Jewish Scene
Rabbi Melamed: Stop IDF draft
Kobi Nahshoni
Published: 18.01.12, 08:25
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22 Talkbacks for this article
1. I'm an American, so I don't know...
Henry from New York ,   USA   (01.18.12)
but are most Israelim expected to know who these rabbim are and are those same Israelim also expected to care about the opinions of said rabbim? Just curious.
2. Delay the IDF Draft
Scott Havsy ,   Tacoma, WA USA   (01.18.12)
Once again Jews are their own worst enemy but this time the religious sect which doesn't join the IDF to protect the only country that wants or tolerates them is the culprit. (Yes we know a few serve). If I was an Israeli I would be insulted that the Orthodox Yeshiva students are not required for compulsory military service and instead leach off of Israeli society. Yes we know Ben-Gurion gave them a break but did anyone envision the parasitic evolution? The other Israelis work, pay taxes and give their lives to defend this segment of society that believes it is insulted to hear a women's voice in song. Chauvanistic too. I guess today Deborah would not be that woman general men followed in the old testiment. If I was prime minister I would say serve in the IDF or get the hell out and mooch off another country. Get a job too. Things have changed. Get with it or get out. By the way I am a member of the tribe...
3. Stop Lunatic Rabbis
IDF Soldier ,   ISR   (01.18.12)
4. Again: entering into pertractations with a delusional part
tom ,   tel aviv   (01.18.12)
of otherwise sane society is both an insult to the free, sound mind and criminal deriliction of civic duties of any government and it's branches, incl. defence forces. Still it is the general, Israeli society that has to decide what kind of future(if any) it wants for our grandchildren. The assorted Rebbes can brak in sweat as much as they wish over the percieved angularity of a circle, but we don't have to wait in suspense for their verdict. It is rubbish (known beforehand), but they can do it on their time, not mine! Banish the Imaginary Friend once and forever!
5. Why give them needless excuses ...
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (01.18.12)
not to join the army. Forget about singing women,and move on.
6. what the heck?
robert ,   Tel Aviv   (01.18.12)
what makes Haredi think they are so special as to demand an exception? The army is there to protect the country not coddle egotistical religious navel gazers. If every Tom Dick and Harry started to ask for dispensation, why bother having an army? Army by definition means obedience, all treated, dressed the same- uni- form....... So, Israel and IDF show some backbone and cojones- and restore the IDF to what it once was : an army you can be proud of.
7. when Miriam sang at the Red Sea
Dan ,   Baltimore   (01.18.12)
Moses did not quit his duty to serve his people!!!
8. With Melamed or Against Him, One Must Value Him...
Orly ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.18.12)
... Whether you agree or think he is the devil's encarnate, Melamed is a man of true principles and people like him are what we need in every society. Sane people, with whom we may agree or vehemently disagree, who make up the spectrum of national debate with lucidity, strong unwavering values and the courage to present them at all costs. All those who have a horse in this race should be as candid and sincere. Like him or loathe him, we can all learn from him.
9. All those that do not serve, male, female,
jason white ,   afula, israel   (01.18.12)
religious, non religious, Jew or non Jew should go to a forced labor camp for a long time.Those over the age to be drafted, but did not serve should be taxed 50% of their salaries or welfare payments. Let that tax money pay for scholarships of vets and for new weapons. And no one should be drafted, if everyone is not drafted. Pass a bill to draft everyone and enforce it. Those that left or will leave Israel to avoid the draft should lose their citizenship and never be allowed to return here.
10. # 8
Joe ,   Haifa, Israel   (01.18.12)
The man is a lunatic, simple as that.
11. 4tom G-D is there to stay .
ORA ,   JERUSALEM   (01.18.12)
12. israeli army
zivron   (01.18.12)
In the israeli army many girls behave immorally picking up diseases that effect their fertility and getting used to playing around . The religious zionist model of serving in the army and having many children is exceptional though outpost settlements and price tags and attacks on secular idf dangerous for the jews need iron clad unity .Fid a way out of this conflict through clever lateral thinking and dynamic efforts like allowing religious soldiers guard duty on settlements in hospitals with basic emergency medical training to help out as well securing checkpoints and guarding against suprise attacks .
13. Is it so essential mandatory shows in the IDF???
Arad ,   Bs As-Netanya   (01.18.12)
In this particular case, i think that religious soldiers are rigth. I think its quite stupid their "fear" of women singing ( warriors like Devorah in the Torah sang). Never the less IDF is for protecting and figthing, and singing and listening songs are not necessary or vital and should not be mandatory. It does not help in any mean to the service and protection of the Nation. IDF is not a social club. It an army, it´s for trainnig, to prepare for fight and even to prepare for getting wounded or die in order to finish a mission (it´s sad, but we live in a rough neighborhood and we should never forget that). The issue is if the IDF made a compromise to certain sector of the nation in orther to serve the country, the IDF should respect (it mean kosher food, not having to listening women singing, etc, all while not hindering the figthing skills). This issue of women singing is plain stupid and are a obstacule for grater draftees for the army. Gantz should swallow his pride and waive this non essencial issue. Seeing shows in the IDF should be optional. Getting draftee, train, to sewat and try to excel yourself for the common benefit is what should occupy our minds, whether secular, traditional, religuos zionist, haredi, from TA, Jerusalem or Ariel.
