Editorial in Orthodox 'family magazine' advocating death camps for Palestinians
Back in the days of the Shoah, one of the slogans of the Jew haters was: “Jews to the Ovens.” Now, it causes me anguish to say, we have Israeli Orthodox rabbis saying the same about the Palestinians.
Thanks to Cicero for pointing me to a shocking passage in an Israeli Orthodox “family magazine,” Fountains of Salvation, which suggests that Israel will create death camps for Palestinians in order to wipe them out like Amalek. The article attacks Israeli rabbis who dispute the letter recently circulated from pro-settler extremist rabbis which urged that no Israeli Jew rent apartments or homes to Israeli Palestinians. It chided them for being “politically correct” and refusing to do their jobs and educate the populace in the true path of Torah (which is presumably to hate Palestinians).
The last paragraph (page 4 of the original) though is the whopper:
It will be interesting to see whether they leave the assembly of the Amalekites [Palestinians] in extermination camps to others, or whether they will declare that wiping out Amalek is no longer [historically] relevant. Only time will tell…
A few words of explanation. There is a Biblical command for Jews to wipe out Amalek because of the viciousness with which that people attacked Israelites. Essentially, this is a Jewish call to commit genocide against Amalek. We should note that the Bible records such Jewish campaigns against other tribes as well (Moabites, Jebusites) and no doubt others did the same to their enemies.
Rabbis throughout the ages have allegorized the reference to Amalek to connote any sworn enemy of the Jewish people from Hitler to Barack Obama (yes, prominent American Orthodox Jews wrote such garbage before the last election). But this is the first time I’ve ever read any Orthodox publication calling for committing genocide against Palestinians.
As Cicero pointed out to me, the articulation of this passage doesn’t only refer to Palestinians (though most likely this was specifically who the writer had in mind given the context). It can refer to any enemy of the Jewish people including you or me.
Now a word on who is behind this publication: it is the cream of the crop of the radical right-wing Israeli Orthodox rabbinate. It was founded by the former chief rabbi of Safed, whose son currently holds that position and who circulated the letter I refer to above. Another is the chief rabbi of Ramat Gan and finally Rabbi Avinar, suspected of sexually abusing a troubled woman who approached him for spiritual advice. Each of them holds paid government sinecures, allowing them to spew hate on the dime of the Israeli taxpayer.
This raises the important question: why does the U.S. government allow tax-deductible contributions to Israeli charities like Chabad given their propagation of such genocidal rhetoric?
Cicero first learned about the Chabad article from Udi Aloni’s Ynet column, which pointed it out. He points out that it has been his custom in criticizing Israelis who support the Occupation to attack the liberal elite which is characterized by the slogan “shooting and crying.” Instead, he says he now will have to pay closer attention to the radical Orthodox who “shoot and laugh.” Aloni imagines the young Orthodox boy reading this publication in his synagogue where it’s distributed, who conjures to himself with a smile on his face the picture of Palestinians standing behind barbed wire in such a camp. This is the legacy these rabbis are bequeathing to their young followers.
Finally, since I know people of all ideological stripes may read into this story what they wish, I want to make clear that this is not Judaism. These wicked men may be Jews and rabbis, but they don’t represent normative Judaism any more than Osama bin Laden represents normative Islam. Do not make the mistake of conflating this idiocy with all of Israel or all of Judaism. Yes, these men are dangerous, they are hateful, and they must be challenged. But there is another face of Judaism and another face of Israel (though that is becoming increasingly difficult to see I concede).
Richard This is absolutely disgusting.
Just one question (out of curiosity, as regardless of the exact meaning it is disgusting) , where did you learn that Amalak = Palestinians ?
from Wikipedia “על פי המסופר בתורה, עמלק היה העם הראשון שנלחם עם ישראל בצאתם ממצרים (ברפידים), וזינב בנחשלים ובעייפים שהלכו בסוף המחנה. אף שישראל החזירו מלחמה שערה והכו את צבאו מכת מחץ, כשהם נעזרים בסיוע אלוהי הבא כל זמן שידיו של משה היו מונפות וגורמות לעם הלוחם להביט מעלה לבקשת העזרה, עמלק הצליח לפגוע בכח ההרתעה של ישראל פגיעה קשה.
According to the bible Amalak was the the first group / nation to fight the Israelite after they left Egypt. they attacked the weaks who were at the end of the line. though defeated Amalak was able to effect the Israelite, Deterrence they achieved after defeating the Egyptian army.
Ilan, not saying explicitly that Amalek = Palestinians is just the last remaining fig leaf that the rabbis have left in order to roll their eyes if someone blames them for incitement to genocide. I’m really having a hard time believing that anyone is naive enough to believe it without even considering the context of why “Amalek” is brought up right now.
