Serious Corruption Charges Against Bet Shemesh Mayor Abutbul

Bet Shemesh Mayor Moshe Abutbul from the Shas party has been accused of serious political corruption, including pressuring a Yeshivah to fire a teacher who was also a political activist in opposition to the Mayor! The political activist, Dov Lipman, filed a Police complaint, and a complaint to the National Auditor of Israel (Mevaker HaMedinah), charging that the Mayor had interfered in the decision making process of the Yeshivah leading to Lipman's contract as a teacher at the Yeshivah where he has been teaching for five years being terminated as of the coming school year!

I have uploaded the article (in Hebrew) about this from a local Bet Shemesh newspaper (Tmura), and it can be viewed here:

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B-l0FBF9cFPvNGNmMGQwYmMtMmZjNS00ZjNiLTllZmUtZmY1OWU0MmM5YjM3&sort=name&layout=list&num=50

I must add, as I noted in the comments, that, unfortunately, this type of behavior is not new to Bet Shemesh and is known to have been exhibited by a former Bet Shemesh Mayor. Certain Yeshivot warned members of their staffs not to appear at political rallies and the like, for fear that that the Mayor would not grant permits needed by the Yeshivah if staff members were seen at events held in opposition to that Mayor!

It is time to stop the corruption, no matter who is the Mayor. Our public figures must perform in accordance with basic ethical standards!

We can only hope that these efforts to stamp out corruption in our city government will be successful.

A Clearly-Stated, Well-Explained Condemnation of the Rabbi Who Encourages Jews to Shoot Jewish Soldiers with Plastic Bullets

Thanks to a link on Rafi G.'s "Life in Israel" blog (http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/), I saw this well-phrased, and well-explained, clear condemnation of the Rabbi who encouraged Jews to shoot Jewish soldiers with plastic bullets:

http://www.crossingtheyarden.com/2011/03/right-wing-lunatics/

Bravo to someone who is from the "right wing" side for issuing a clear condemnation of this dangerous phenomenon!

Gilad Shalit Solidarity Event; He has Spent Almost Five Years in Captivity!

On Tuesday, the 15^th of March, at 11 AM, there will be a Gilad Shalit solidarity event to remind us all that it has been almost five years since Gilad Shalit was taken captive by the Hamas (on June 25^th, 2006).

UPDATE ADDED ON Wednesday, the 9^th of March: This morning I spoke to Kobi Sidi (050-222-2622) the initiator of this entire Solidarity Event, and I asked him the BIG question (which is also alluded to in my discussion in the comments with my friend and neighbor Shaul Behr from RBS-Alef): Is the aim of this Event to demonstrate against the government and to pressure it to accede to Hamas demands, or is the aim to express solidarity with Gilad and to ensure that he is not forgotten? Kobi answered me that the sole aim is to express solidarity with Gilad and to ensure that he is not forgotten. He said that this event does not aim to tell the government HOW to free Gilad, but just to ensure that his situation doesn't fade from the public awareness, and also said that the Police have been informed of the five minute possible stoppage of traffic. He said that another idea which he had was a similar solidarity event for Jonathan Pollard.

It, of course, may be suggested that even if Kobi, who leads this event, is sincere, the event may, nevertheless, be hijacked to put pressure on the government. While I am concerned about this aspect of things, I decided to participate and to try to ensure that this event remains a purely solidarity event, with one of my reasons being that I feel that we have to try to do something for solidarity with Gilad and also to unite on our common ground of that solidarity.

While it appears that some of the organizers of this solidarity event feel that the activities are supposed to pressure the government to "work harder" for Gilad's release (apparently by complying with more of the demands presented by the Hamas); I do not feel that this event must be interpreted in that manner.

This solidarity event appears to me to be commemoration of the fact that a Jewish soldier has not yet been freed from his captivity, and we must not forget to do our best (without sacrificing our country's overriding interests) to achieve his freedom. As such, I expect to do my small part in participating in these activities according to my perception of what they mean.

