Dallas, TX – Is it okay to ask God to do harm to another person? The theology of such “imprecatory prayer” may be a matter of debate, but a Dallas judge has ruled it is legal, at least as long as no one is actually threatened or harmed.
Join our WhatsApp groupSubscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
District Court Judge Martin Hoffman dismissed a lawsuit brought by Mikey Weinstein against a former Navy chaplain who he said used “curse” prayers like those in Psalm 109 to incite others to harm the Jewish agnostic and founder of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and his family.
Hoffman said there was no evidence that the prayers by Gordon Klingenschmitt, who had been endorsed for the Navy chaplaincy by the Dallas-based Chaplaincy of Full Gospel Churches, were connected to threats made against Weinstein and his family or damage done to his property.
According to the lawsuit, Klingenschmitt posted a prayer on his website urging followers to pray for the downfall of MRFF.
Hoffman’s ruling did not actually turn on constitutional questions as much as it did on Weinstein’s claims that the prayers incited the threats and vandalism.
Imprecatory prayers have a long if complicated history in religious traditions. But this type of prayer, and Psalm 109 in particular, has become a hot topic since President Obama’s election as a number of religious conservatives have invoked it against him.
Like the Judge ruled, that a prayer by itself (without also advocating or advising to do physical harm to someone.) for someone to be hurt is not illegal. But the Talmud quotes one of the Rabbis who advises against such practice. Stating that it might bring heavenly judgement against the person who initiated the prayer.
ג’ דברים מזכירין עוונותיו של אדם: סולם רעוע, קיר נטוי, והמוסר דין על חברו.
From what I have gathered, MRFF is a bastion that saves our own people from the grasps of the evangelicals that want to dominate the armed forces. Definately in my view an arm of our Creator where noone wishes to stand firm among many who want carte blanche in the Armed Forces.
This idea that they can pray the man out of his office is ludicrous and to think that our G-d is going to harm him on their demand is sick and sinister.
So if they are going to support this type of activity, do not be surprised if, unlawful, it backfires on the unjust.
So it’s Official now and sanction by Law, for Frum Yidden to make a Pulsa Denura on enemies of the Jewish Nation.
Just in time for the upcoming election!
Of course it’s not illegal to pray for harm to come to one’s enemy! If that were the case, almost every Yiddish saying and every mother and grandmother would be arrested!