Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., January 29, 2009 Shvat 4, 5769 | | Israel Time: 10:10 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 02:47 27/01/2009 A rabbinate gone wild By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Israel news, rabbinate, IDF The booklets distributed by the Israel Defense Forces rabbinate during the combat in Gaza, which Amos Harel wrote about in Haaretz yesterday ("IDF rabbi told troops fighting in Gaza: We must not cede a single inch of Israel), and the "Jewish Awareness" publications distributed by IDF Chief Rabbi Avichai Rontzki, prove once again that the rabbi is giving his position a new and alarming interpretation. From the start it was a mistake to appoint Rontzki, an extremist hozer b'tshuva (newly religious person), who often made harsh comments about secular people, particularly those in the IDF. Like every newly religious person, who has to prove that he is more devout than the Pope, he constantly flatters his mentors, the most extremist rabbis in the settlement community. The result is an uncontrollable escalation. Rontzki has preached cliched nonsense, permeated with disgust and disdain for anyone who is not religious and does not believe in Greater Israel for the most racist Hardal (ultra-Orthodox religious Zionist) reasons. He has interfered in education officers' work and ordered them to disseminate extremist views. Now he has breached what remained of his position's boundaries and has really begun to go wild. Advertisement Rontzki distributes sermons written by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner that preach, in the name of ostensibly religious values, the killing of civilians. He distributes sermons written by his students, who propose a belligerent interpretation of Operation Cast Lead that opposes all the combat values formulated in the IDF throughout the generations. In such an atmosphere, it is no wonder that extreme right-wing organizations are also smuggling into IDF bases sermons by Yitzhak Ginsburg, the rabbi of the yeshiva at Joseph's Tomb. Ginsburg wrote the book "Baruch Hagever," which praises the massacre by Baruch Goldstein against Arabs in the Cave of the Patriarchs in 1994, and he is considered the spiritual mentor of the most violent and extremist settlers. Thus, under the aegis of the army's chief rabbi, IDF soldiers are being exposed to chauvinist and racist incitement, which is illegal. Rontzki told his people that their job is not "to distribute wine and challah for Shabbat" but to "fill [the soldiers] with yiddishkeit and a fighting spirit." That is a misunderstanding at best and a deliberate and dangerous distortion at worst. The time has come for the chief of staff and defense minister, who have maintained silence on his unbridled behavior, to finally get rid of him. They would then do well to investigate how the IDF rabbinate, whose job is to provide proper conditions for religious soldiers, has turned into an instrument of divine punishment. The IDF should make do with kashrut supervisors and manage without a rabbi from now on. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Detaining rights Rights groups: IDF subjected Gaza detainees to deplorable conditions. Putin vs. Barak Did Barak quote Putin or did Putin quote Barak with the "on the toilet" statement?   1.   IDF do need a Rabbinate 19:36  |  Joseph 27/01/09   2.   Religion, the root cause. Let`s all become humanists! 22:26  |  alan 27/01/09   3.   The cohen who addresses the soldiers 23:09  |  Milhouse 27/01/09   4.   Alan forgot Hannukah 23:36  |  Y 27/01/09   5.   US army has chaplains 06:38  |  Susan 28/01/09   6.   to Joseph #1 - 3rd try 09:12  |  zeev 29/01/09

Read & React Report: Massive Hezbollah attack against Israeli target thwarted in Europe Responses: 18 Intel sources: Gazan informants intercepted by Hamas during war Responses: 9 For first time, U.S. professors call for academic and cultural boycott of Israel Responses: 24 Israel tells U.S. envoy: We'll respond to every Hamas truce violation Responses: 6 Former Mossad agent reportedly among suspects in 420m pound fraud case Responses: 1 More Headlines 08:44 Rockets strikes Negev; IAF bombs arms factory in south Gaza 09:48 Intel sources: Gazan informants intercepted by Hamas during war 08:41 IAF commander: Bombing of tunnels not a solution to Gaza arms smuggling 08:53 Olmert, Barak and Livni tell Mitchell: We will respond to every Hamas violation of truce 08:57 Livni to Haaretz: Netanyahu and Barak have personality issues 08:45 For first time, U.S. professors call for academic and cultural boycott of Israel 09:51 Ex-Mossad agent said among suspects in 420m pound fraud 10:06 Report: Massive Hezbollah attack against Israeli target thwarted in Europe 09:02 Haaretz-Dialog poll: Yisrael Beiteinu overtakes Labor in elections forecast 05:30 Settlement building not sufficient to meet 'natural growth' 09:48 Orthodox judge refuses to recuse himself from sorcery lawsuit 09:03 Father of slain informant: Police were involved in my son's murder 22:32 Hamas rejects Israel's Gaza cease-fire conditions 09:15 Venezuela: We're honored Israel expelled our diplomats Previous Editions Select Day 28 jan 27 jan 26 jan 25 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan 18 jan 16 jan 15 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Blue And White Forever Israel Army T-shirts Wear with Proud Donate the Soldiers Kit You can make a direct IMPACT! on the life of an Israeli soldier State of Israel Bonds During this time of market volatility, Israel bonds can help. SURF RAMBAM Keep current about new-wave medical care, education and research. Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |

| Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved