Jewish Scene
73%: Rabbis mustn't talk politics
Ynet
Published: 20.12.10, 15:05
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23 Talkbacks for this article
1. We are in a democraty
ORA ,   Jerusalem   (12.20.10)
Why should Rabbis not have the right to talk politics,like every citizen?
2. Maybe Israel needs something like the US "Hatch Act"
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, USA   (12.20.10)
When I worked as a federal civil servant, I was prohibited by law from engaging in partisan politics. I could contribute to a candidate, even "stuff envelopes", but that was it. It was, and remains, an attempt to keep public service distinct from politics. Israel could take a lesson. That's problematic for the rabbis on the public payroll, many of whom subscribe to the notion of Daat Torah, where one defers to the "superior wisdom" of the rabbis even on secular and political matters. It's why UTJ and Shas politicians are always "consulting" with Elyashiv and Yosef. But "going rogue" isn't limited to rabbis on the state payroll. It's a more general problem of those in government service - like those Foreign Ministry consuls who think they're entitled to run their own foreign policy.
3. Ora , every citizen does NOT receive a state salary
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (12.20.10)
That's the difference . Let them leave their jobs [ paid by seculars too ] become ordinary citizens . Then they'll have the right to talk .
4. Freedom to express opinion allows everyone to be a P.M.
Roland Seener ,   London England   (12.20.10)
5. Everyone has the right to talk politics.
Chaim ,   Israel   (12.21.10)
Let me get this straight. Some people claim Rabbis don't have the right to talk politics. This is a democracy. Everyone has the right to talk politics.
6. Why just the Rabbi's?
Dan ,   New York   (12.21.10)
If the reason why you want to ban the rabbis from having freedom of speech is because some of them are on the public payroll, then logically you must ban everyone on the public payroll from talking politics, including bus drivers, professors and...politicians themselves! Unless you want to be honest and state your real agenda, that religious people should have no rights in Israel!
7. What about the professors
Jack ,   NJ, USA   (12.21.10)
Why should the Rabbi's be the only ones banned from expressing their opinion? Just because they are paid from public funds and influence upon their followers? How about the professors? they are also on the public dime and have influence on their impressionable students? Ohhh, that's right, the difference is that whilst the Rabbis are religious and mostly right wing, the professors are mostly secular and left wing!
8. Wisdom suppression...
Kabala.Chabad stdt. ,   Niles.IL.USA   (12.21.10)
...it appears that the channels of Wisdom of the Torah is being squelched which is a dangerous slippery slope...we are distancing more and more from the Sinai Generation and moving closer to a globalization generation
9. Ovadia Yosef need to keep his big mouth shut
Avi ,   Israel   (12.21.10)
His Royal Holliness Ayatollah Yusf Ovadia need to learn to keep his big vile mouth shut, for someone that is so concerned what he puts in his mouth he dosent seem to care what comes out of it. He has done more to turn people off religion than anyone. If this cult leader is a symbol of religion then we are all in big trouble
10. Just study kabbalah, dear "rabbis"
Israeli 2   (12.21.10)
then you MAY be called a true RABBI
11. to 7
(12.21.10)
do you see it is diffecult to be a proffesor and rabi ..................i think te fault is related between religion and education .as if this is a path and that is another .....
12. Let's make a deal
Yehuda ,   Ashdod, ISRAEL   (12.21.10)
How about if the Rabbis agree not to talk about politics and the politicians agree not to talk about religion? The POLITICIANS will never agree!
13. 3 Charles
ORA ,   Jerusalem   (12.21.10)
Is this a law or your opinion?
14. Then seculars shouldn't also talk.
tejas ,   India   (12.21.10)
Seculars should also leave their jobs if they want to express their political opinions.
15. Agreed ... but
observer   (12.21.10)
Those who are not rabbis should not express opinions about the Jewish religion.
16. To #11 who doesn't even spell
m   (12.21.10)
Attacking rabbis is ignorant. Do you know how many rabbi/doctors are there? Did you know that the Lubavitcher Rebbe was a graduate at Sorbonne? Have you ever heard of Rabbi Twersky, one of the greatest psychiatrists in this generation? Probably now because you read YNET
17. The right to speak
ORA ,   Jerusalem   (12.21.10)
As long there is no law who forbids a certain group to give his opinion,nobody can forbid them to do so.Period.
18. #7 Professors
Albi ,   Ashkelon   (12.21.10)
The difference is that people who listen to professors have minds of their own and think for themselves about what is said. Those who follow the rabbis accept everything they say no matter how illogical, unreasonable, cruel, unjust racist or stupid it may be. Or even unJewish.
19. rabbi's funded by the State
h.s.cohen ,   New York City U.S.A.   (12.21.10)
Stop funding the Rabbinate! Israel is a democracy (yes or no?)
20. dont comment on politics without an education
izzy d   (12.21.10)
mabey the idea should be: dont commeht on public affairs without an education. the talkbackers here display an alarming ignorcence of basic political science. I doubt they understand the concept of democracy at all. what the hell does the system of government have to do with the ethical minutae of wether or not civil servants can iscuss politics? democracy dosnt even have a solid definition!!! this is why i belive that to earn the right to vote citizens need to pass a policy test.
21. Rabbis=mullahs
Ex-Orthodox Jew ,   Israel   (12.22.10)
Whoever thinks the rabbis have the permission to speak politics must keep his/her mouth shut every time an Islamic mullah gives a political statement - even against us.
22. #20 To test or not to test?The same mess
ORA ,   Jerusalem   (12.22.10)
This would be unfair against uneducated people. The role of the media is to inform clearly,so that everybody can understand,for what every party stands.The problem is,that once the party is voted,we do not recognize anymore the programa they anounced before the election.
23. ORA #17
JDE ,   Boston, USA   (12.27.10)
"As long there is no law who forbids a certain group to give his opinion,nobody can forbid them to do so.Period. " I wish there were someone who could force you to do so.
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