are much like Christian, Muslim, or Hindu ethics - more honored in the breech than in the observance. No greater example of such is the ongoing murderous assault upon Gaza, an act of a nation of sociopaths.

siege? why does everyone keep putting the blame on israel for closing all the borders to gaza how does every single person forget that there is a border with egypt? that um israel does NOT control . israel closed their borders because during a "ceasefire" hamas still shot rockets at the israeli CIVILIAN population. israel is trying to only attack hamas militants but seriously what happened in ww2? did the allies only kill german japanese and italian soldiers? no its war its fighting people get killed. how does everything get so skewed?

ww11 is the worst to jews specially and want to repeate .now iran may get the nuclear bomb .if you say america was right so iran will be right again ... no my friend war is offensive and unjustice is more offensive than war so how it will be if both are done here in the holy land the land that jessuss was born on it lived on it and jessuss awaken the dead to life it was by god order it is to be the land of peace not killing . do you think you can not stop killing only by more killing ... no my friend there are others way . this is my openion on the war specially on the holy lands to jews and cristian and moslemes

You are describing yourself as a Rabbi, man for God. But you are just pathetic creature who is blood thursty animal

You are a brave Rabbi, telling the truth about islamofascist defenders. People against Israel's defence operations are just hypocrites, they don't say a word when the terrorist commit crimes, but when a democracy defend it's citizens are blamed.

With the exception of a very few, Jews do not relish taking lives. As proof, the dealth penality has only been used once, when it could have been used many times. The average soldier does not want to kill Arabs, especially not innocent children and non-combatants. Israel created the problem. Had it followed the examples set by the Russians, Poles, Czechs, etc at the end of WWII, it would have no Palestinian problem. It tried to live in peace with Palestinians, first in its land and then giving the Palestinians the Gaza Strip. Neither worked. Unlike the Hamas, Israeli soldiers take no pride in a kill, and only do so because they feel that they are forced to defend their land and their bretheren. How many rockets are acceptable? If Hamas would promise to keep to under 100 each day would you say that Israel should accept it? Yet Hamas only promised that they would send as many as they could. They would try to kill children. They would try to kill the old. They would not settle for anything less than every Jew leaving the State of Israel for another country, giving up our dreams and our prayers. This is the one thing we will not do. Even if we have to fight to stay here. Even when we have to go to bed crying for the safety of our sons, our nephews, and our neighbors.

Well, there were plenty of Germans who were also accused of self-hatred for not supporting the crimes against humanity committed in their names..I personally find it quite honorable under those circumstances to be called "self-hating." One does not have have to support what is unjust and morally wrong just because there is some ethnic or religious link on the part of those carrying out the crimes.

What if we object to the operation because even if everything goes perfect militarily, the negative diplomatic backlash will outweigh the minimal gains militarily. What if we object to the operation because we have no confidence in Ehud Ohlmert, a man who has raised a family of cowards. What about those objections?

It really cracks me up to read posts such as yours, particuarly one written with such sureness with so little cause. What this "fictional rabbi" said, that "revenge is not Jewish" does not in any way contradict what Rabbi Levi Brackman has said here. This is not about revenge. This is about crippling the ability of your mortal enemies, sworn to eliminate you, to realize their evil ambitions. It is called avoiding extinction, not exacting revenge. And I am positive that another Rabbi, one Jesus of Nazareth, would wholeheartedly agree with the principle, even in the midst of all his talk about turning the other cheek. Last but not least, I shudder to think what the US would have done if its enemies had inflicted on it even a FRACTION of what Hamas inflicted on Israel in the 48 hours before the current "offensive" was launched in Gaza.

