Jerusalem - Israeli Reporter Recounts Experience With Rabbi Eliyahu Zatzal |
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News Source: Haaretz
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Rabbi EliyahuJerusalem - Fourteen years ago I sat waiting outside the door to Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu’s office, not entirely sure what to expect. I was just beginning my journalistic career, and only a few weeks earlier had been given my first real beat: reporting on religious affairs and the Haredi community for a local Jerusalem weekly.
A family member had offered to set up a meeting for me with the former chief rabbi, not for an interview but an off-the-record conversation. Perhaps he thought I could use the spiritual guidance. My first surprise upon entering the room was seeing that, in private, the rabbi didn’t wear his brocaded Rishon Letzion gown and blue turban, but was dressed instead in conservative black trousers and a white shirt. The next surprise was discovering how well-versed the man was in all matters of politics and media. Every senior rabbi I’d ever met before then had kept up an appearance of being removed from such earthly matters. I was just starting out then in my profession, I remind you.
We had a short but pleasant discussion and just before my time was up he asked what stories I was working on. Hesitantly I told him I was looking into allegations regarding a senior dayan, who was rumored to be misusing public funds. I thought he might scold me for gossip-mongering - the dayan was after all a former colleague of his on the Rabbinical High Court - so I did not mention his name. Rabbi Eliyahu looked at me with an impish smile. “You mean Rabbi D.? That’s OK, you can write about him,” he said. And then I was ushered out.
Read the full story at Haaratez.com 
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Read Comments (22) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 11, 2010 at 09:05 AM Kogan Says:Report as Inappropriate
Did you read the whole article? It is a terrible slander of this great rabbi ZTZ"L.
What do you expect from Haaretz.
First he slanders him, then he remembers that in Jewish tradition you don't speak negatively about someone who passed on.
2
Jun 11, 2010 at 09:06 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
Its comforting to see that even such a heilege rav distinguishes between objective reporting and truthful comments versus hurtful lashon haroh. In the story here, he clearly says its ok for the reporter to publicly reveal the alleged ganavah by a respected rav and dayan. This makes clear the importance of focusing light on yidden who breach our trust and steal from the kehillah. Its never lashon horah to tell the truth about another yid who causes pain and suffering among klal yisroel.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 09:17 AM Yosef Says:Report as Inappropriate
"Archrival?" "Silver-tongued Racist?"
This Haaretz "reporter" is either very stupid; or the fire and brimstone sermon that left an "indelible impression" years ago is today nothing but a long-forgotten "yawn fest."
4
Jun 11, 2010 at 09:30 AM Texas Eli Says:Report as Inappropriate
Having read the entire article, all I can gather is that I'm a racist! The author is so far in secular left field that he doesn't realize that Rav Eliyahu's opinions are the right - and *correct* ones!
7
Jun 11, 2010 at 10:20 AM Paul1042 Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Its comforting to see that even such a heilege rav distinguishes between objective reporting and truthful comments versus hurtful lashon haroh. In the story here, he clearly says its ok for the reporter to publicly reveal the alleged ganavah by a respected rav and dayan. This makes clear the importance of focusing light on yidden who breach our trust and steal from the kehillah. Its never lashon horah to tell the truth about another yid who causes pain and suffering among klal yisroel. ”
Read the whole article (by clicking on the link) and you will see what a chilul Hashem it is!
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Jun 11, 2010 at 10:42 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Its comforting to see that even such a heilege rav distinguishes between objective reporting and truthful comments versus hurtful lashon haroh. In the story here, he clearly says its ok for the reporter to publicly reveal the alleged ganavah by a respected rav and dayan. This makes clear the importance of focusing light on yidden who breach our trust and steal from the kehillah. Its never lashon horah to tell the truth about another yid who causes pain and suffering among klal yisroel. ”
mr ignorant...lashan hora is about something thats true. if its not true its caslled 'moitze shem rah'. so how can you pasken its 'NEVER' loshen horah if its true??
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Jun 11, 2010 at 10:48 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
'jewish' reporter. 'jewish' by accident only...he write like complete soine yiroel
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Jun 11, 2010 at 11:08 AM Milhouse Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Read the whole article (by clicking on the link) and you will see what a chilul Hashem it is! ”
On the contrary, it's a kiddush haShem. Let people know that this tzadik was unafraid to champion the Torah's teachings no matter how unpopular they are among atheists. A chilul haShem would be to forge the Torah and pretend that it conformed with the liberal philosophy that all people are equal and nothing matters but equality.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 11:13 AM Milhouse Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ "Archrival?" "Silver-tongued Racist?"
This Haaretz "reporter" is either very stupid; or the fire and brimstone sermon that left an "indelible impression" years ago is today nothing but a long-forgotten "yawn fest." ”
"Archrival" is certainly correct. R Yosef never forgave R Eliyahu for taking his position, and when he formed the Shas party one of its objectives was to belittle R Eliyahu and harass him.
And if recognising the vast gulf בין ישראל לעמים is "racist", then R Eliyahu was certainly a "racist", just as is every Jew who is loyal to the Torah. R Kahane HYD explained that this is not racism, because anybody can become Jewish. Jews are a nation, not a race; one can't adopt a new race, but one can become naturalized into a new nation. So the correct word for this form of discrimination is not racism but nationalism.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 12:04 PM NaarYisroel Says:Report as Inappropriate
The Ha'aretz article was no better than one would expect.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 12:30 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Read the whole article (by clicking on the link) and you will see what a chilul Hashem it is! ”
NO! DON'T click on the link and DON'T read the article!
