Orthodox Judaism DIR
Thought I'd open this up for hopefully a bit of niche discussion (niche 'cause right now there aren't a lot of OJs here. But don't worry, one day we'll rise to power
). (Sorry it came out long)
Earlier this week, the IDF Rabbinate Corps together with MK Elazar Shteren announced a solution had been found to the problem of burying non-Jewish IDF soldiers with Jewish IDF soldiers: Digging the non-Jewish graves deeper than the Jewish graves.
The problem referred to here is that on one hand, non-Jews aren't to be buried in the same cemetery as Jews, but on the other hand, there's a haskafic view that brothers-in-arms should be laid to rest near one another, which can't be so in Israel, as long as those brothers-in-arms are a Jew and a non-Jew.
The IDF RC later released a statement saying their decision was in the works for a couple of years now and they were being backed by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, Rabbi Avigdor Neventzal, Rabbi Shlomo Fischer, Rabbi Aryeh Shteren and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef.
As it turns out, this isn't exactly correct. Though the Rabbinate hasn't released all of the haskamot yet, Rabbi Zilberstein wrote at the end of his "haskamah" that it's a complex issue and his conclusion is to remain inconclusive and not pasken. This already raises a red flag on the Rabbinate's statement.
I was informed by a reserve military rabbi that Rabbi Aviner and Rabbi Fischer both did, indeed, agree to the heter, while Rabbi Neventzal only agreed if a certain provision is made, and it's highly unclear whether the army maintains that provision in their final decision. As for the rest of the mentioned rabbis, currently it is unknown what they said exactly.
So, some more red flags.
For those less familiar with MK Shteren, Shteren is a reserve Aluf (major general, one rank beneath the Chief of Staff) in the IDF and a religious left-wing MK. Shteren has been criticized multiple times in the past for pushing both in the army and in politics positions that, in religious terms, are very liberal at best and antithetical to Torah at worst. Shteren said that he's been pushing for the creation of a solution for years now and even consulted the late Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l on the matter.
Multiple IDF Chief Rabbis over the years rejected various solutions. I don't know the exact reasoning of each and every one, but when the announcement was made, Rabbi Yisrael Wiess, former IDF Chief Rabbi, immediately came out against this. He made two points in particular:
1. When he was the IDF CR and the issue was raised before him, he went and consulted Rav Ovadiah Yosef, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu and Rav Yosef Elyashiv zt"l and they all agreed that the best solution would be to have in every military burial area a separate plot for non-Jewish soldiers, designed in the most respectful way possible.
2. During his time as IDF CR, this issue was raised before him with the deaths of 21 soldiers. And every single time, before the funeral, he sat down with the families and explained the halachic situation, pointing out that the non-Jewish plots weren't outside of the fence or something, that the deceased would be buried alongside people of their own faith, much like Jews expect their own faith be preserved even after death. And he said that every single time, the families accepted and they only commenced with the funeral upon having the full agreement from the families.
Per all of this - and the fact this is not really an issue that is heard about in the news - it seems to have been a non-issue, which makes Shteren's reasoning all the more worrying: Is he really doing it because he cares about the feelings of non-Jewish soldiers and their families, or does this stem from a liberal world-view?
Shteren later remarked:
So here's what the question I'm raising: Was it the right call or not? Sure, there are halachic leniencies and some big rabbis are backing this - but ultimately, was it the right call (taking in all of the different issues under consideration)?
My fear is that this will go down hill, especially in light of various secular, anti-religious organizations that are pushing their agendas onto the IDF in recent years and in light of Shteren's statement which, while seeming very patriotic, does not seem very Jewish.
Thought I'd open this up for hopefully a bit of niche discussion (niche 'cause right now there aren't a lot of OJs here. But don't worry, one day we'll rise to power
). (Sorry it came out long)Earlier this week, the IDF Rabbinate Corps together with MK Elazar Shteren announced a solution had been found to the problem of burying non-Jewish IDF soldiers with Jewish IDF soldiers: Digging the non-Jewish graves deeper than the Jewish graves.
The problem referred to here is that on one hand, non-Jews aren't to be buried in the same cemetery as Jews, but on the other hand, there's a haskafic view that brothers-in-arms should be laid to rest near one another, which can't be so in Israel, as long as those brothers-in-arms are a Jew and a non-Jew.
The IDF RC later released a statement saying their decision was in the works for a couple of years now and they were being backed by Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rabbi Yaakov Ariel, Rabbi Yitzchak Zilberstein, Rabbi Avigdor Neventzal, Rabbi Shlomo Fischer, Rabbi Aryeh Shteren and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef.
As it turns out, this isn't exactly correct. Though the Rabbinate hasn't released all of the haskamot yet, Rabbi Zilberstein wrote at the end of his "haskamah" that it's a complex issue and his conclusion is to remain inconclusive and not pasken. This already raises a red flag on the Rabbinate's statement.
I was informed by a reserve military rabbi that Rabbi Aviner and Rabbi Fischer both did, indeed, agree to the heter, while Rabbi Neventzal only agreed if a certain provision is made, and it's highly unclear whether the army maintains that provision in their final decision. As for the rest of the mentioned rabbis, currently it is unknown what they said exactly.
So, some more red flags.
For those less familiar with MK Shteren, Shteren is a reserve Aluf (major general, one rank beneath the Chief of Staff) in the IDF and a religious left-wing MK. Shteren has been criticized multiple times in the past for pushing both in the army and in politics positions that, in religious terms, are very liberal at best and antithetical to Torah at worst. Shteren said that he's been pushing for the creation of a solution for years now and even consulted the late Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu zt"l on the matter.
Multiple IDF Chief Rabbis over the years rejected various solutions. I don't know the exact reasoning of each and every one, but when the announcement was made, Rabbi Yisrael Wiess, former IDF Chief Rabbi, immediately came out against this. He made two points in particular:
1. When he was the IDF CR and the issue was raised before him, he went and consulted Rav Ovadiah Yosef, Rav Mordechai Eliyahu and Rav Yosef Elyashiv zt"l and they all agreed that the best solution would be to have in every military burial area a separate plot for non-Jewish soldiers, designed in the most respectful way possible.
2. During his time as IDF CR, this issue was raised before him with the deaths of 21 soldiers. And every single time, before the funeral, he sat down with the families and explained the halachic situation, pointing out that the non-Jewish plots weren't outside of the fence or something, that the deceased would be buried alongside people of their own faith, much like Jews expect their own faith be preserved even after death. And he said that every single time, the families accepted and they only commenced with the funeral upon having the full agreement from the families.
Per all of this - and the fact this is not really an issue that is heard about in the news - it seems to have been a non-issue, which makes Shteren's reasoning all the more worrying: Is he really doing it because he cares about the feelings of non-Jewish soldiers and their families, or does this stem from a liberal world-view?
Shteren later remarked:
"In my view, there's no need for any partitions external or internal. There's no fuller conversion than to die protecting the people and the country. If a soldier didn't get around to having a circumcision but his entire body was sliced up for the Jewish nation, that's not enough? Who decided that not turning on a light on Shabbat was more religious and [worth] more points in the eyes of Hashem than giving yourself up for the Jewish nation as a kiddush Hashem? I hope the decision will bring people closer to Judaism."
So here's what the question I'm raising: Was it the right call or not? Sure, there are halachic leniencies and some big rabbis are backing this - but ultimately, was it the right call (taking in all of the different issues under consideration)?
My fear is that this will go down hill, especially in light of various secular, anti-religious organizations that are pushing their agendas onto the IDF in recent years and in light of Shteren's statement which, while seeming very patriotic, does not seem very Jewish.