((siege? why does everyone keep putting the blame on israel for closing all the borders to gaza)) Because the siege is the official Israeli policy- the closures, confiscations, and blockade began as its policy in 2006, tightening in 2007, because of its agenda. ((how does every single person forget that there is a border with egypt?)) You are right: Egypt is an accomplice due to its indifference and callousness, and is coming under fire from the Arab world (the debate in Aljazeera featured this issue). ((israel closed their borders because during a "ceasefire" hamas still shot rockets at the israeli CIVILIAN population)) Israel has had the borders closed and limited humanitarian aid to the already impoverished strip since 2006, and tightening in 2007, as I've said; the ceasefire has been violated 193 times by Israel, with the figures of 22 dead, 62 injured, and 39 arrested in Gaza (not to mention, it did not lift the siege, which was not honored- that is to say that these are a far cry from the crimes happening now). As for civilians... don't pretend that the IDF does not kill and hurt civilians- its reckless, aimless firing on Gaza has gone so far that it killed three of its own today. ((israel is trying to only attack hamas militants but seriously what happened in ww2?)) Mr., whoever you are, why are you trying to compare this to the most disastrous, destructive war in human history? Do you want the sort of ethics, the sort of fighting that occurred in this war, or perhaps an even greater world war? Suffice to say, it is foolish to compare the Germans and Japanese, both of whom were great military powers whose control encompassed not only their own homelands, but entire continents, to the Palestinians/ Hamas, a militia with only crude rockets and homemade weapons whose homeland was stolen and barely controls a 161 sqare kilometer strip. You can redefine the current offensive in any innocent terms as you'd like, but you fool nobody, except your own kind, as no innocent campaign can explain the senseless destruction of human life and property as this one has caused.

pertaining to this conflict. Unfortunately, you are repeating here verbatim the ridiculous claims made by the Palestinian leadership to justify their failure to step up to the plate and take some responsibility after Sharon's disengagement from Gaza. As usual, in your apologetic explanations, you make the same fatal error as many others: removing from the equation the failure of both Hamas and PLO to renounce their goals for the destruction of the Jewish state of Israel, in its entirety. Therefore, your statements are null and void.

Are all critical non-Jewish Westerners Anti-Semites??? Who is this guy, why is he allowed to write such incitement, slander, and racist slurs? Anyone, please explain.

and the government as a whole that you want "revenge." ((What this "fictional rabbi" said, that "revenge is not Jewish" does not in any way contradict what Rabbi Levi Brackman has said here.)) Oh really? So when he says the Jewish critics of this inhuman offensive are "not Jewish" does not contradict this? ((This is about crippling the ability of your mortal enemies, sworn to eliminate you, to realize their evil ambitions)) Now you're rambling. "To realize their evil ambitions?" Actually, you are revealing your own evil ambitions... and when the images are broadcast of these evil ambitions... well, you protest the pictures (because they're worth a thousand words) but not the action themselves. ((Last but not least, I shudder to think what the US would have done if its enemies had inflicted on it even a FRACTION of what Hamas inflicted on Israel in the 48 hours before the current "offensive" was launched in Gaza.)) I wonder why you are condemning your CLOSEST ALLY IN THE WORLD, the one that's generously giving you $3 billion a year, plus advice. You took the aid, but not the advice, and ended up making enemies like Hamas (that is, of course, excluding the cheerleading of the Bush administration). The US has serial killers and mass murderers who do more damage to the US communities than Hamas to the whole of Israel.

I don't object to the Gaza invasion on grounds that it is illegal. I object on the grounds that it is idiotic and will accomplish nothing. When are the people of Israel going to learn that Ohlmert is an idiot? Now you have a school collapsing. Now the Arabs fire at schools all the time. It may be that the Arabs stored weapons at the school But this isn't good and that has to be built into the decision.

