolded. Tens of thousands gathered to protest in front of the Israeli consulate. But this time, it wasn’t the usual crowd of progressive anti-Israel activists. It was Satmar Chasidim. The two Satmar Rebbes - brothers who have long vied for leadership of the sect joined forces to condemn Israel. Not for its conduct in the war, but for its ‘’audacity” in seeking to draft Charedim into the IDF.
This is what outrages them. This is what animates their anger and frustration. Not the loss of Israeli lives. Not the soldiers who have fallen or been wounded. That, apparently, does not move them to gather in protest - or in support. On the contrary, they believe that the State of Israel is the creation of the devil, and that the IDF serves him, even if the soldiers themselves are unaware of it.
They claim to have waited until the war was over and the hostages returned before holding this protest. The problem is — as noted — it is not over. Are they unaware of Hamas’s obstinance? And what it will inevitably lead to?
The non-Chasidic Yeshiva world in Israel, led by two elderly Roshei Yeshiva, shares Satmar’s outrage though for slightly different reasons. Their students are the ones being called to register for the draft, some even arrested for refusing to do so. Their Yeshivos have also lost the substantial government funding they long received while enjoying draft exemption. Now they face a dual crisis: the fear of conscription and the challenge of survival without state stipends.
I have no doubt the Yeshiva world takes some comfort in Satmar’s support, even though they share little else in common.
Still, I cannot help but feel anger and depression when I see tens of thousands of Chasidim protesting the draft while Jewish soldiers, many of them religious, have laid down their lives for their people and are likely to be called upon to do so again.
I feel the same anger when I hear two revered Roshei Yeshiva publicly declare their agreement with Satmar’s position on the evil that is State of Israel. While they themselves live within its borders, enjoy its benefits, and contribute nothing to its defense. Others are spilling blood; they are not.
I have in the past been beyond angry about this state of affairs in the observant world.
And yet, setting aside these two painful issues (which should never be ignored), I still respect both communities. Satmar’s piety and their extraordinary generosity toward fellow Jews in need are legendary. Their sense of family and communal solidarity is something to behold.
Likewise, the Yeshiva world’s devotion to Torah study is unparalleled. Many there willingly forgo comfortable middle-class lives in order to dedicate themselves to learning. And in both communities, there are individuals who manage to achieve great financial success while remaining deeply committed to their ideals. I do not - and cannot - dismiss them.
But I cannot understand how the very religious values that define these communities can lead them so far astray from what I believe to be the Derech HaYashar — the straight path.
How can people whose religious lives are built upon self-sacrifice fail to appreciate the sacrifices of others? How can they protest a government that seeks only to spread the burden more equally? How can Satmar, and those who think like them, not recognize the heroism of others who are risking everything. While they do nothing?
Even if they disagree with the policies, how can they not at least respect the sacrifice?
 |
| Will Hamas disarm? (CNN) |
Their evidence for their claim is the recent airstrike in Gaza that killed dozens of Palestinians in retaliation for the Hamas attack that killed two IDF soldiers.
Living up to their proven bias, the media gave equal credence to the claims by both sides that it was the other side that violated the cease fire. God forbid they believe Israel over Hamas. The “even-handed” mainstream media will dare not believe the belligerent Netanyahu over the peace-loving Hamas ‘fighters’ who are simply fighting for a cause they believe in. Which is to end Israeli occupation and apartheid. But I digress.
The point here is that both Hamas and Israel said they are still adhering to the cease-fire agreement — even though Hamas has not yet disarmed as the agreement requires. What they have been doing is executing the criminal element among them, which they mostly define as Palestinian collaborators with the Zionist enemy.
So much for their peaceful intentions. The president, for his part, was misled by Hamas to believe that they actually were just restoring law and order. What he didn’t realize was that this meant executing Palestinian ‘rats’.
It appears that Hamas has no real intention of complying with that most vital portion of the cease-fire agreement, and are using the cease fire to reconstitute their ranks — which, ‘sure as shootin’, they are doing right now!
Well, aren’t the naysayers right, then? If they don’t disarm, isn’t that a deal breaker? Of course it is. Does that mean it was a bad deal and a mistake to make that deal in the first place?
Absolutely not. That deal accomplished the impossible: It got all the living hostages returned at once. And for now, the IDF is not in harm’s way in active combat. At least for the short term. These heroes of the Gaza war are out of harm’s way for the moment and can surely use the break.
What about the fact that Hamas is trying to restore itself to its former ‘glory’? What about all the Palestinian prisoners who were released as part of the deal, some of whom were convicted of terrorism and murder? Was that price too steep?
Not in my book. 20 innocent lives were saved. What happens in the future will be dealt with then. Hopefully Israel has finally learned its lessen after October 7th and will never ‘drop the ball’ again!
But to reiterate the question: if Hamas reneges on what I believe to be the most important part of the deal - complete disarmament and no possibility of a role in governing Gaza - isn’t that the worst outcome? Will they not have been the ultimate winner – surviving to do it all over again in the future? I don’t think so. Here’s why:
President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that if Hamas keeps killing people in Gaza, “we will have no choice but to go in and kill them.”
“If Hamas continues to kill people in Gaza, which was not the deal, we will have no choice but to go in and kill them,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.” Trump later clarified that U.S. forces would not be involved in the renewed offensive he had threatened.
Well, if U.S. forces will not be involved (and they shouldn’t be), how will ‘we’ kill them? I’ll give you three guesses.
Never mind. I’ll just spell it out: IDF. They will go right back in and do whatever it takes to eradicate Hamas regardless of how many Palestinian civilians Hamas puts in Israel’s way.
If Hamas has learned anything about Trump, it is that he doesn’t bluff. All they have to do is look at what he did to Iran at Fordow.
The president has repeated those comments several times in a variety of ways. Will the world scream bloody murder (at both Israel and the US)? Of course they will. Many more ‘innocent’ Palestinians will be killed. But as always they will be screaming at the wrong parties.
Besides, it doesn’t make any difference. Once Hamas is out of the picture as any kind of organized fighting force, the cease-fire agreement can be restored and the world that approved this deal in the first time will surely approve it again. Not because they love Israel (they hate Israel despite the platitudes we sometimes hear from their leaders). But because it will be in their own economic interests to do so as well as it will be in the best interests of the Arab states, the U.S., and, not least of all, Israel.
Meanwhile, the vice president is in Israel to make sure Netanyahu does not ‘jump the gun’ and restart the war prematurely. He wants to give peace a chance.
Frankly, so do I. It’s just that I don’t have any confidence in Hamas living up to their part of the bargain. We will have to see what the deadline is for them to lay down their arms. If they do, it’s a win for Israel, the Palestinians, the Arab states, and the free world. If they don’t, it will still be a win — it will just take a bit longer and be a lot bloodier.
These are my thoughts as things stand now.
