Jewish Scene
58% of religious public oppose questioning of rabbis
Ynet
Published: 05.09.10, 07:47
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26 Talkbacks for this article
1. The # 1 problem in Israel
Sagi   (09.05.10)
today is the Haredim and religious coercion through the participation of religious parties in the electoral system. This is not compatible with a democracy and as long as it exists we have no right to call ourselves a democracy. In fact the whole situatuon is farcical and to add to this some even advocate that Rabbis should be above the law. This is not only warped thinking, it is very,very dangerous.
2. RABBIS ARE NOT ABOVE THE LAW !
BENJAMIN ,   SINGAPORE   (09.05.10)
THERE IS NO SPECIAL EXCEPTION FOR RABBIS WHO ARE SUBJECT/ CITIZEN OF ISRAEL ! ENFORCEMENT OF LAW V MORAL VALUE = ENFORCEMENT OF LAW. THE LAW OF THE STATE REGULATES THE CONDUCT OF EVERY ONE AS SUCH RABBIS ARE NOT EXEMPTED ! YOU ARE STAYING IN THIS WORLD ON THE LAND OF ISRAEL AS SUCH THE LAW OF THE LAND SHALL PREVAIL. THE TENSION BETWEEN LAW AND MORALITY IS THE CREATION OF THE RABBIS. WHAT MORE WHEN WE APPLY THE RELIGIOUS LAW ON THE RABBIS, THEY ARE STILL THE VIOLATORS OF LAW AND ORDER ! WE NEED HARD LAW TO EDUCATE THE RELIGIOUS LAWLESS DESPERADO'S LIKE THESE RABBIS !
3. If we had an honest judiciary we could be a democracy
Ilan ,   Ariel   (09.05.10)
Enough of our phony judicial system which is a shallow copy of the Soviet model. If we had honest judges and prosecutors then there would be some trust in the system and they would know well enough that freedom of discourse is a right of all citizens.
4. Freedom of speech does not allow incitment
Eric ,   Tel Aviv & New York   (09.05.10)
Just as freedom of speech does not allow someone to yell fire in a crowded hall when there is no real danger, freedom of religion does not allow someone to incite to violence.
5. Freedom to Express Politicall Incorrect Views
Y.G. ,   Israel   (09.05.10)
It would be much wiser to redefine the right of "freedom of speech" as it guaranteed by law. Look to America, where a federal court upheld the right of freedom of speech in a case where protestors against the war in Iraq and Afganistan trampled and even burned the American flag at a funeral of a dead soldier. We have much to learn about "rights".
6. Rabbis are gods
Golan ,   modiin   (09.05.10)
Rabbis and leftist "leaders" are gods and their motives cannot be questioned. They must be worshiped and sacrificed to. Anyone has a cat?
7. Then the majority are sinners. "favor in judgement"
Josh   (09.05.10)
Torah forbids several thing s that these people should focus on. You shall not show favor in judgement One law for everyone You shall guard Torah from corruptions and keep all of its laws You shall apply the law of testing those who claim to speak for G-d. You shall not add to or subtract from the law that Moshe gave You shall be righteous You shall not commit murder (even for goyim) Of course some of these people act ike cult members where leaders are untouchable and obedience at all costs is engrained. If G-d wanted laws about or an opinion about other nations He would have wrote them himself. Unless the Rabbi is a prophet, stay out of speaking for Torah, Moses was hired to do that and he did just fine or he would have been fired.
8. Being a Rabbi sounds like a great deal
Randy   (09.05.10)
Are there any downsides to being a Rabbi? Unquestioned authority. Final authority over community. Automatic broad respect. Government money (plus kickbacks for favors). Political favors. Followers protect, excuse, dismiss misdeeds. Certain laws aren't applicable. gets to judge disputes (and can be "persuaded" in how he rules). Seems like it takes a special kind of person to be a Rabbi.
9. Ficticious Poll
Barbara ,   Haifa Israel   (09.05.10)
Hey, no one asked me ! Of course, a rabbi can be interrogated. What, now rabbis are gods ? No - they are people like the rest of us - made of flesh and blood and should be required to abide by the same laws as the rest of us.
10. WARRANT OF ARREST IS THE PROCEDURE !
BENJAMIN ,   SINGAPORE   (09.05.10)
NO BODY IS ABOVE THE LAW ! WE DONT WANT DISOBEDIENT RABBIS ! RABBI DOV LIOR HAS DONE A LOT OF DAMAGE TO MANY IN SO MANY DECISIONS. HE MAY PLEAD DURING YOM KIPPOR, BUT AFTER THAT HE WILL STILL BE ARRESTED !
11. a privileged "elite"
Michael ,   Haifa   (09.05.10)
Apparently, there isn't a Rabbi Buzaglo in Israel
12. No. 8 Randy
NYC Girl   (09.05.10)
I think you'll find these days the respect for the more extreme rabbis is neither automatic nor broad. In fact, the patience of most Israelis is wearing thin with the antics of people who feel they are above the law. The question, however, is when are they going to translate these negative feelings into some kind of action in order put a stop to the mayhem? Probably not until Israel reforms the political system that allows these people to have any degree of power out of all proportion to their numbers.