Just for the record – Settlers have been calling the Palestinians “Amalek” even before the first Intifada. It’s been a pretty well known code word for the religious right in order to “theoretically” discuss what to do with the Arabs, precisely because it’s a divine order to wipe them out. When they write about “Amalek”, their followers know exactly who they are referring to.
I have to admit, I’m feeling quite stupid even trying to explain this to you. You are either consciously trying to defend them for Hasbara reasons or you are trying to protect their lame excuse because you sympathise with them . I can’t believe that anyone is that naive, sorry.
thankyou richard….i came across this yesterday..but could not quite wore it out…so your interpretation is very valuable.As someone of Jewish blood….i can only say i am shocked and ashamed…. I turned my back on Judaism my inheritance along time ago….but still i feel so much shame…There will one day be a back lash as there has been in the past….. and once again when it happens..all jews will suffer….not just the guilty ones….
I behove all jews to fight against this insanity….
In Hebron some settlers have scrawled ‘Arabs to the gas chambers’ on the walls of Palestinian residents. Jews for Justice for Palestinians have got photos on their website. (There’s a gallery called ‘Hate Street, Hebron: A Photo Tour’.) It’s frightening to see this sentiment being made so explicit in print media, but sadly it is nothing new.
Ridiculous. How do you know whether the Amalekites had a reason for attacking the Israelites or not? Were you there?
Wrote about it here in this blog. Do yr homework next time & Google my site before commenting. It’s save you & us a lot of time.
Ariel, you are giving meaning to something i never said.
i wasn’t protecting anyone, and as i stated i think its disgusting.
however i must tell you that prior to Richard bringing it up i never even heard about that news paper. i doubt you ever heard about that news paper either.
as for the meaning of Amalek, i have no idea what is your religous background, as far as i know Iran is treated like to modern Amalak, i never heard that term being used towards the Palastinians, and that’s the reason i asked.
My question wasn’t answer, you say it’s a code name, ok. maybe. can you show me a place in which they actually refered to the Palastinians in such way ?
If you read the context of the entire editorial the portion coming before what I quoted deals with the rabbis ltr. demanding Jews not rent to Palestinians. This can be the only possible reference…to Palestinians. Plus, it’s a common trope among radical anti-Palestinian settlers & Orthodox Jews to equate Palestinians w. Amalek. Though of course anyone they don’t like (like Obama or you or me) can be Amalek as well.
Richard, thanks for clarifying, that makes sense.
I learned that Amalak = Iran, and the relation is that the king of Amalak was אגג (hagag) and Haman from the Megila was known as Haman האגגי (HaHagagi) and is believed to be of Hagag’s blood line.
Also in Modern time, Germany was known as the Modern Amalek, but I never had heard that term with respect to the Palestinians, Considering the fact that I do not spend a lot of my time around settlers it makes sense.
Ilan, this has been around along time. here is something from the shalom center from 2001. just google ‘amalek’ and either arab or palestinian and you can find references.
“In our generation, for some Jews the Arabs, and especially the Palestinians, become Amalek. Some Palestinians are terrorists? Some Palestinians call publicly for the State of Israel to be shattered? And some Lebanese, organized in Hezbollah? Iranians, whose president pooh-poohs the Holocaust? For some, the archetypes of fear slide into place: For some, all Palestinians are Amalek. And for some, Hezbollah. And for some, Iran. And for some, all Arabs.”
campaigns against other tribes as well (Moabites, Jebusites)
My understanding is that the 7 Nations mentioned in Jewish scriptures refer to the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Jebusites, Hivites, Perizzites, and Girgashites. The Moabities were actually famous for not allowing the Jews to enter their territory upon entering Israel. In addition, Ruth was a Moabite convert to Judaism.
Excuse me? Iranians have and never will be Amalek, nor will you, the right wing of any country, EVER send Iranians to the oven.
I saw this one coming from a mile away. But that you actually wrote it… wow.
Only time will tell if this kind of vernacular is wartime propaganda-and I think it is. The Old and New Testaments could be looked upon as a political doctrines and there is plenty of language that fall under wartime heated statements. All sides at one time or another in war conflicts say things to scare the opponent. Let’s put things in context: the chances of what they say and what will happen are very different.
This must be why a few days ago an innocent 65-year old Palestinian was shot in his bed and just yesterday a farmer in Gaza was shot on his land close to the buffer zone while he was tying up his donkey.
And the other week it was the sister of a peaceful protestor who was also killed, both buried beside each other. And 2011 has already seen an alarming number of Palestinian deaths for one excuse or another.
