Chief rabbi: Palestinian mosque burning harkens to Kristallnacht

Of course he would choose to say it was a 'self inflicted pity grab', considering how many 'anti-Semitic hate crimes' have turned out to have been self inflicted over the last few years.

You can't be both a peace activist and an Israeli living in Gush Etzion. Living as an Israeli in Gush Etzion is illegal and an act of war against Palestinians.

Did it ever occur to you that the Arson was perpetrated by an Arab that wanted to stir up trouble?--After all they think nothing of burning each others Mosques Odd isn't it, supposedly a religious Jew, who is readily identified by his mannerisms and mode of dress, wasn't detected before, during or after the arson The Israeli Rabbi gave them a few Korans, can you tell me when was the last time the Arabs gave the Jews some Siddurim for their descration and burnings of our Yeshivot in Yersushalayim after the Jordan Legion captured the Old City??--Don't hold your breat, it will never happen

Even those of SAME sect of Islam have been known for mosque-destruction--the dozen-plus mosques blown up by Taliban in NWFP/FATA were all Sunni, not Shia (which Taliban, cent-percent weird combo of Salafi/Pushtunwali, hate only marginally less than non-Muslims)

At least a dozen mosques blown up this year (and more than a score of others attacked with Darra-AK's) by Taliban/AQ-affiliated militants in NWFP/FATA--plus the recent attack in Pindi on a mosque RIGHT BESIDE Pakistan's (terrorist) military's HQ. Basically, mindset of Muslims from Med eastward to Thanesar sees mosques only as convenient places to pray at, but not immune to destruction especially if expedient/convenient to do so!

To this day I relive the horrors of Krystallnacht, when I was still able to say that I am proud to be a Jew. Unfortunately the criminal settlers, burning a mosque and Korans, is a painful reminder. Frankly, as long as the settlers dirty what was once a hopeful State of Israel, they should be tossed out of the country. Besides, with all the damage they do on Shabbatot, all of it sinful, with their kippot, stremels and screaming "Shabbes" Shabbes", they have dirtied our religion. To go as far as burning books, my pride has faded, and every reprisal that happens was invited by them. At the moment, I am NOT proud to be a Jew, and can only hope that this will change again. Rabbi Metzger was right. Imagine how those Rabbis who are righteous, feel when they see others joining the unwashed and/or Shabbat clad, burning the Shabbat along with the books. Maybe Bibi should climb off the fence, and show his so called power, by punishing them, as well as the Arabs who act like the settlers

but it's born of the same ugly hate and loss of human values... making it no less sinister. it's what the act reflects that should give rise to concern... which is probably what the rabbi is alluding to in his comparison.

That was an interfactional act of arson, they burn each others Mosques all the time in Iraq?? I wonder, did you see fit to condemn the destruction of Synagogues and Yeshivoth in Jerusalem when the Jordan Legion with aid of arab rioters, burn them to the ground? Let's not forget the defilement of our dead when the vandalized the cemeteries and stole the tombstones

It could just as easily a Muslim that burned the others sects Mosque, they do it all the time in Iraq, why not in Israel??

Coming from a neighbourhood where he has to observe the cruelty of Muslims at close-hand. BTW, I too have observed iceberg-tip of their cruelties especially in communal riots which members of that goonda-founded cult started (specific mention of 1987 riots in Meerut and Bijnor districts).

but it's born of the same ugly hate and loss of human values... making it no less sinister. it's what the act reflects that should give rise to concern... which is probably what the rabbi is alluding to in his comparison.

The vaunted Shin Bet has a difficult time ever catching Jewish extremists except under extraordinary circumstances (or perhaps they don't care to). Some people will be brought in for questioning, but I bet that no one will ever be punished for this heinous act. Thats how things work under the Israeli justice system.

The only Israelis that Palestinians are accustomed to seeing are soldiers in uniform there to check their documents at checkpoints, make arrests, or put down demonstrations. Its not surprising that they have an aversion to visits by any other Israelis--even ones by civilians.

Many are outraged that any person should be so decent as to try to relieve the damage. Others are contemptuous of the effort as either insufficient or for even being attempted. Some folks see the purpose of the Rabbi in both reaching out to those who's mosque was burned and reproaching those who cheered that action. To those of us familiar with the knee-jerk responses of many participants there is no surprise. The response to this article show EXACTLY how rabid people on both sides perpetrate and ENJOY the endless suffering.

What is the problem with Jews living on the West Bank? Why have so many posters here accepted uncritically the Arab xenophobic view that no Jews can live among them? A million-plus Arabs live within Green Line Israel, unmolested, but for some reason no Jews are allowed to live on the West Bank. Can one of you do-gooders explain that to me?

Perhaps you are joking? The lack of reality in your brain, the lack of empathy for the Palestinians, and your lack of any ability whatsoever to acknowledge any responsibility for the actions against the Pals that you have mentioned, will one day come home to bite, and bite hard it will!

majority of ethical West Bank Israele's voted for extreme right wing candidates in the last election.

"proud, resolute and ethical Israelis who make up the vast majority of the Jewish population of the West Bank" Surely you meant to write: "illegal Jewish population of the West Bank".

