Jun22009
Western morality is not the ‘Jewish Way’
According to Rabbi Manis Friedman, there’s a Jewish Way to fight wars:
I don’t believe in western morality, i.e. don’t kill civilians or children, don’t destroy holy sites, don’t fight during holiday seasons, don’t bomb cemeteries, don’t shoot until they shoot first because it is immoral.
The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle).
Ugh. Though, there are some American Jews who do agree with this brutal line of thinking (unfortunately, I can tell you from personal experience). However, this is surely not a common rationalization among rabbis or regular ol’ Jews.
Related posts:
Attacking holy sites first.? I would attack military and infrastructure first, then holy sites when people are praying for the bombs to stop. Assuming the goal is to wipe out the population. However, this is not usually the goal of war.
Typically, war is meant to deprive your enemy of resources until they no longer have the ability or will to fight, not decimation of civilian forces.
Perhaps this war tactic is one of the reasons Israel’s neighbors don’t like them much?
“Perhaps this war tactic is one of the reasons Israel’s neighbors don’t like them much?”
As I said in my post, his line of thinking is not common, so no I would not say that’s the reason. But it boils down to religious views that are ridiculous.
Rabbi Friedman is not Israeli, so I don’t understand how his views in America could be construed as a reason for war in Israel. Please explain.
In the recent Gaza fighting, much has been said about Israel killing a high number of civilians.
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/brainiac/2009/01/in_civilian_deaths.html
It may not be a commonly accepted view of American Jews, however, the tactic of targeting civilians seems ok to the government of Israel.
Rabbi Friedman is not Israeli, however his beliefs on war are clearly aimed at Israeli leadership.
“The first Israeli prime minister who declares that he will follow the Old Testament will finally bring peace to the Middle East. First, the Arabs will stop using children as shields. Second, they will stop taking hostages knowing that we will not be intimidated. Third, with their holy sites destroyed, they will stop believing that G-d is on their side. Result: no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war.”
I’m aware of these goings-on, yet Israel is hardly the only side who uses such tactics.
I still do not understand the notion that Israel is not liked for such things, but not the other way around. Although, I am one of the few who openly criticizes Israeli tactics, I also feel that the Islamic extremist measures can be far worse (as well as commonly accepted).
And the piece you quoted, say “no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire”, unless he’s referring to Arabs will no longer do that, but I still don’t understand how that furthers your previously made point.
Sorry. The full quote is:
“I don’t believe in western morality, i.e. don’t kill civilians or children, don’t destroy holy sites, don’t fight during holiday seasons, don’t bomb cemeteries, don’t shoot until they shoot first because it is immoral.
The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle).
The first Israeli prime minister who declares that he will follow the Old Testament will finally bring peace to the Middle East. First, the Arabs will stop using children as shields. Second, they will stop taking hostages knowing that we will not be intimidated. Third, with their holy sites destroyed, they will stop believing that G-d is on their side. Result: no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war.
Zero tolerance for stone throwing, for rockets, for kidnapping will mean that the state has achieved sovereignty. Living by Torah values will make us a light unto the nations who suffer defeat because of a disastrous morality of human invention.”
The Rabbi suggests a return to the old testament ways of war by not being afraid attacking holy places, civilians, children etc. This will convince their enemies that the tactic of using civilians as shields does no good. Thus stopping the practice by the Arabs.
My point is, Israel recently has killed a higher percentage of civilians than most find acceptable, and this tactic will not serve Israel well with their friends and allies, let alone their neighbors.
I understand your point thoroughly and agree; though I still don’t understand the original assertion that these tactics are why Israelis aren’t liked by their neighbors… that do what now?
I was not trying to make an claim, just noting that this type of thinking could be part of the problem.
It surely is!
This is not just one Rabbi’s voice. This *IS* the Jewish Way. All you have to do is to crack open the Talmud and start reading. Us Christians had 2000 years to figure this out. This is the tradition of elders Jesus warned us about. So crack open the Jewish Talmud. Best place to start is the book Judiasm Discovered by Michael Hoffman (Jewish) and start catching up the utter contempt Jews have for non jews. (Goyim) The term Goyim actually means “Cattle” in yiddish…so you see the hidden message only jews would know.
This article is about violence not who the Jews don’t like. This is just one Rabbi’s voice as I stated, most don’t adhere to this kind of view. Sure all religious books are violent, why are you singling out the Jews? If Christians can pick and choose what works for them, are they the only group who can do so? I hardly think Jews are the only group who fear the “other”. That’s the entire point of religion. Christians and Muslims are guilty of this just as well, sometimes more. Christians don’t have terms like “Goyim” for Jews so they just smile politely while they tell them they’re going to hell. If you want to lump all Jews together, perhaps its only fair to lump all Christians together as well, no?
“This is the tradition of elders Jesus warned us about.” would also apply to Jesus by today’s standard. So why follow him?
It didn’t take me 2000 years to figure that out.
BTW- If Jesus could mark religion on his Facebook page, it would be Jewish.