The original initiator of these activities is an Israeli named Kobi Sidi, who requests that people who are able to distribute fliers/posters (unlike me) about this Gilad Shalit solidarity event contact him at 050-222-2622.

The main symbolic action suggested by the organizers of these activities is to stop whatever we are doing at 11 AM on Tuesday, 15/3/11, and to go outside for 5 minutes to show solidarity with Gilad. The organizers suggest stopping traffic, if possible, at the nearest intersection in a careful manner (they emphasize taking care in a flier that I have seen; so this is not a group of wild-eyed crazies) for 5 minutes; but the main point seems to be to focus the attention of all of Am Yisrael on solidarity with Gilad's plight, which is something that I am very much in favor of.

I hope and pray that we will see Gilad Shalit free and healthy among us very soon (perhaps even as a result of a military action based upon intelligence information which could liberate him)!

A Sad Day for Am Yisrael: Hearing a Rabbi Who Encourages Jews to Shoot Jewish Soldiers with Plastic Bullets

Unfortunately, there is a Rabbi, though he is far from mainstream Judaism, who is now encouraging Jews to shoot Jewish soldiers with plastic bullets, as a response to the reputed behavior of certain soldiers reacting to the behavior of demonstrators against the dismantling of buildings at Chavat Gilead.

Here is a link to an article in Hebrew about that Rabbi's comments (including a recording of the interview in which he stated his position):

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4039018,00.html

And here is a link to a summarizing article in English about those comments:

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=211196

Woe to us for having reached such depths that a Rabbi would think such thoughts and even express them in a radio interview. May we all be strengthened in our resolve NEVER to hurt another Jew, especially one of our own soldiers, even if he fulfills commands from his superiors which we condemn!

The way to change the policies implemented in our army is to exert our political influence to change the government's policies; not through practicing violence against our fellow Jews. If we are truly more righteous and more correct then they are, we must be all the more careful to act in the manner which we demand that they act; not in a manner which we condemn when they behave that way!

No-nonsense Reply to Rabbinical Foolishness

Rav Yoel Bin-Nun has publicized an article on ynet (in Hebrew) which points out many of the problems with the Rabbis' letter supporting former President Moshe Katsav who was convicted of rape, and why that letter should never have been written:

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4036743,00.html

Yasher Koach to Rav Bin-Nun for presenting clear, no-nonsense responses to Rabbis whose naivety or disingenuousness seriously diminishes the honor of the Torah.

A Tzaddik Believing in the Spirituality of the Simple Jew

Among the congregants of my childhood synagogue, Beth Abraham in Baltimore, MD, in the USA, it is generally recognized that the late Rabbi (and founder) of the shul, Rav Tzvi Elimelech Hertzberg, zt"l, was a great Tzaddik. He was a Belzer Chassid who reached America before World War II, and, among other things, he brought holocaust orphans (children whose entire families perished in the holocaust, and who reached Baltimore with no family) into his home and raised them until they could go out on their own.

Rav Hertzberg, like many great Tzaddikim, always stressed the positive aspects of other Jews and had tremendous optimistic belief in simple Jews and their chances to progress in spirituality. The following story is told about one of the instances of his belief in a simple Jew and his encouragement of that man's progress:

There was a simple Jew, whom we'll call "Avraham" who used to frequent the shul, and Rav Hertzberg acted warm and friendly toward him, and would have the Gabbais call him up to the Torah from time to time.

At some point, one of the congregants approached Rav Hertzberg on a weekday, somewhat upset, and told him: You should know that Avraham, whom you honor and frequently have called up to the Torah in our Shul, doesn't actually keep the Shabbat; he simply drives his car until he is about two blocks from the shul, and parks there, and then walks the rest of the way to the shul!

Rav Hertzberg replied: First of all, any Jew is welcome in my shul, and so is Avraham. Furthermore, all that you are telling me is that LAST week Avraham did not keep the Shabbat, maybe next week he will do so, and I have a responsibility to bring all Jews closer to Judaism; so I will certainly not refrain from acting warm and friendly toward him, and having the Gabbais call him up to the Torah.