14. "is as serious as mixing meat and milk" LOL
Josh   (01.18.12)
Lets look at how serious "mixing" of meat and milk really is? Is it in the eser debrot? No. So violating Shabbat such as working an animal is worse. Should we not fight for our country because commanders violate shabbat? What if they disrespect their parents? Maybe then we hand over Jerusalem? What about adding to Torah and false prophets? Isn;t that a capital punishment? Oh but we have "al tivashel gedi bhalav emo" as a dietary law. In fact we cannot add or subtract a word from that prohibition, so how many words changed to get to "mixing" chicken and cheese? Ceratainly not a gedi in halav emo. So how serious is this compared to the addition of a law not found in Moses words that women cannot sing to men? It is simply laugable and the fact that people may die because commanders are rendered powerles, does that match a fake dietary mixing law. At most a person is unclean for the day. So what? We have bigger fish to fry and not in their mothers milk. O sorry bigger fish to boil.
15. Kol Hakavod Rabbi Melamed!
Yonaton ,   Har Bracha   (01.18.12)
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed is a true leader, willing to speak the truth at all times and under all circumstances, not like our politicians who speak out of both sides of their mouths, according to who is listening! His yeshiva was thrown out of the Hesder program because he was not willing to bow down to the lowly "Minister of Defense" Ehud Barak, and paid the price for it. Nevertheless, his students still serve in elite combat units, and are amongst the best soldiers in Israel, because they know what they're fighting for, and they have the courage to stand-up for their basic rights as Torah observant Jewish soldiers in the land that God gave our forefathers and us! They will refuse to obey orders that contradict Jewish law, and are ready to sit in jail for it! Kol Hakod to Rabbi Melamed and his courageous students! Ken Yirbu!
16. to #12 You have a lot of nerve saying
jason white ,   afula, israel   (01.19.12)
that about the women that defend garbage like you. Your mother gives STDs maybe. Those women that do not serve are the real whores that screw the state and the Jewish people. Either everyone serves or they can go to prison. And families of those that do not serve should be limited to one child each. That way, there will be fewer draft dodgers in the next generation. We can do without all draft dodgers. Finally why should non religious and national religious risk life,limb and liberty for these vermin and their spawn?
17. What does the Bible say?
RC ,   USA   (01.19.12)
Maybe this will help clear this up: (Exodus 23:19 “Bring the first of the first-fruits of your land into the House of יהוה your Elohim. Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.), (Leviticus 22:28 “But do not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.), (Deuteronomy 22:6 “When you come upon a bird’s nest along the way, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs, with the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, do not take the mother with the young -). (Deuteronomy 22:7 let the mother go without fail, and take the young for yourself, so that it might be well with you, and that you shall prolong your days.) Either way, Exodus 23:19 does not say do not mix meat (in general) with milk (in general), it specifically says do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.
18. Hilarious insanity rules the asylum...
Al   (01.19.12)
Get on with it. The army is not a glee club. You train soldiers to kill the enemy. They are not there to socialize..Its not a facebook rave. Geez..are you people that dumb not to realize that the enemy wants you dead and will kill you in a heartbeat? Stop the nonsense and prime the army. Without soldiers ready to put their own lives on the line all of you are stone cold dead. Yoiu dont need singing soldiers, you need fighting soldiers with intent to kill the enemy. Thats what an army is for.
19. I served...
Golani ,   Vineland, US/Israel   (01.19.12)
I consider myself religious and I served proudly in the IDF in a combat unit. I came from the US to serve. I would do it again and again because that was my duty. I have one word for Rabbis or anyone who says that we should avoid the draft, and that is a "Boged" to the Jewish people and the Jewish nation.
20. Rav Melamed NEVER said that!
Aurora Aronsson ,   Göteborg, SVE   (01.19.12)
Just check here: Hebrew: http://www.inn.co.il/News/News.aspx/232060 English: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/151872
21. MUTUAL Jewish FREEDOM&PRIDE, (non-)listeners, AM ECHAD.
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (01.19.12)
22. Secular soldiers often have to take part in religious...
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (01.19.12)
...ceremonies, etc. If they refused to take part I'm sure they would be charged with disobeying an order and punished. I know why these boys thing they are superior to other soliders, esp. women soldiers, but I can't figure out why so many talkbackers support special treatment for them, esp when it degrades another soldier.
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