Some values he`s got. Sounds like these two knew exactly what they were doing, and more than likely on the instructions of their Rabbi.

i.e. After how many bottles of wine? I guess Mr journalist just omitted that detail.. Give the Rav a break, we all say stupid things when we're drunk, and we all know it's a Mitsvah to get dead drunk during Purim celebrations.

The Almighty Hashem .His ways are beyond human understanding ,therefore it is unwise for the good Rabbi to try to guess why this disaster befell the poor people of Japan. The almighty also made each of us responsible for our behaviour and actions and it is simply wrong to smuggle dru

If a religious leader could say such a thing, then you imagine what an ordinary floor member could say. Can you imagine if it was said by a muslim sheik?.

It was 3 boys from Satmar homes. They were tricked by someone in their community and told they were taking antiques. The Japanese authorities convicted one who was later sent to finish his sentence in Israel; the 2nd was convicted and is in the middle of appeal; the 3rd hasn't had a trial yet. They were incredibly naive which isn't surprising considering how Satmar have very little contact with the outside world but definitely as the courts have seen, did not know they were doing anything illegal. For the Rabbi to say this is strange but perhaps he was taken totally out of context

Let them believe its because the Japanese are responsible for all this because they are holding some yeshiva students. I really don't think anybody in Japan cares what some idiot rabbi in Israel thinks. Making these claims is harmless freedom of speech. Most hasidic jews dont think as stupidly as this guy. Even the majority of his supporters do actually think for themselves and use logic.

Dear Rabbi, what fate awaits the US for imprisoning Jonathan Pollard? Oh, that's different, you say, because he's not a yeshiva bochur and, anyway, your donors live in the US so they provide sanctuary. Friggin hypocritical moron. You are a chilul hashem.

is the country with nukes OMG

Recall, he speaks of the Will of the G-d who was willing to save Sodom and Gemorrah and the cities of the plains if there were only 10 righteous people in the whole area. But he would have us believe the same G-d would kill over 14,000 human beings who never even knew these boys exist in order to punish the few who imprisoned them??? We believe in a G-d who tempers justice with mercy, saving the many for the sake of the few who might influence them, not the other way around! As Abaraham asked at the time, "Would the Judge of the entire world not do justice?" On the pllus side, when the author writes, "The Rachmastrivka Hasidic dynasty is one of the biggest and most famous Hasidisms" he's wrong. (In fact, I think he's exaggerating the import of this rebbe in an attempt to stoke anti-Chareidi sentiment.) Readers of YNet must have heard of Lubavitch, Gur, Satmar, Belz, Breslov, Bobov... But how many of us ever hear of Rachmastrivka before?

Drug trafficking and drug money laundering are prime examples. They do it because who would suspect the "religious Jew" right? Then when they get caught they want to spout all this nonsense about G_d's punishment. It's laughable except these nutcases have control of much of your government and foreign policy. Is it any wonder Israel is losing the PR War?

If this isn't "lashon ha'ra" - evil speech - I don't know what is. No Jew with the barest modicum of common sense and decency will subscribe to this nonsense. I hope the good people of Japan, some of whom will hear of this, will not think badly of Jews or Israel because of it.

I don't know if the Rebbe is right. But what's your explanation? All is random? Please answer this: If you believe in God, where exactly do you think God is involved? In certain areas of life but not in earthquakes? If you don't believe in God than of course there's no problem.

Outlandish claims have been pouring in from the rabbis. One surpassing them all (so far) is this bunch of crap regarding 2 criminals incarcerated in Japan, and blessed by this " rachmastrivka " gang for the smugling of drugs that kill other Jews; from the sublime, to the ridiculous, stupidity,idiocy. In their pervert yeshivas, drug smuggling must be on the top of the talmud. No wonder that over 40 haredim, rabbis, and other despicable Jews have been arrested in the US for drug and money laundering. Very obvious that god's curriculum is not about the 10 commandements, but this obnoxious sect favors the " golden calf ". Not much different than another infamous islamic sect where lie, cheat, steal is the common denominator. Do not despair, our rabbis are constantly improving their skills in this respect. If this is what their god teaches them, I'll take "Rasputin " anytime.

she's suddenly become very quiet, c'mon girl, speak up.