13. I totally disagree
Israeli 2   (09.05.10)
Rabbi Yosef and Lior should be investigated by all means if necessary.
14. Rabbi = Pope?
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (09.05.10)
Some people tend to forget that there is no 'infallible' person in Judaism...
15. Sad to find out now,
Eshkol Hakofer   (09.05.10)
that 58 percent of religious in Israel are fundamentalist!
16. To#9 barbara
thinkagain ,   jerusalem   (09.05.10)
A Rabbi represents the Tora,and as such should be respected.I am quiet sure he would amiably answer all the questions ,if it was done with the requested respect due to a Rabbi ,in a decent place, and not like criminal.
17. Leaders must lead by example, not exempt themselves
Paqid Yirmeyahu ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (09.05.10)
The Sages taught to avoid the appearance of evil. If they're innocent they deserve to be exonerated as a tzadiq. If not, they deserve to be treated like anyone else. In no case does ANYone deserve special treatment, which contradicts tzedeq. Paqid Yirmeyahu Paqid 16, The Netzarim, Ra'anana, Israel Israeli Torah-reverer: Teimani, Baladi, Dor Dai Jew Advocate for Logic as Hermeneutic Halakhic Authority www.netzarim.co.il Welcoming All Torah-reverers (Jews & non-Jew geirim)
18. Sounds like polling religious Muslims about fundie Mullahs
Avi ,   Galuth   (09.05.10)
In fact, I see less and less differences between Orthodox Halacha and Sharia.
19. "Intellectuals"?
David ,   Israel   (09.05.10)
If some of the weirdos calling citizens to hide foreign workers are associated with academia, it's no reason to say that "intellectuals" support this idea.
20. 17 - there is a cure for jerusalem syndrome
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (09.05.10)
but admitting one has a problem is the first step toward complete recovery.
21. RABBI'S ARE CITIZENS (FIRST CITIZENS) BUT STILL ARE ....
DAV ZEE ,   US   (09.05.10)
RABBI'S ARE CITIZENS (FIRST CITIZENS) BUT STILL ARE FIRMLY RESPONSIBLE TO THE COMMUNITY AND IT'S LAWS AND...PROTECTIONS. SHOULDN'T THEY AS IMPORTANT RESPECTED CITIZENS SUPPORT THE POLICE and protective SERVICES WITH ALL THEIR DEMOCRATIC ORDAINED MIGHT? AND MAYBE SET A GOOD EXAMPLE...
22. Rabbis are not above the Law of the Torah
Shalom   (09.06.10)
and neither are the High Court judges and neither may the Laws of the Jewish country be. ----------- "58% of haredim and the religious public believe that rabbis should not be subjected to police interrogation." VERY doubtful about this poll. Only naive talkbackers would believe this. "A poll conducted by Ynet" says it all. They are well known for distorting the truth. I can well imagine the kind of "haredim" they asked.
23. Questioning Rabbis
Joe   (09.06.10)
It's Dangerous. The supposedly "Learned Man" may turn out to be naive and foolish like the rest of us.
24. the working class origins of hasidism
sweeter than honey ,   far away   (09.06.10)
in the pale of settlement explains this traditions. only one profession was wide open to jews in the pale, the rabbinate. and the rabbis kow-towed the czars by taking working class jews (mainly agricultural workers) and giving them a religious order and thus diverting them from revolutionary (political and social equality for example) activity. trotsky, first commander in chief of the red army was born a jew etc., etc.. the rabbinate's policy was not sucessful in a total sell-out of the jewish people to the czar. indeed, lest we forget, czar nicholas and family was shot dead by a squad led by a jewish captain of the red army, (order of lenin too). (was there another choice in being an equal human being?, i think not). so chasids still worship their rabbis, in a bizarre parallel and reflection of a royalist cossack czar worshiper, ( famed for their philo-semitism? hardly). their dress reflects working class aspirants to middle class respectability in eastern europe, and the pale, 200 years ago, and not some biblical heritage. sad, but true, it's the ultra-conservativism of a most oppressed people in czarist russia. the czars are no more, and those jews who wanted to free their people should also be remembered. these chasids, and jews in general, so many of whom are truly ignorant, should read their own history, and should evolve, to survive, just as russia has done.
25. What if they tell you to jump out of a window
Talula ,   Israel   (09.07.10)
and catch your eyelid on a jutting out nail on the way down.... would you do it?
26. No One is Above Secular Law
Dav Lev ,   Burbank,CAUSA   (09.24.10)
As citizens of the State, no one is above the law., not even rabbis. If a rabbi goes into a supermarket and steals..is he exempt from being arrested. Of course not. If a rabbi steals from a congregation, is he exempt. Of course not. If he commits fraud..is he exempt.? He is exempt only if he breaks one of G-ds laws..then he is judged, but not by a secular judge. Get it. If a rabbi writes an article, expousing murder..he breaks a state law, and must be investigated. In the US, if a pastor or priest molests a child..he is subject to secular laws, and the laws of the church appropriately. If a priest marrys in the church..he is excommunicated, rightfully. Gay priests cannot marry..and are disciplined, rightly. Rabbis who molest or mistreat youngsters, must be questioned, investigated, punished and arrested.
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