This story occurred many years ago (Rav Hertzberg passed away forty years ago), and today Avraham is a Torah-observant Jew, having been Chozer BeTeshuvah a long time ago, and his son is a Rosh Yeshivah in one of the American Yeshivot!

When Jewish leaders have confidence in the "simple" Jews whom they meet, they can help them reach great spiritual heights. We should only be Zocheh that all of our leaders these days should stress the positive elements about other Jews, and encourage them to progress further and further.

The Rule of Law in Israel, and Protests in Favor of Building for Jews

Rafi G. posted on his Life in Israel Blog an excellent post about this subject, and I agree with everything he said, and believe that he put it very fairly, properly and clearly.

Here is a link to the post:

http://lifeinisrael.blogspot.com/2011/03/stopping-anarchy-establishing-rule-of.html

As he pointed out in a comment, people need permits to construct buildings (or to add onto existing buildings) anywhere in Israel. So there is no excuse for unlawful activities in order to get more buildings built in Yehudah VeShomron (the West Bank). I very strongly feel that the government should continue building in Yehudah VeShomron, but as Rafi also pointed out, if we disagree with the way the government is implementing its policies, we must "use the political process to change the law, to change the government, to change the rules of engagement, but there has to be a rule of law".

Regarding the Book "Torat HaMelech" and the Arrest Warrant Issued to Rav Dov Lior

The issue of the possibility of incitement to violence by Rav Yitschak Shapira in his book "Torat HaMelech" is certainly not so clearly one of "silencing the right" or "silencing Jewish religious leaders" as many people wish to believe, and, in fact, as Rav Yoel Bin-Nun has pointed out, actually that is not at all the issue.

Everyone who wants to truly understand this issue should read Rav Yoel Bin-Nun's article at:

http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3939325,00.html

The article is in Hebrew, and I don't know if there is any available English translation of Rav Bin-Nun's article; but, then again, anyone who wants to discuss this issue intelligently has to be able to read Hebrew at a very high level of understanding in any case.

Rav Bin-Nun, a person who has actually read the book "Torat HaMelech" written by Rav Yitschak Shapira, makes the point that anyone who reads the book can see the opening it presents for wanton violence against other Jews (yes, that was in the book too, but as Rav Bin-Nun mentions, it was not discussed publicly at all), as well as against non-Jews (not only within recognized frameworks of war between the Jewish state and enemy states).

Additionally, Rav Aviner has also pointed out that we have never made a secret that in war situations killing occurs which would not be normally permissible, but that this does not mean that we permit such killing wantonly, without recourse to the state institutions which are entrusted with dealing with such situations. In short, taking someone's life in an impetuous manner is murder, even if you think that you can somehow justify his death as being for the "greater good".

Unfortunately, the way the book "Torat HaMelech" deals with these issues of taking someone's life can easily lead "hotheaded students" to feel that they have every right (and even a responsibility) to kill people whom they feel are "injurious to the Jewish people". Assembling together so many "Halachic discussions" relating to killing people who fall "outside of the proper way of behaving according to our authoritative interpretation of what that means"; can easily lead one to believe that the author's intention was indeed that the "hotheaded students" should feel that they have free rein to perform all sorts of abominable actions.

Even if the author did not intend that, he certainly violated the warning given in Pirkei Avot (1:11) by Avtalyon, "Sages be careful in what you say.."; and it is not surprising that the legal authorities in our country suspect him of incitement to violence.

Anyone who gave a Haskama to such a Sefer without reading it is reckless and irresponsible to say the least, and anyone who read the Sefer and still gave a Haskama shares the burden of violation of Avtalyon's warning, which is not "just a Mishnah with some advice", but a warning that this type of action can easily cause Chillul HaShem.

