RSS Feed
Israel - 10,000 Free MP3's With Spiritual Recordings Distribute for IDF |
|
| |
Text Size
|
Israel - In what some called the theologizing of warfare and others called a boost to Jewish battle morale, 10,000 MP3s with recorded sermons of encouragement by the chief rabbis of Israel were prepared this week for distribution to combat soldiers - religious and secular, Jewish and gentile - presently serving in Gaza.
Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi Yona Metzger, citing Maimonides (1135-1204), urged soldiers to "trust in God and know that war is being waged for the sanctification of His name... and not to fear. [The soldier] should not think at this time of his wife or of his children or of his mother and father."
Meanwhile, Chief Sephardi Rabbi Shlomo Amar called the military campaign in Gaza "a holy mission that is being waged in the name of the entire Jewish people."
"Even when we walk in the valley of darkness God is with us," said Amar, paraphrasing Psalms. "Like a little boy in the dark who hugs his father so too should you soldiers cleave to God."
Another spiritual leader, Chief Rabbi of Safed Shmuel Eliyahu, son of former chief rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu, was also recorded on the MP3s to be distributed to soldiers.
"Our intention is to uplift soldiers' spirits," said Eliyahu, who likened Hamas to Haman in the biblical story of Ester and to the Nazis.
The recording of the rabbis and plans for the distribution of the MP3 were organized by the IDF's Jewish Consciousness Field (JCF) [Tchum Toda'ah Yehudit], a division of the IDF's Rabbinate.
An anonymous donor or group of donors provided the IDF with the MP3s free of charge.
More of today's headlines
“Israel - Nahariya, Israel - Police say at least three rockets have been fired into northern Israel from Lebanon. Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld says the rockets fell...”
Nahariya, Israel - Rockets Fired from Lebanon, Israel Retaliates
Dutch, Netherlands - Inquiry to Examine 100 Museums for Art Taken from Jews During WWII
Total8
Read Comments (8) — Post Yours »
1
Jan 08, 2009 at 01:09 AM Anonymous Says:
Huh? Wuh? Is this the Israel Defense Forces?
Moshiach must be on the way.
2
Jan 08, 2009 at 01:10 AM Anonymous Says:
Kol hakavod
3
Jan 08, 2009 at 02:38 AM Anonymous Says:
This "holy war" stuff sounds eerily familiar........
4
Jan 08, 2009 at 08:23 AM robroy560 Says:
This is very interesting on a couple fronts:
1) I don't think this is, where #3 was going, an equivalent of Jihad. I knew a very learned man in BP who explained to me that the IDF is really not allowed to engage in a war unless the Roshei Yeshivot authorize it. In this case you have the Chief Ashkenazic & Sephardic Rabbinate "putting their stamp on this." This guy I knew would call this a justified war according to halacha. I am no where near the level of a posek, but I believe in times of Tanach the rabbinic authorities had to authorize wars. I also know the Torah is specific on how we are allowed to engage in battle.
2) In the days leading up to the 6 day War in 1967, the Lubavitcher Rebbe held speeches in Crown Heights promising victory and saying things to help spiritually uplift the IDF. Tapes were made and they were sent to EY. He also asked that all the male soldiers, religious or not, wear tefiillin for protection from Heaven. We all know how successful this war was. Today, Chabad is very helpful to the IDF. I remember seeing pictures of lubavitch bochurim bringing tefillin to the soldiers in the 2006 Lebanon war. I also saw them helping soldiers by making sure there were enough men to daven with a minyan.
3) Also if I'm not mistaken, the Lubavitcher Rebbe referred to the modern IDF soldiers as holy soldiers charged with the duty of protecting Jews and the State of Israel.
4) I think Rav Amar was referring to Psalm 23, which is a very powerful Pslam. Even the Christian and Jewish American soldiers recited that together at D-Day, right before they left their landing crafts to storm the beaches of Normandy. This is what I heard from a WWII veteran, who was a Christian. Ronald Reagan and the GWB used to referrence this one too.
For those anonymous donor/donors who made these MP3 players available, may they be blessed for helping uplift the spirits of the IDF. Of course may the IDF be blessed
5
Jan 08, 2009 at 08:24 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Huh? Wuh? Is this the Israel Defense Forces?
Moshiach must be on the way. ”
I have no objections to the spriritual messages but they should also provide some music or lighter fare....I'm not sure if the average IDF soldier really wants a dva'r torah in the few hours they have between fighting...perhaps a little Schlomo Carlbach, 'ZL mixed in with the top ten drushas of Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson 'ZL
6
Jan 08, 2009 at 09:08 AM robroy560 Says:
“ I have no objections to the spriritual messages but they should also provide some music or lighter fare....I'm not sure if the average IDF soldier really wants a dva'r torah in the few hours they have between fighting...perhaps a little Schlomo Carlbach, 'ZL mixed in with the top ten drushas of Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson 'ZL ”
Thanks for pointing that out. Rav Carlebach used to head over to Israel to entertain the troops. I remember reading a touching story of what he did during the Yom Yippur War.
7
Jan 08, 2009 at 10:50 AM baron karp Says:
what happened to doing more mitzvos as shmira
8
Jan 08, 2009 at 09:53 PM Milhouse Says:
“ This "holy war" stuff sounds eerily familiar........ ”
Yes, it's called milchemes mitzvah. כי ה׳ אלקכם ההולך עמכם להלחם לכם עם אויבכם להושיע אתכם. Or do you not believe in that?