Israel - Lulav-Snatchers Mutilate 15 Palm Trees |
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Lulavim (file photo)Israel - KKL-JNF foresters have discovered that a number of palm trees planted along the banks of Nahal Harod, situated in the northern Jezreel Valley, have been severely mutilated.
It is believed that the palm trees were cut open so that their fronds could be used as part of the four species used during Succot.
“Fifteen trees were cut in exactly the same way. We don’t have any proof or suspects, but we believe that there was an intent to steal the lulav branches from the trees. It happened very shortly before Succot. There’s no other reason we can think of that cuts like these would be made in such a systematic way,” Gill Atsmon, Keren Kayemet L’Israel - Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) regional director, told The Jerusalem Post on Thursday.
The four species comprise an etrog, or citron, willow branches and myrtle branches which are held together and waved in a special ceremony during Succot, along with the frond of a date palm.
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Read Comments (17) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 01, 2009 at 05:51 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
According to chazal, anyone who seeks to perform a mitzvah with a stolen item not only forgoes any zchus for performing that mitzvah but also will suffer because of the chilul hashem such actions create. Here there was both a theft of public property and the environmental damage resulting from loss of foilage where it is badly needed.
2
Oct 01, 2009 at 05:50 PM Askupeh Says:Report as Inappropriate
Mutilated? How is it any different then when they cut them commercially? Probably Gezel if not Hefker, but mutilated?
3
Oct 01, 2009 at 06:17 PM Askupeh Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ According to chazal, anyone who seeks to perform a mitzvah with a stolen item not only forgoes any zchus for performing that mitzvah but also will suffer because of the chilul hashem such actions create. Here there was both a theft of public property and the environmental damage resulting from loss of foilage where it is badly needed. ”
A Lulev Gezeluh is not counted only on the first day. This year there is no first day, except in that article there.
4
Oct 01, 2009 at 06:08 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
What a shanda...such mutilation of a living tree should be severely punished.
5
Oct 01, 2009 at 07:50 PM Lawyer Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ A Lulev Gezeluh is not counted only on the first day. This year there is no first day, except in that article there. ”
It is still Botzeiah Berach nietz Hashem (if you make a berachah) and a mitzvah ha ba'ah be aveira.
6
Oct 01, 2009 at 06:47 PM The Truth Says:Report as Inappropriate
I thought that only one who steals and uses it for a miztva, then it is a mitzva habo b'aveira, but one who buys a stolen lulav fulfils the mitzva. So, the Ganovim here are still ganovim, but if they sell them then they get the cash & the purchaser gets a mitzva. Win - win! (except for KKL-JNF).
7
Oct 01, 2009 at 08:58 PM Lawyer Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I thought that only one who steals and uses it for a miztva, then it is a mitzva habo b'aveira, but one who buys a stolen lulav fulfils the mitzva. So, the Ganovim here are still ganovim, but if they sell them then they get the cash & the purchaser gets a mitzva. Win - win! (except for KKL-JNF). ”
Alternatively, the gonovim get Gehhenom for geneiva, and the purchasers get Gehhenom for being choleik im ha ganav. Lose -- Lose!
8
Oct 01, 2009 at 11:20 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ What a shanda...such mutilation of a living tree should be severely punished. ”
“ What a shanda...such mutilation of a living tree should be severely punished.”
As Milhouse would say, hashem created trees to be mutiliated
9
Oct 01, 2009 at 10:12 PM Charlie Hall Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I thought that only one who steals and uses it for a miztva, then it is a mitzva habo b'aveira, but one who buys a stolen lulav fulfils the mitzva. So, the Ganovim here are still ganovim, but if they sell them then they get the cash & the purchaser gets a mitzva. Win - win! (except for KKL-JNF). ”
I can't believe that someone here would suggest that this is a good thing. Did we not pay attention to all those "al chet"'s?
11
Oct 02, 2009 at 12:14 AM starwolf Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I can't believe that someone here would suggest that this is a good thing. Did we not pay attention to all those "al chet"'s? ”
Charlie,
while driving to Yerushalayim to select & purchase the arba minim, I saw a Hareidi (dressed) man cutting branches from the living pine trees along the road. These are beautiful old trees, and, or course, it is unlawful to cut them.
This--in a city which provides free schach.
Unfortunately, I was in a place where it was dangerous to stop.
On the other hand, it was a wonderful opportunity to educate my little girls on the way that mitzvot are (and are not) performed.
12
Oct 02, 2009 at 06:59 AM Lawyer Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ “ What a shanda...such mutilation of a living tree should be severely punished.”
As Milhouse would say, hashem created trees to be mutiliated ”
No, Hashem created trees that Man could benefit from them. It is up to the owner to decide how he wants to benefit from them. If the owner wants to use his palm trees to run a lulav farm, I have no problem with that. But if he wants to use them to beautify his property, I do have a problem with some gonov deciding he is going to steal the lulavim, he is in the process making the trees look ugly and depriving the owner of (some of) the beauty of his own property. That's the mutilation here -- the owner has been robbed.
13
Oct 02, 2009 at 04:35 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ According to chazal, anyone who seeks to perform a mitzvah with a stolen item not only forgoes any zchus for performing that mitzvah but also will suffer because of the chilul hashem such actions create. Here there was both a theft of public property and the environmental damage resulting from loss of foilage where it is badly needed. ”
most likely it was an arab who wanted to make a profit by selling them...they know what theyre doing and when the jewish holidays are, and have no problem stealing for money...where i live in israel i see arabs selling schach!
14
Oct 02, 2009 at 04:06 AM jewinjerusalem Says:Report as Inappropriate
How does #11 know he didn't have permission to cut it down. The trees cut down on KKL land were probably cut down by arabs. They are the primary sellers of this type of schach.
15
Oct 02, 2009 at 08:41 AM starwolf Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ How does #11 know he didn't have permission to cut it down. The trees cut down on KKL land were probably cut down by arabs. They are the primary sellers of this type of schach. ”
There is no permission to cut those branches.
And these were NOT Arabs.
16
Oct 02, 2009 at 10:09 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
lulov hagozul?
17
Oct 02, 2009 at 10:24 AM Alter Neulander Says:Report as Inappropriate
"A Lulev Gezeluh is not counted only on the first day."
You need "Lochem" for the first day, but "mitzvah ha ba'ah b'aveira" may still be an issue for the rest of Yom Tom. Besides, the moron could have bought several lulavim for the cost of the clippers he used!
18
Oct 05, 2009 at 05:58 PM Avremele Says:Report as Inappropriate
Ahmeratzim,
Buyer is yotzeh the mitzveh, It is yiush and shinu reshis.