As someone who knows personally many of the people involved in this issue, I feel saddened that, once again, Rav Dov Lior, a man of deep Torah knowledge, has been drawn into something he should have been wise enough to steer clear of (but no one has ever guaranteed that much Torah knowledge ensures that one will be worldly-wise as well). Unfortunately, as many people who know Rav Lior well can attest, he tends to be drawn into situations which lead to suspicions of incitement; and if he hasn't learned how to steer clear of them until now, I truly hope that he will learn from the present situation to weigh these types of things very carefully (and to get proper advice from some excellent people who have been trying to keep him clear of these situations for many years), so that he never becomes entangled in such a situation again.

Since the Police have demanded that Rav Lior come in to answer questions for their investigation (and issued the arrest warrant when he refused), he should certainly make an appointment to meet with the Police and tell them that he has nothing to hide and explain the situation forthrightly to them in order to clear the atmosphere. I doubt that he actually intended incitement, but now, after so many unwise actions relating to this issue, he must first of all clear himself, and avoid such situations in the future.

Kashrut and Spirituality

As far as Kashrut and spirituality, in food and in the other parts of our lives, goes, we (and especially certain Rabbis in Bet Shemesh) should keep in mind the following facts:

1. Almost all of food Kashrut relates to some Lavim (prohibitions) in the Torah which, while important, are NOT extremely serious Torah violations.

2. Almost all of the "Kashrut exposés" which have been publicized in certain Kashrut lectures and on the Email lists have related either to technical problems with a Kashrut certificate (while the people who provide the food being discussed are known to be people who would never, in any case, feed other Jews non-Kosher food), or accusations that a store may be putting up a letter from a Mehadrin Kashrut organization on their wall in order to deceive people into thinking they have a Mehadrin Hechsher when they ONLY have a Hechsher certifying that their food is Kosher.

3. Sexual offenses against children (or adults) involve several very serious transgressions upon Torah law, and, in many cases, may involve transgressions with a Karet (excision) penalty, or even a capital crime by Torah law.

4. Any suspicions of sexual offenses must be meticulously investigated by the proper authorities who know how to deal with serious crimes like these, and must never be brushed off with statements like, "The accused is above suspicion, and this must be a case of the accusers trying to damage his reputation and nothing more," which Chazal warned against with their warnings like, "Ein Apotropus LeArayot," because we all know that on sexual matters a good reputation in religious circles does not guarantee that there will be no misconduct. In fact, in Jewish society today it is generally accepted that you can trust the Kashrut of the food that a "Frum Jew" who is a sexual offender (or criminal of some other type) feeds you. Indeed, quite a few instances have come to light of people who kept Kashrut very meticulously, but cheated others in business (or slept with other people's wives, or perpetrated some other sexual offense).

5. The only way someone who is falsely accused can truly clear his/her name, without any suspicions of cover-up, is if a serious investigation is conducted by the proper authorities, and, after thorough investigation, the conclusion is reached that the person did not commit any sexual offense. In certain cases it may be discovered, after serious investigation, that the accusations were false; but it is much more likely that the accusations are true if someone is willing to embarrass himself (and we all know that it is embarrassing in religious society to bring up sexual conduct in any case) by bringing up sexual misconduct perpetrated against him/her.

6. Even if somehow a sexual offender can be investigated without reporting him to the Police, what reliable guarantee can be given that he will get the counseling which he needs, be kept away from tempting situations in the future, and that innocent victims (both those in the past, and those whom he might potentially victimize in the future) will be protected from him? In many cases where a sexual offender was identified, the religious community simply "covered up" for him and, perhaps, had him transferred to a different community where he wasn't known as a sexual offender, but where he DID have every opportunity to victimize new unsuspecting victims.

It is clear from the above that investigation of suspected sexual abuse should be a MUCH HIGHER PRIORITY in the religious community than investigation of Kashrut suspicions (though neither deception with regard to sexual prohibitions and violations of them, nor deception with regard to Kashrut laws and violations of them, should be accepted and "brushed under the rug").

It would be good for all Jewish community leaders, especially those in Ramat Bet Shemesh, to take note of the above and to exert their influence to put the stronger emphasis where it belongs, and not to waste so much effort trying to publicize who does not have a Mehadrin Hechsher even though he is Kosher (which, in any case, any alert consumer can find out for himself).