His inconstant argument makes even less sense than usual. If the Earthquake was related why did it happen so late in the process? When in history did anyone say that exclusively studying Torah was desirable let alone necessary? No one is saying that the yeshiva boys should not study Torah, just that they should be serving their country too - as has happened throughout our history. The real underlying fight is not about them serving in the army, but in them studying and not contributing or working at all. Historically only a few could do that based on the voluntary contribution of their communities, the country can not afford to keep paying for an ever growing number of individuals who do not contribute back into the system in a financially tangible way.

Studying torah doesn't excuse you from serving the country. Maybe if the Haredim studied outside the torah and talmud they would understand what actually causes earthquakes.

Reb. Amar and his ilk are hypocrites. The Devil is behind this?!? Really?!? The man has totally forgotten his history! What would King David, King Solomon and the prophet's say to him if they were alive today? What would Moshe Rebenu and Avram Avinu say to him if they were alive? Everyone, and I mean, EVERYONE must do their service to the nation. Not just in biblical times, but even now! This non-sense that the Charedi are under constant persecution is just utter chutzpah! They wish to make themselves into fat self serving kings with the yeshiva students as their minions. If someone wants to study Torah 18 hours a day, then great! Good for them, but first they need to serve the nation and pay their own way, THEN and only THEN can they study Torah for that insane amount of time. I'm not paying for you ANYMORE! If all the seculars left, then what would you do? Did the Hasmoneans refuse to fight? Did David, Avram Avinu, Moshe, and everyone else refuse to fight???? Reb. Shlomo, stop dodging your responsibility to the Jewish Nation. Stop this insanity. There is enough room for Seculars and Charedi to respect each other. This nonsensical game of trying to get everyone to cow-tow to your whims is insanity and will end with everyone losing.

With respect to the Rabbi's knowledge I am apalled at his proclamation. There is no such creature as "The Devil". This is a medieval European Christian invention. There is no Hell either. There is only a big place called "Universe" and most educated theologians in Israel's and the world's universities would laugh at the idea that a chief Rabbi in Israel believes in such a creature. This kind of thinking is a sign that there are incompetent teachers in those yeshivot. The devil you all need to worry about there is called Islamic Jihad, Hamas, Hezbollah etc. These are devilish organizations. Israel stands more chance of defeating them non-violently when Israel's religious leaders will encourage our militant stands with some true religious grit. Not this pathetic medieval nonsense. That's what the enemy prefers isn't it? Or mabe the Rabbi has not read the newspapers lately !!!!

That this stone age rabbi gets a monthly pay chech each month from the government. What better case for separating the state from religion.

He said: "Let them, the heroes, try and sit and study one week all day and see what real hardship is" The heros do know the ultimate hardship already, going into war! There is no greater hardship as fighting in a war, facing death! So I think rabbis yeshiva boys have no clue what real hardships are, they are just pampered work and service avoiders, compared to the men and women which risk thier lifes daily for the sake of Israel!

with 40 kg on his back. The rabbi doesn't know hardship until he out there in a war with a gun with bullets flying around him. The devil's work? Does Judaism even believe in a devil? Where did he bring this up? And the hypocrisy. The gull. To claim a random earthquake south of Europe that was felt in Israel is somehow related to equality being demanded from haredim. He thinks he's the centre of the universe. You live an average 80 years. You're free to do what you want in that time, but 3 years of those you join the army like everyone else. The women do not study the Torah, but according to your belief gain access to heaven by "enabling the husbands to study", if they go out and tend the kids and work. For that same reason you enable yourself and others to study Torah by defending the state. 3 years you serve the state, and then you're free to do what you want for the next 60 years, preferably with your own money and not through taxes given by the secular public. But what is probably the worst thing here, is how they equate this to all the hardships of the jewish people in history. In this, they claim the haredim are the only jews, and that Israel is in fact an evil factor as the Egyptians, the Romans, the Inquisitors, etc. In this, I can wholeheartedly say **** YOU! YOU DO NOT OWN A MONOPOLY OVER JUDAISM! YOU ARE A TINY GROUP OUT OF ALL JEWS IN THE WORLD, AND YOU ARE NOT EVEN SELF SUFFICIENT TO ALLOW YOURSELF THIS HYPOCRISY THAT SOMEHOW YOU ARE THE ONLY RIGHT GROUP!