There are many incidents of Arabs damaging their own property and blaming it on Jews. Do you recall the Jenin myth, Quana Myth, the myth of the Gazan family on the beach, the graphitti on the apartments in Gaza myth and many other myths like Deir Yassin and Sabra-shatila. All of these psy op warfare and false media is intended to foment sympathy for the PLO and in order to incite violent and terror against innocent Jewish people. Do not fall for such tricks. If Jews did do such a thing they must be brought to justice and tried to the full extent of the law as it is a vile act.

Nice gesture by the rabbis. A better gesture would be to take their flocks and go home to Israel.

You know nothing first hand about what's going on on the West Bank besides the skewed reporting in the media. That you could hinge your "support" of Israel--whatever that is--on this nonsense says more about your own prejudices than it will ever say about the proud, resolute and ethical Israelis who make up the vast majority of the Jewish population of the West Bank.

I guess that the IDF will ignore the order to find those responsible. We all know the drill, give a little lip service and do nothing.

There has been an admirable response to this senseless act of hate. A massive majority of Israelis from across the spectrum see it for what it is and the people who did it for what they are. Not in my name. This was not a Jewish act.

All of the bickering of everyone here is very sad. The man went to express his sorrow over the stupidity of a few houligans and he got stoned as a result. Bottom line: NO MATTER WHAT, YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO PLEASE THE PALESTINIANS SO WHY EVEN TRY ANYMORE? Israel should never adopt the same attitudes that the arab/palestinians have: hatred, violence, etc. Self defense and pre-emptive strikes FOR security are fully acceptable means of force...anyone would do it if they were in the position of Israel. However, we should never become houligans and animals...it destroys life and decays society. Long Live Israel.

If Rabbi Froman =really= wanted to work for peace he could start by moving himself and his family from stolen Palestinian land in "Tekoa".

This is how Ynet reported it: According to Ynet, Metzger said: "We, the people of Israel, have a trauma from 70 years ago when the greatest destruction we have ever known, the Holocaust, started with the burning of synagogues on Kristallnacht." The Rabbi further added that according to his views, holy places do not belong to people, but are rather ex-territorial places, which he dubbed "god's embassies."" God's embassies. Rather nice when the message is peace.

You're kidding me. Let the muslims attact shukls( Rebbe Kooks Yeshiva comes to mind) Mumbai so much and it's called what fredom fighters trying to take back their homeland. THIS IS ISRAEL's homland. You've torn up the shuls, tossed rocks over the wal, dug up or burned the graves, stolen OUR land given by OUR G!d , squat and everytimg Israel GIVES you something you turn it into a war zone....what nerve, what absolute BS. Thi is nothing like the days/nights gone by when jews huddled scared of death from the nazi bahstahds.

Despite all the difficulties the two people- Jews and Palestinians-are experiencing,and despite desperate hate mongers, amongst both camps and in the middle of all this darkness, pain and suffering; your actions dear Rabbis are heart warming and promising.May other blessed and peace loving people stand up and be counted at these dark moments and express their revulsion to violence and hate. Peace. Love. Shalom Sallam.

Only a nut case would write that it is OK to engage in terrorist acts like burning a mosque just because the other side does it.It is acts like this burning that is causing more and more young American Jews to turn away from Israel.As for us older Jews,more and more no longer support Israel.You land grabbing religious wing-nuts no longer have our political or $$ support.

"Everyone seems afraid to confront the settlers, so it`s not surprising they think they can do whatever they want" When even the Israeli government and the IDF is afraid to confront the settlers, there's not very much one rabbi can do, except what he did in fact do, which was to make a nice gesture...

Thank you for your very sensible post, Jane. I agree with you entirely.

typ-o in last post.

Didn't need a retinue of guns and armored cars. It's also possible, Brad, that they were throwing stones at the soldiers, or the PA police. In which case, as in targeted killings, but less horrendous, I'm sure you'll agree, Rabbi Metzger was potentially collateral damage. Our army and the PA police failed the village of Yasouf, that is clear. Can anyone sneak into Kedumim or Tapuah in the dead of night without security picking it up? The parallel with Kristallnacht must have been really great for the residents to hear. But I imagine that they would have preferred to hear that unlike on Kristallnacht, the forces of order would be on the alert to defend them and all West Bank villages that have mosques in them henceforth, against thuggery, including settlers bent on exacting their "price tag" by profaning their places of worship. Let's see if anyone is arrested for the crime. That will be the test. We are said to have such good trackers....

I agree with the Rabbi. My immediate association when hearing of the mosque burning and defacing was indeed Kristallnacht. Jews above all other people must recognize that murder is only a step away from destruction of holy places. The criminal perpetrators must be found, tried and made to pay for rebuilding the mosque. Whatever enemies of Israel do - Joseph's tomb etc. do justify this kind of behavior.Unacceptable in any country especially Israel.

Idiotic and ignorant to compare Kristallnacht 1938 to what happened at Kfar Yasuf. Random, wantom crime by an individual Jew against one Mosque is no comparison to state sponsored terror in Germany. The Jews were innocent and loyal citizens of Germany.