Why should we give Haaretz the honor as well as the click-to numbers to raise their advertising rates?!
14
Jun 11, 2010 at 01:27 PM formally Says:Report as Inappropriate
I guess the truth hurts
His words speak for themselves he is racist. One can claim like millhouse that it is based on Torah. However, by today the way we define racist he is a racist.
Very simple.
If you do not agree present an argument, not just one liners
16
Jun 11, 2010 at 03:14 PM Chacham Says:Report as Inappropriate
I find it interesting that on the article of an orthodox teacher teaching math there is 40+ comments, yet on such a gadol only 12... it says something were we are heading to...
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Jun 11, 2010 at 04:02 PM Torah Truth Says:Report as Inappropriate
Sent to the editor:
Dear Editor:
I was fascinated by the article that appeared in the June 10th edition, by Anshel Pfeffer entitled, “Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu – an eloquent racist”. It fascinated me on several fronts. Mr. Pfeffer struggles to reconcile the eloquence of a holy man, who he experienced show love and compassion for a man whose children would desecrate the Shabbat in order to visit him. He was surprised that the Rabbi advised this man that contact and continuing a relationship with his daughter and grandchild was paramount irrespective of how they came to visit. Frankly, I am not sure I understand the surprise as most thoughtful and knowledgeable Chareidi Rabbis would have advised the same.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 04:05 PM Torah Truth Says:Report as Inappropriate
Mr. Pfeffer was further confused with the glowing eulogy that Rabbi Eliyahu delivered for Rabbi Mayer Kahane even saying about him that he was a man to whom "the path of God was always his leading light." What fascinates me about this article is that Mr. Pfeffer never once stops to question that perhaps both Rabbis Eliyahu and Kahane represent the truth of the Torah and hence there is no conflict between the eloquence and caring of a holy man and his actions. After all does the Torah’s command of how to deal with Amalek (and I am not calling the conflict today as a conflict with Amalek) jive more with Mr. Pfeffer’s understanding of Judaism or with Rabbi Eliyahu’s understanding of Judaism? Cont...
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Jun 11, 2010 at 04:08 PM Torah Truth Says:Report as Inappropriate
It is interesting to note that with the exception of the issue of gay rights, the article yesterday in Haaretz by Sara Eisen regarding Helen Thomas could have just as easily been written by Rabbi Meir Kahane. In fact it is almost identical to his famous article entitled “Listen World”. Perhaps it is time for all of us to reflect on whether we are defending the Jewish value system or some other, call it the western liberal value system. There is no question that Rabbi Eliyahu did not subscribe to the Western Liberal value system but he was very consistent with the Jewish Torah value system. Cont...
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Jun 11, 2010 at 04:09 PM Torah Truth Says:Report as Inappropriate
I am reminded of a story when at a lecture given by Rabbi Kahane where upon a writer for Haaretz got up and said “Rabbi Kahane, you are a racist”. In his typical way Rabbi Kahane said, “I am not a racist? You are the one who is a racist. The writer for Haaretz asked “how am I a racist”? Rabbi Kahane said “simple, do you believe in G-d”? He said “no”. “well then, if you don’t believe in G-d it is racism to displace the indigence Palestinian people from their land. However, if you are like me who believes in G-d, we are simply returning to our rightful homeland that G-d gave us”. It’s all a matter of perspective who the “eloquent racist” really is.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 04:14 PM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
HaAretz is the most disgusting Stalinist paper. For it to judge a great Rabbi with terms that it regularly uses against their political opponents is ridiculous. A Communist is a Communist. Their enemies are all racist and objectionable. Well, it goes both ways.
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Jun 11, 2010 at 05:10 PM bucky Says:Report as Inappropriate
The Haaretz article is a shameful slanderous article...by no means should it be refernced on this site. The author who wrote it needs to do some SERIOUS teshuvah.
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Jun 13, 2010 at 11:13 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ Mr. Pfeffer was further confused with the glowing eulogy that Rabbi Eliyahu delivered for Rabbi Mayer Kahane even saying about him that he was a man to whom "the path of God was always his leading light." What fascinates me about this article is that Mr. Pfeffer never once stops to question that perhaps both Rabbis Eliyahu and Kahane represent the truth of the Torah and hence there is no conflict between the eloquence and caring of a holy man and his actions. After all does the Torah’s command of how to deal with Amalek (and I am not calling the conflict today as a conflict with Amalek) jive more with Mr. Pfeffer’s understanding of Judaism or with Rabbi Eliyahu’s understanding of Judaism? Cont... ”
all sirei reshoim refer to all movements who are out to destroy and hate yidded, have a 'nitutz' of amalek can be born 'yidden'
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Jun 13, 2010 at 11:43 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ I guess the truth hurts
His words speak for themselves he is racist. One can claim like millhouse that it is based on Torah. However, by today the way we define racist he is a racist.
Very simple.
If you do not agree present an argument, not just one liners ”
who is the 'we' you are talking about?. the torah is not 'yesterday 'today' tommorow its nitzchious,and you come on a torah site and sat 'we'. reform, christians are not to post on this site
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Jun 15, 2010 at 11:39 AM Anonymous Says:Report as Inappropriate
“ The Haaretz article is a shameful slanderous article...by no means should it be refernced on this site. The author who wrote it needs to do some SERIOUS teshuvah. ”
its not slanderous. just shows these reporters have no mashehu torah and kedushe in them . besides that they were born jewish .they are goim gemurim