Are they all just “mistakes”, or justified or are these soldiers heeding the words of these rabbis? How can anyone call killing 2, 3 or 4 Palestinians a week genocide?
8 Palestinians were killed by the IDF in the first 10 days of January.
http://www.hybridstates.com/2011/01/israel-accelerates-rate-of-killing-palestinians-in-early-2011/
Mr. PA how old are you ? don’t you know that sometimes it’s better to ask a question then to make a statment ?
just to clerify, I was talking about biblical interpertation nothing more, it doesn’t reflect on my beleives, what so ever. seems to me that you try to demonize every israeli you come across, and i suggest that you’ll calm down, its a known recepie for living long life.
Talking about Iran, it was published today in Irsael (http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4012934,00.html) that one of the opposition leaders in Iran, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, attacked the ayatollah regim compered it to the Nazi’s charged that current Iranian leadership has ‘surpassed Goebbels in telling lies’
Was it published in Irani media ?
Thank God for that. But even Hitler started with talk that led to action. That’s why we have to speak strongly against the talk lest it lead to a Palestinian Auschwitz.
Ariel
The topic of Amalek came up now because this week the Parshat Hashavua (weekly torah reading) was Parshat Bo from the book of Exodus in which the passage about the Amalek attack on Israel is related.
That’s the context, the rest is pure hate
There is a ironic relationship in the topics of the articles today – one discusses the myth behind the blood libels and the other discusses the very real connection behind rabbinical misuse of the Amalek story and attempts to incite Jewish violence.
…where did you learn that Amalak = Palestinians ?
The Introduction to Elliott Horowitz, “Reckless Rites: Purim and the Legacy of Jewish Violence.” Princeton University Press, 2006 provided an overview and several examples. The author cited Jeffrey Goldberg’s interviews in the New Yorker with Benzi Lieberman, a chairman of the Council of Settlements and Likud politician Moshe Feiglin. Both men identified the Palestinians with Amalek. Lieberman said . “The Palestinians are Amalek”…”We will destroy them” … “We won’t kill them all. But we will destroy their ability to think as a nation. We will destroy Palestinian nationalism.” http://press.princeton.edu/chapters/i8213.html
How can anyone call killing 2, 3 or 4 Palestinians a week genocide?
There are several persons now serving life sentences for incitement to commit genocide who never killed anyone at all. The elements of the crime of genocide contained in the international convention reflect customary practice, but each country was required to adopt its own national statute and definition. Those can vary quite a bit. Some might reasonably conclude that, in the example above, Mr. Lieberman had expressed the intent to commit genocide. The European Court of Human Rights upheld a conviction for the crime of genocide in Jorgic v Germany. The defendant was accused of acting with intent to commit 11 counts of genocide and the murder of 22 people. Only the lower court’s convictions on genocide and eight counts of murder remained final. The Court ruled that genocide or “destruction of a group” within the meaning of Article 220a of the Criminal Code meant destruction of the group as a social unit in its distinctiveness and particularity and its feeling of belonging together; a biological-physical destruction was not necessary.” http://tinyurl.com/4wdthje
..why does the U.S. government allow tax-deductible contributions to Israeli charities like Chabad given their propagation of such genocidal rhetoric?
They usually don’t. Tikun Olam reported on an earlier case involving Manis Friedman in which the US courts might reasonably conclude was an example of constitutionally proscribed speech containing a “True threat”. http://tinyurl.com/47nrtmg An international criminal tribunal could also reach the reasonable conclusion that the remarks satisfied the necessary elements of the crime of incitement to commit genocide. Chabad headquarters quickly distanced themselves from Friedman’s advice. They said “We vehemently disagree with any sentiment suggesting that Judaism allows for the wanton destruction of civilian life, even when at war.” For his own part, Friedman issued a [non-]clarification which still constituted advice for the Jewish armed forces to occasionally resort to acts of genocide.
Abe Foxman didn’t say whether he thought the Friedman article could give rise to criminal liability, but he did tell Haaretz that “Moment magazine gave up all editorial discretion and good sense by publishing it in the first place.” The editor of the Jewish community newspaper in Friedman’s hometown, told Haaretz that he often hears the same thing from other members of the Lubavitch community.