Considering the large number of other religion's worship-sites wrecked by Muslims in 1400 years, the comparison of burning ONE mosque to Nazi-planned Kristallnacht is absurd. Correct comparison would be with 1991-12-06 destruction of (already decrepit) Babri mosque in Ayodhya! (also note that not even mosques are spared by Muslims--as shown THIS PAST YEAR several times by Taliban in NWFP/FATA)

Forget that whitewash of bringing some old Korans as payment - justice must be served and these racist settlers found (an easy task) and brought up on hate crimes charges. Lock em up and make and example of them

Rabbi Metzger: The vandalism of the mosque was despicable. But grafitti can be removed, holy books can be replaced. But human beings made in the Almighty's image are irreplaceable. Yes, condemn the vandalism. But the greater crimes are the killing of Palestinian civilians, the stealing of their water and their land, the blockade of Gaza, the daily indignities inflicted on innocent Palestinian civilians whose only crime is to live in occupied territory. The vandals themselves only symptons, not the problem. The more serious criminals are the politicians and rabbis who condone and incite vandalism, violence and terror against your Arab neighbors. Rabbi Metzger, bring your message of peace and tolerance to your fellow Jews. Tell them not all Arabs are terrorists and that "rabbis" who sanctify Baruch Goldstein and Yigal Amir or who teach that murdering Palestinian children is Torah are not Jews and should be shunned.

The destruction of the mosque was indeed a despicable act. But I would have thought it was comparable to something like, I don't know, say the destruction of Kever Yosef. In October 2000, a Palestinian mob ransacked the structure, smashing the dome with pickaxes and setting the compound on fire. They then desecrated the tomb, using it as a local garbage dump and sometimes burning tires inside. For contemporary accounts, see Isabel Kershner, Pilgrimage to Roots of Faith and Strife, New York Times, October 23, 2008. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/world/middleeast/24tomb.html?_r=1 Lyse Doucet, Jewish shrine ransacked, BBC, October 7, 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/961710.stm

Trust me , Michael, we Jews know how to control our idiots , I wish the other side would want and be able to control theirs as well as we do . Your analogy is not correct .

Lets asume that Rabbi Metzge should have approached the community more differentially than you say he did. So, here is a guy who wasn't differential but made an appearance of support, an appearance where he was trying to tell Israelies that attacking an Islamic place of worship is unacceptable. Here is a guy who tries to package his message in a way that is meaningful to Jews. In this context, the citizens of Suad threw stones?? Why is it that the only way Pals can deal with anything they don't like, and I mean anything, is violence? Why can't they talk and criticize, not in response to the araonists that burned their mosque but in response of an allegedly insensitive but nevertheless peaceful individual who seeks to support their cause and empathize with their pain.

Even The Chief Rabbi of Israel has got it wring. No body should condone what happened to the Mosque here, but get real, Start of Holocaust? Did he forgot the burning of Joseph tomb by Palestinian Mob? The biggest problem with Israeli leaders is that they still have European ghetto mentality and can't look at the big picture. If they open their month they should condemn what happened before and now!

While I admire the Chief Rabbi's gesture on some level, it's a bit like an imam touring the site of some Islamic act of terrorism. Nice of him to visit, but he'd probably be more welcome if first he visited the extremists from his own religion responsible for the outrage and explicitly and clearly rejected their extremist interpretation of his religion. How about the Chief Rabbi standing up in the nearest settlement and denouncing extremist settlers and suggesting to the settlers they may like to help rebuild their neighbours' mosque? Everyone seems afraid to confront the settlers, so it's not surprising they think they can do whatever they want.

Israel has 2 chief rabbis - both idiots. Metzger (b 1953 Haifa) apparently knows very little about Shoah. Haham-be-laila Ovadia Yosef explains Shoah by imperfection of Jewish people.

That the burning of the mosque is a despicable act is indisputable. So to is the fact that it is very different than Kirstallnact. Yes, the act of destruction of a place of worship of profound significance to Muslim people is the same but the critical difference, one that make all the difference in the world, is that the state of Israel was not orchestrating the malicious behaviour and indeed considers it to be unacceptable and criminal. That the members of the community would be outraged by burning of their synagogue is understandable. But its time for them to grow up and get beyoond the mentality of an outraged mob. The Chief Rabbi's appearance was an act of support and genuine sorrow. It was also a statement to the many he has influence over that destruction of holy places in unacceptable. Pals don't get it yet but violence against people is worse than violence against their places of worship.

All the people in Yasouf wanted was protection against Israeli citizens who are out of control. They need lectures like Rabbi Metzger's like they needed a hole in the head.

Of course not. After patiently waiting for permission from our own authorities for hours, they went to the village unarmed, unescorted, armed only with holy books, deep commiseration, neighborliness, friendship. Lesson there somewhere Rabbi Metzger? Tzahal? Bibi?

Good on you Settlers - I feel so proud to be Israeli by your actions of peace, going to the 'other side' (arabs), and offering to replace that which was damaged. You have restored my faith, and you deserve the world's support for this. Unfortunately, it is likely that most people will miss the beauty behind your intentions.... thank you, and G-d bless!