ago, It is hard to believe that sephardi chief rabbi of Israel, still believes in mumbo jumbo. Learning Torah has not done much for him, ih he believes that just learning it staves off evil. The Shoa generation learned that the hard wat Torah should teach Amar that man must live by the sweat of his brow and it is a chillul to duck out behind books to live in a cop out world. Ben Ish Chai worked for a living . Amar is ignorant

Now he got me confused. I thought the earthquake was because of the homosexuals and their gay pride parade? Also, nobody was killed or even injured, so maybe god doesn't mind? Or maybe the earthquake occurred because nowadays we produce to many Rabbis with Amar's IQ?

Let's assume, some salient argument existed, against universal draft. Should that have occurred, then this ridiculous rant, would have erased it.

it would only be fare that the secular share the burden of Torah and Mitzvot. Or is it only a one-way deal where haredim have to please the secular?

Need I even say more than that? Oh, there's this: What an a**!

Sounds like the Rabbi has been drinking the Christian & Islamic Kool-Aid instead of studying Torah.

What a retard. Does he know that the concept of devil does not exist in judaism? I assume he is the smartest in his community. Do you imagine how useful they can be doing army or civil service?

Mitzvoth are a matter of choice that is why you get rewarded for doing it. If it was mandatory there would be little reward. Hence this is a personal issue not a state issue. Military service is a state issue for the survival for all. Remember in Europe there were more yeshivas and big rabbis than exist in the world today and just learning did not save them. God gave us common sense to use. Also the Torah state that you should not count on miracles.

If we study Tanach we find that earthquakes were often accompanying historic events connected with HaShem! There is no denying that. If you believe in Torah you must believe this also. However, that does not make the Rabbi correct in this instance. It could have been a routine natural occurrence or it could have been as a result of Divine action. Another possibility is that HaShem is indeed angry about the draft issue but it could be it is the Haredi that He is angry with as they shirk their duties of serving Israel as their brothers throughout history did. I have never read anything in Tanach that gives these Haredi exemption. The tribe of Levi fought proudly and in the Name of HaShem. Before making such prophetic announcements the good Rabbi should make sure he is on firm footing. Especially when the ground begins to shake.

Please nobody listen to that man. Religious, not religious; he's a moron.

If what they learn is that legislation that they disapprove of causes earthquakes in their 18 hours a day of study, they would be better off doing close order drill in the IDF. Schools that teach superstitious nonsense deserve no respect.

He should have a debate with some of the Iranian Ayatalos, since they decreed that earthquakes are caused by women who expose their breasts. One of them must be wrong.

Okay, and this makes sense how?

I think that his place isn't on a pulpit anymore . He was maybe a man of great knowledge , but the years have taken their toll . Sad that some take him still seriously , with such "proclamations" ....

That as long as there is no seperation between religion and State, this insanity reflects on the State.

Of what we have to look forward to, if the Haredim don't get their lazy asses in the army instead of pretending to study ..

It's Torah studying that protects Israel and the army. If anything the state owes Torah scholars for their lives and they should pay for it double and triple.

When Joshua secured the Holy land 3500 yrs ago ..ALL tribes were required to participate in the military assault ...including the Levitra who took the ark before the tribes as they crossed the Jordan river .... it would seem the current return of Israel should have the same participation .... the Haredim study for what? leadership in a future Israeli state? if so what better time to put their faith in God to the real test...

Isn't it about time to took off the fancy dress? And who gave the fellow from Shas also the right to wear fancy dress? I have never understood why these people, or the Pope or the Bishops dress up in the most peculiar clothes, is to make them feel important?

He is making the best case...... he is demonstrating that he does not know about Judaism by using concepts of middle-age Christianity..... this way he demonstrates that the young people will learn a lot more from the IDF than from the Yeshivot..... Better for them to go to the Tzahal.....

So pathetic how they are such hypocrites. If such earthquakes were directly related, te country would crumble from all their corruption and draining of welfare of the country