Quite astoninshing. How some bored bloggers can read some ambiguous little article and come to their conclusions. Okay so you are secular Israelis and you're proud of it, (as I am) but what are you proud of? that you are a free and democratic society ? HA Having followed this case closely, I have got to say that this time you guys came out with head hanging way low between your tail Have you ever watched the movie"Brokedown Palace", even though it is a movie, it certainly gives you perspective of the justice systems in these countries in the east. We are talking about Japan, a country where they have a record of indicting almost 100% of cases that go to trial. And I dont know if you are aware that top proffesionals and scientist from around the world, including law enforocement officials from the U.S and Polygrapg experts from Hebre University have dedicated alot of their time to proving these young boys innocents. Shame on people who would judge their own brethren so negatively whilst being completely ignorant and totally unscientific about the reality that exists May we always judge one another favourably no matter what.

Send all this stupid retarder people to Iran,freee Israel of this crap.... they will be much conformable with the Ayatollas!

"...We CHOSE them, and We guided them to a Straight Path." Is the Koran a lie?

I am a jew but still i am putting this Rav in line with all those sharks, squirrels and rat's commerter in our neighbouring countries.

hassidism is paganism.

this incident should teach us a lesson or two: first, the torah commands us to judge people leniently. now that we have heard what a rebbe says when he is drunk, we shouldn't be so harsh with anti-semites who let slip a little hatred under the influence of alcohol. after all, people say foolish things when they are drunk. and we should ask this rebbe to clarify what would seem, on the face of it, to be a completely outrageous statement. clearly, it is not written that wearing a big, black hat makes you immune from the law, and free to smuggle drugs. if anything, it is the smugglers who should explain why they were not more careful to obey the law - "dina di'malkhuta dina". and lastly, we might wonder if the hassidic "dynasties" aren't a little too inbred? the torah is full of examples of less than spectacular children not living up to the examples of their fathers. (and extraordinary children from common parents.) perhaps there also needs to be some higher qualification than "yichus" in the hareidi world...

does he have a direct line to God? can I have the number?

Explanation? Who said we're supposed to have an explanation? Ever learn the book of Iyov (Job)? In particular, see G-d's answer to Job, ch 38-41. Pretty clearly states that finding an explanation is wrong. What the talmud engages in is a search for a lesson to take from a tragedy, not a search for a cause, or trying to figure out G-d's system of reward and punishment. ("Reward for mitzvos is lacking from this world" anyway...) -micha

My firm belief is that the Earthquakes are vengeance for the attack on Pearl Harbor Or as the Koreans or Chinese would say, retribution for their invasions of China, Manchuria It also can be attributed to the hate felt by the "Comfort Women” that the Japanese forced to service the Japanese Army. Comfort for the troops, hell for the women

Extremists of any religion clearly lack a an understanding of basic earth sciences. They see science as the enemy of faith, because once their followers learn science, they begin to have questions about their faith. This is the reason Hareidis don't want science and other secular and critical thinking skills taught in their schools. It is the same with Evangelical Christians in the US who Home school their kids so they can keep them ignorant. This whole reasoning reminds me that Evangelical leader, Pat Robertson said that the reason the Island of Haiti had their devastating earthquake last year was because the victorious black slaves made a deal with Satan 150 years ago to gain their freedom, and now G-d was punishing them. Pure ignorance.

Regarding all your childish comments, those of you who make fun of our great Torah scholars just show your ignorance. You are to be pitied. Those of you who say things about the Creator of the World, are beyond contempt. You woke up with the gift of life this morning. Where is your gratitude to the One who created you.