Tikun Olam and Haaretz also reported on Rabbis, including then IDF Chief Rabbi Brig. Gen. Rontzki, who had instructed soldiers to show no mercy to the Palestinians. Ethan Bronner and the New York Times reported acute mistreatment of Palestinians and violations of the rules of war by soldiers who said “the rabbinate brought in a lot of booklets and articles and their message was very clear: We are the Jewish people, we came to this land by a miracle, God brought us back to this land and now we need to fight to expel the non-Jews who are interfering with our conquest of this holy land. This was the main message, and the whole sense many soldiers had in this operation was of a religious war.” http://tinyurl.com/4p7v5wo
The Arab League commissioned an Independent International Fact Finding Committee. It submitted a report that was forwarded to the ICC Prosecutor. The Committee found (pages 6 & 7) that although operation Cast Lead had not been carried out by the IDF to destroy the Palestinians of Gaza as a group, individual soldiers may well have had such an intent and might therefore be prosecuted for the crime. That finding was based on the brutality of some of the killing and reports that some soldiers had acted under the influence of rabbis who had encouraged them to believe that the Holy Land should be cleansed of non-Jews. The Commission recommended that other states take separate action to have Israel investigated for possible failure to prevent genocide and failure to punish genocide. http://www.arableagueonline.org/las/picture_gallery/reportfullFINAL.pdf
This is not an article advocating genocide. This is an article that takes future genocide for granted. Clearly, there is no longer any need to advocate genocide in religious circles.
That is what’s truly terrifying.
Ilan, you are getting on my last nerve. Every post you make is an underhanded attack. In fact, Moussavi wrote this to IRIB:
“They use the same methods used in totalitarian regimes such as the Soviet Union during Stalin era, or Romania during Ceauşescu’s time.”
No where did he compare the Iranian government to Nazis or Goebbels. That is straight from his official Facebook, the translation provided therein.
Again, you twist and propagandize. I wonder when Richard will clue in to your true intentions.
YES, it was published in the Iranian media! IRIB = IRANIAN MEDIA.
I am sorry to undercut your attention grabbing introduction but the expression “Jews to the ovens” was not expressed during WWII. It became ‘fashionable’ with the Sabra when the DPs or displaced persons came to Israel.
Spot on.
Rather ironically, the command was actually to wipe Amalek from the memory of men, at least as Professor James Moffat translated it.
And once in control of the land, the Jews were not ordered to kill all remaining non-Jews, but any non-Jew who dedicated his children to Molek (ie: reserved them for sacrifice.) The injunction was to prevent the slaughter of innocents.
God isn’t quite as blood thirsty as the Atheists would have us believe.
PersianAdvocate: Reporting that you heard of a certain wacky theory does not automatically mean that you support it.
Not that it is really important, but yelling or spray-painting “Jews to the ovens” looks more like a post-war Neo-Nazi thing to me. I don’t think it was a slogan in the Nazi period, as even the Nazi’s did not dare to declare openly what their real intentions were. They used sanitized, veiled language instead.
This article is an abomination.
It was written is a small magazine, owned by some crazy sect who calls themselves Jews.
As an Israeli, I will be the first to stand before them and defend anybody with my life, if they would ever get to be strong enough to try it.
Not that I saw anybody helping the poor Israeli guys who happen to make a wrong turn and ended being lynched in Palestinian villages.
Mr. PA
i would like you to explain to me, how quoting from a link i provided makes me a propagandist ?
do you think that i am the one who wrote the article on Ynet (to which i provided a link?)
you present yourself as a Persian, and i found it fit to ask you if such statements were given.
you need to relax with your allegations and accusations, and actually read and try to understand (for a change)
The reason, according to Midrash, as to why Amalek was so deserving of absolute extermination is threefold:
1. Because they went to war for no actual reason other than the Jewishness of their target. Their land was not threatened, and the Israelites had no beef with them. It was the anti-semitic act per se.
2. Their war was conducted in a cowardly fashion by attacking the stragglers (probably women. children, elderly and invalids) instead of the expected war against soldiers.
3. The attack is in fact an attack against god who had just given the Torah to the Israelites and performed miracles publically for all to see, and yet these feared not and attacked, as it were, the devine.
Actually, the context is the “Career Rabbis” who are too PC to do what needs to be done. And what “needs to be done” apparently is to place certain people in extermination camps. Seriously, people who support extermination camps for ANYBODY should be behind bars. Seems like their one gripe with the Nazis is that they messed with the wrong religion, other than that, they seem to respect their methods.
But hey, yes, the context is Parashat Hashavua, and denial is just a river in Africa.
# IlanP)
“Don’t you know that sometimes it’s better to ask a question than to make a statement”.
Oh my God ! What a hypocrite, you are.
You declared, or rather accused me of wanting to send all the Jews back to Germany and Poland and not recognizing their [your] equal rights in Israel/Palestine. You didn’t even bother to read my whole sentence before editing your Fatwa, and now you’re giving moral lessons. That’s chutzpah !
By the way, I’m still waiting for an answer to my commentary.