Diego, Thank you for sharing your opinion. Let me just offer you a few facts to help you build a more impartial view of the situation: 1) Israel pulled out of Gaza in 2005, leaving it under the complete control of the Palestinians. Following suit, the Palestinians democratically elected Hamas to the local government. Hamas is a terrorist organization that preaches the destruction of the State of Israel and has been busying itself for the last 8 years with attacking Israel with rockets. Did you every make any comments against these attacks? I am not going to ask you if you think Israel should keep its borders open to a country whose government preaches its destruction because I am sure you will say yes. You will call it pacifism; I call it suicide. 2) Gaza did not have to necessarily be turned into a jail. If you take a look at a region map, you will see that Gaza also has a considerable borderline with a fellow Arab country. Between its borders being open to a fellow Arab country or to a country that Hamas preaches to destroy, which one do you think should be open? This is just a rethorical question: I don't want your pacifist answer again. 3) A two state solution is possible when two people agree that they both have the right to have a state. Hamas doesn't think so. Iran, who backs Hamas, doesn't think so either. Once cannot make peace alone. I am a pacifist too. But I also believe in self-defense. Something that you yourself would probably believe in if only you were living under the threat of rockets falling on your home. Believe me, this is not comfortable.

Thank you for you rational post. I just wanted to say about the USA. Did you ever notice that most of the states in the USA have Native American names? That just proves, that the 'white man' knows, subconsciously, who really 'owns' the land there.

If yes then all i can say that you've accepted to live with who shouldn't be alive.

AS jews we should be clear about our beliefs. The palestinians have been given enough chances for peace. As a people they won't stop fighting till Israel is destroyed. The only choice we have is to kill them all or remove them from Eretz Israel. We can't let our emotions get in the way of the only solution to the problem. Thank you Rabbi Brackman for making this clear.

Dear Rabbi Brackman, One can state a viewpoint contrary to yours and not be considered a traitor to the Jewish people or a detriment to Israel. I too, agree that Israel must defend itself from rockets. However, there is absolutely nothing "unjewish" or counterproductive to Israeli interests to have Jews voice their opinion against the military action in Gaza. While I support this military action and view Israel as defending itself from Hamas, I too am concerned with the loss of Palestinian life. If the tables were turned, and we were the Palestinians, who is to say that an extremist Jewish group wouldn't be leading us in Gaza? This point might sound ridiculous to you, but just remember that if 700 or more Jewish lives were viewed as collateral damage (can you be certain that all the Palestinians who died voted or agree with the Hamas doctrine), you of all people would expect "the guy upstairs" to see this as a tragedy - regardless of the military or national security implications to your enemy. Also, your view of Judaism might be different from the lady in your article, but it is in no way more correct or valid in my view. I see Judaism as she does. Finally, instead of galloping on the moral high horse of "they shot first so we are ordained by all that is good to fire back at will," how about more of a human, or rather Jewish outlook on this cycle of violence. My point is try to devote more than one miniscule line about Palestinian suffering when defending Israel. It would do Jews around the world a lot of good and would benefit Israel immeasurably if Jews were seen as people who understood the suffering of others while at the same time tried to protect Jewish lives. It is a "moral imperative" that we defend Israel from a standpoint that addresses completely the suffering of the other side while AT THE SAME TME being able to justify Israeli military actions. Doing so will benefit Israel far more than censuring opposing viewpoints. THAT is unJewish. Sincerely, Harold Goodman Los Angeles CA

is how a friend of mine once described the ignorant whon wish to remain ignorant and decry those who would use logic. Let me ask this: If a drunk wants to get behind of the wheel and drive would you stay silent and exhort all others to stay silent because he is Jewish, or would you either 1)Take his keys or 2) call the police? According to the rabbi, you would not only stay silent but actively promote his driving especially if the presumed vicim of such action would be a Palestinian. Ask yourself, if the shoe were on the other foot, would you exhort death and destruction or remain silent?

Thank you Rabbi Brackman, for stating that so clearly and succinctly. I have been struggling with the issue of human shields. You have provided clarity to my moral dilemma.

Please give Sarah this massage: Had the Maccabees have her train of thought, there would be no Hanukka to celebrate.

She couldn't celebrate Chanuka while Arabs were being killed in Gaza. Could she celebrate holidays while Jews were being killed all over Israel, and even in some places in the Galut? Has she ever spoken out about 8 years of Gaza rockets on Southern Israel? Has she ever spoken out when Jews were murdered on buses, in restaurants, at Pesach seders in hotels, on vacations, in schools, in their own homes and cars, etc etc?????