Arie, there are people from Egypt, Qatar, Jordan etc... there too... this is an international rescue effort- didn't you read the article? Can we just for once, leave politics and religion out of it for now, and save people's lives first?

look guys- this is an emergency and desperate rescue mission- do we help first and THEN worry about the publicity, please? Many countries have sent help and more is on the way- I have not heard anybody asking "what do we get out of it".... Donate money, pray- don't rack your brain about publicity and what it does for the image- support your team- .

Let me assure you, the Israelis who are working in Haiti are focused solely on that mission. However, the reason why people are raising the issue in the talkbacks, as to whether the media is giving any coverage to Israel's contribution to Haiti, is because of the chicken shit that gets covered (particularly in the European media), as long as it can cast Israel in a negative light, while anything positive goes unreported.

We can be proud of our people , they do a great job , and are VOLUNTEERS , 24 hours a day , 365 days per year . We are proud of our Jewish guys because they are always ready to help , here and abroad . And YES , it's a sacred duty they exercise , even if they only manage to save one life .

just noting that teh pakeed forgot to write something dripping with hate and contempt for christians like usual. just wondering why he didn't wrench some spite in (must be under the weather or something). unless you disagree, he is judaism's god-appointed prophet, who so happens to be full of hate and intolerance for minorities. why is it wrong or bad to want people to not think of judiasm in this way? that is a good thing by every definition of the concept.

or not Jewish ? To save a life you not only MAY , but HAVE to "desecrate" Shabbat and even Yom Kippour . They are , rightfull PROUD of the job they do , even if they "work" Shabbat . It's not only a duty , it's also a Mitzwa .

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/App/TalkBack/CdaViewOpenTalkBack/0,11382,L-3832120-3,00.html

It is prohibited by the Torah to ask someone who is interested in selling or leasing something, how much he or she is charging for that item, if the person asking has no interest in purchasing the item and is only interested in knowing the price for other reasons. The Same applies here, the Zaka man may have the the intent to desecrate Shabbat while pretending to rescue people to polish the image of the Jewish people or the state. So, it IS prohibited by the Torah.

The person who misstated Jewish law has desecrated G-d's name. Jewish law generally requires a Jew who is in a position to do so to 'push aside' the laws of the Sabbath etc in order to save a life. In the time of the Talmud, there was a theoretical question as to whether one must save the life of a virulently anti-Semitic idol worshipper. That was a theoretical question. For centuries, Jews have set aside all but the 3 cardinal laws (murder, illicit sexual relations, and idol worship) to save lives. There may be some rare exceptions (I cannot imagine Jewish law requiring someone to save the life of a Nazi or an Islamic terrorist--although Israeli doctors often do just that!), but in general orthodox Jewish law in practice treats all human beings as having 'tzelem Elo-kim', a divine image, and worthy of being saved.

What a blessing for the rest of us

I am sure the people of Haiti appreciate any help from all the helpers- not sure if they really care if the help comes from the Russians, Swiss or Israelis- . What surprises me is that in a desperate situation there is even a hint of a talk about possible desecration of Shabbat or any religious laws. This article shows the true heart of the Israeli team- do the TBs really find it necessary to bring politics and religion etc. into it- at this point? As for chicken shit in the European press: you got some major manure spreading happening in the US on your revolting talk shows (Limbaugh et al...) so save me the sob stories,

Who needs kabalat shabat there who needed kabalat shabat in death camps ? Where was your GOD there and here now. come on come to the 21st century . godd morning

just go to a Swisstzerland site. What the hell do you insist in stick here???

Saving a life is not desecrating Shabbat. God gave Torah to save lives.

As a German I am very proud and greatly impressed by the quick and very efficient help Israeli teams provided and still provice to Haiti. Israeli teams are always among the first ones to help in global disasters - and do so very effectívely. May the God of Israel bless Israel abundantly. Sabine

YNet is proud to desecrate Shabbat

be blind and walk around with a white stick

Charles, If you don't want to read tb's,be blind and walk around with a white stick.

Hey, good humor is the best remedy. And I really like your humor, I can just imagine the Zaka team showing off to haitian vodoo priests how to sacrifice a chicken.

They are doing a terrific job in helping the earthquake victims. Just the fact that they came from so far away on Shabbat says how much this team really cares. It represents Judaism at its very best. #19 No, but if any of the crew even speaks French, then that can only help more. Creole is the langage there though. Those most likely to know it would be those volunteers from the US, where many Haitian expats live.

You ask rhetorically why are Jews "shouting (typically) loudly, the fact that you are jewish. Who cares?" In case you haven't noticed, this is an Israeli/Jewish news portal--and it is normal that an Israeli news site covers the Israeli contribution to Haiti relief efforts. What do you expect? Many other countries are also making major valuable contributions, if you look at website from the Domincan Republic, Mexico, China, or Qatar, they will stress the Dominican, Mexican, Chinese or Qatari efforts to help the suffering people in Haiti. However, those countries' news portals don't have mutants like you commenting them in talkbacks and deriding and taunting their valiant work and suggesting that they either hide their identity or go back to their countries.

"You save one life, you save the world." (Schindler's List) Thanks for your assistance in saving the world.

It is my understanding of halacha that pikuach mefesh, the saving of life, takes precedence even over the laws of Shabbat, and accordingly the actions of the resuers was not a desecration of Shabbat, but a sanctification. The word choice used in the headline and story was unfortunate.

Shalom to our ZAKA friends! We are praying G-d's peace upon you all. H-s protection over you...H-s strength to you all. and to H-s land of Israel... shalom!