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Ashdod chief rabbi: Siren sounds during prayer? Don't move
Kobi Nahshoni
Published: 21.03.12, 08:52
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19 Talkbacks for this article
1. Iron Dome is not perfect
solatic ,   Jerusalem   (03.21.12)
Iron Dome does not protect against the types of missiles that Iran will fire nor can it protect adequately against rockets from Gaza/Lebanon if there are too many rockets launched at one time for Iron Dome to keep up with. If there is an alarm, you absolutely have the imperative to run for shelter under mesirat nefesh. What does the Rabbi think, that the alarm is sounded just for fun? If Iron Dome was perfect, why sound the alarm at all? All that the Rabbi is doing is increasing the odds that someone will get killed. Do not get complacent!
2. an ironic wish
Michael ,   Haifa   (03.21.12)
May god save us from a halachic State.
3. I am sorry to tell you all but todays Rabbis are wackjobs
Al   (03.21.12)
and this is coming form a guy who was raised in a religious home and whose sons are religious. Todays Rabbis in general are nutjobs who dont understand a single thing. Religion is a part of your life...It doesnt command you to be stupid, poor and robotic. The Judaism they espouse today is a far cry from the yiddishkeit of my late parents who were true frumme yidden. They kept their faith after the most bitter test, the loss of their entire families in Europe. Todays nutcase Rabbis espouse nonsense. Its high time that normal yidden reclaim our religion.
4. Why worry, they have IDF to protect them
Yitzhak ,   Israel   (03.21.12)
Not that they send their sons and daughters to protect all of us; better non-Haredi blood be spilt to protect these shirkers. Let them pray! My children in Tsahal will keep them safe.
5. The Government will give them "Iron Shteimels"
David ,   Karmiel   (03.21.12)
Always money for the Haredim! No doubt the rabbis wil say that "G-d will protect them". Don't the fools realize that He gave them the siren and the bomb shelter!
6. Normal and yidden are oxymoronic
(03.21.12)
But the majority of rabbis are very illogical and therefore can't decide halakha. But don't tell that to their followers.
7. Okay, fine with me
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (03.21.12)
Everybody has a right to do what they wish. If it doesn't hurt others, what's the problem?
8. These are the kind of dumbasses screwing up
Thinking Jew ,   Israel   (03.21.12)
who can marry who is a convert who is a Jew what is halacha who's frummer than whom who's a better family than whom what "best" schools (ignore science, etc.) who can attend "best" schools why Ashkenazi are purer than "kushim" Truly revolting! When are you going to trow da bums out???
9. Undoubtedly he's a "Great Spiritual" leader to his donkey-
tom ,   tel aviv   (03.21.12)
followers! Keep on swaying bro....
10. Pecuach Nefesh
Norman Gellman ,   Rehovot   (03.21.12)
Was this Raqbbi absent when they studied about pecuach Nefesh? Does he not know that he is putting his followers in grave danger? His ruling may be OK when the danger is minutes away but it is foolhardy en the deanger is seconds away. Rabbis need to get out of their esoteric world and come down to earth.
11. Stop asking these foolish "rabbis" questions
jason white ,   afula, israel   (03.21.12)
and you will not get stupid replies. He is old and cannot run, so what would he reply? The time for rabbis should be over. We do not need that position in the Jewish community today.We can have scholars, but we do not need them to give opinions. We have thousands of years of opinions and that is enough. And stop the questions already.They have been asked before.
12. OUT OF order&mind! There's no business like show BUSINESS!
Jerry ,   The Netherlands   (03.21.12)
13. Got that thanks !
Haim ,   TA   (03.22.12)
Such words of wisdom , im sure his brainwashed bleeting sheep will obey.
14. #13 - Hey, like I said...
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (03.22.12)
...it's their right to do or not do as they please. Doesn't effect me, doesn't bother me. Now, if they start calling for women to leave the shelter if a man wants to go in, that's a different story. When they built the new shelter across the street some me there were demands for separate rooms, but Chich wouldn't agree to it.
15. Dangerous advice - keep praying
Barry D. Berger ,   Tivon, Israel   (03.22.12)
I urge everyone reading this article, NOT to follow the instructions of this so-called Rabbi (teacher). Follow the following adivice instead: "Put down your prayerbook, and move as quickly as possible to the nearest shelter." Surely this is what God wants you to do!
16. Halacha would say stop everything and find cover
zionist forever   (03.22.12)
Halach says that life is more important than prayer and so if your proposing risking your life so you can pray then your going against the very foundation of Judaism itself not doing a mitzvah. Its an even bigger sin to use your position of trust to encourage others to risk their lives as well. Most Shabbats or even Yom Kippur chances are nothing will happen thats going to put anybodies lives at risk and theoretically the IDF could stand down that day so they can all go pray. We do though also know that there is always that risk and if the army is not ready to take action instantly lives may be lost and so the soldiers are not only allowed but obligated to break the rules on those holy days to save lives. Iron Dome is not a perfect system, nothing is and so we cannot rely on Iron Dome to protect us just because we can continue praying. We need to pray for the best but prepare for the worst and that means finding shelter until the threat is over This Rabbi really is a moron and if he wants to put his faith in technology then fine but he should not be encouraging others to do the same.
17. And he calls himself one of the chosen?
Talula ,   Israel   (03.22.12)
DAMN these people are so warped!
18. The good Rabbi is wrong!
Reuven   (03.22.12)
G-d helps those who help themselves. When you hear the sirens, stop praying, run fast to a shelter, then continue the prayer when you are safer.
19. Ashdod Rabbi/ Shemoneh Esrei/Iron Dome
Moshe ,   New York, USA   (05.18.12)
Unfortunately, here's an example of a Rabbi who not only doesn't understand human nature (and a person's fear and inability to concentrate on prayer when an alarm goes off) but doesn't even understand the Talmud. The Talmud' distinguishes a scorpion from a snake (the latter doesn't bite unless disturbed) to teach us that if one has a snake at his feet during prayer and suddenly moves, the snake will surely attack. Therefore, it's best to keep still, concentrate on your prayers and pray the snake leaves. On the other hand, a scorpion at your feet is likely to attack you if you do nothing - so you must act immediately and kick it away.
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