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When the Zionists shot at rabbis: the 1948 battle for Jerusalem
For centuries, Jerusalem has been home to a community of pious Jews who lived in poverty and devoted their lives to studying and practicing the Torah. These Jews lived peacefully alongside their Arab neighbors and had no nationalistic aspirations. As the twentieth century dawned, the newly founded Zionist movement established agricultural settlements in Palestine and…
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The halachos of living in or visiting Eretz Yisroel today
At the request of many who search for practical guidance on living in or visiting Eretz Yisroel, we will post here an English translation of a Yiddish book written several years ago by Rabbi Meir Weinberger, rav of the Satmar kehillah of Antwerp. Rabbi Weinberger has spent many years delivering shiurim on Vayoel Moshe, and…
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Rabbi Shimon Schwab, Rav of Khal Adas Jeshurun (1908-1993)
The following article, entitled “Zion or Zionism?” appeared in Mitteilungen, the bulletin of K’hal Adath Jeshurun, NYC, Adar 1-2 5736 (1976). Abridged by The Jewish Guardian, Jan. 1978, p. 11. The United Nations has resolved by majority vote to equate Zionism with racism. All over the world Jews have reacted by indignant protests and vigorous…
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Rabbi Avraham Yitzchok Kohn, the Toldos Ahron Rebbe (1914-1996)
“We always saw the constant state of war and terrorism in Eretz Yisroel as the fulfillment of the punishment of the Oaths. Until recently, this punishment was confined to wars, or terrorist acts against the settlers and those on the borders. But now we are seeing a new phenomenon: Jewish blood is spilled like water…
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A Simple Solution
Many of us have been following the news about the Israeli government’s efforts to draft religious Jews – the protests, the angry words and the most recently proposed law. But maybe there is a simple solution to the issue that both sides could agree on: they would pass a law that only people who serve…
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The Rogachover and the Christian Zionists
Rabbi Chaim Avrohom Dov Ber Hakohein Levine, known as the Malach (1860-1938), once said in the name of the Rogachover Gaon, “The Yerushalmi says that the Christians have a secret plan, so secret that they are not aware of it themselves, to prevent the coming of moshiach by defiling Eretz Yisroel.” Rabbi Yaakov Schorr interpreted…
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Rabbi Aaron Schechter, Rosh Yeshiva of Chaim Berlin
Letter of approbation for the ArtScroll Hebrew edition of the Talmud BE”H 28 Adar 5756 (1996) “May the hearts of those who seek Hashem rejoice!” This verse aptly describes those who have become scholars thanks to the great benefit to the speakers of the language of this country with the appearance of the ArtScroll/Mesorah [English]…
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Zionists Admit: All Jews were originally against Zionism
If a Satmar or Neturei Karta publication tells you that all Jews in past centuries were opposed to Zionism, and that Zionism flies in the face of what Jews everywhere always believed, you might shrug it off as propaganda. When you find that statement in a Zionist publication, you pay more attention. “The Return to…
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Rabbi Yekusiel Yehuda Halberstam, the Klausenberger Rebbe
The following is from the Klausenberger Rebbe’s Chumash Rashi shiur, Metzora 5736 (1976). The main principle of emunah that a Jew must have is to realize that we are nothing. As we say in the Siddur, “What are we? What is our lives? What is our kindness? What is our righteousness? What is our salvation?…
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Rabbi Yosef Eliyahu Henkin
Teshuvos Ibra, chapter 9, section 1: The State of Israel Siman 106: Our obligation regarding Eretz Yisroel I would like to make a short introduction about the relationship of religious Jews to the government. Chazal have already commanded us that we must give honor to the government and even in the government of Eretz Yisrael,…