Caracas, Venezuela – In an interview with The Tablet ( http://bit.ly/XqJR6J) just hours after the news of Hugo Chávez’s death, a Venezuelan rabbi familiar with Chávez said that now is the “time to be silent” when remembering the deceased leader.
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“One should respect the dead,” said Rabbi Pynchas Brener. “And, after a few days, we should evaluate the meaning of Chávez to the Jewish community.”
Rabbi Brener is the chief Rabbi and is affiliated with the Unión Israelita de Caracas an Orthodox Jewish org., and is extraordinarily familiar with Chávez’s rule, during which over 50 percent of Venezuela’s Jews fled the country.
When asked to comment on the deluge of commentary immediately following the announcement, Rabii Brener replied, “Do you know the Torah?”
Brener alluded to the story of Aaron, recalling the phrase, “And Aaron was silent…”
“When death occurs,” continued Rabbi Brener, “maybe we should express condolence, especially his parents who are both living. For parents to lose a child is a terrible thing. Right now is a time to be silent and let time go by and then maybe think about the meaning of Chávez to the Jewish community.”
Prudent well conceived reply. Kidush Hashem
“maybe we should express condolence, especially his parents who are both living. For parents to lose a child is a terrible thing. Right now is a time to be silent and let time go by and then maybe think about the meaning of Chávez to the Jewish community.”
The rabbi is right. Thoughtless comments may harm the Yiddin that live in Venezuela.
Finally a Torah lesson we can all enjoy. A very good lesson and a true rabbinic blessing. We must not attack the lost time of a dead person no matter what his role was in our future.
What he really means is “siyag lachochemah shesika.”
This Rabbi speaks like a talmid chacham.
בנפול אויבך, אל תשמח
‘Nuff said!
One more Rasha is gone
Thank you Hashem
We have few more to go
Im not sure I agree with the Rabbi. If Hitler died and his parents where alive do we also stay quiet??? Aron children where bikroivai Akadesh — they where close to Hashem. This behaima was terrible to a free society, the civilized world and the Jewish people.
The Rabbi’s comments are in line with Halacha, that one must not dishonor or speak ill of the dead. However, on VIN news, in a prior story yesterday, there were scores of postings which gloated over Chavez’s demise. Such despicable postings endanger the welfare of our brethren in Venezuela.
Of course the rabbi has to be silent: he realizes that the vile man is being replaced by his handpicked successor and things may or may not improve for Jews in that savage country with the vile man’s welcome death. But we are fortunate to not need to be constrained by the same consideration and have no problems expressing our happiness that our enemy is dead.
Bavod Rishoim Rina! Rejoice! Chavez is dead. This Rabbi is being politically correct. This has nothing to do with Aharon Hakohen. Chavez allied himself with Ahmadinejad. Chavez hated Jews. Chavez hated America. Chavez publicly embarrassed our sitting President. It is good to see him go. Enjoy the moment!
Any expression of joy over Chavez’s death anywhere could spell trouble back home.
I assume the Rabbi is better informed than we are and I hope we will all treat his advice as a request and take heed with our words.
True we live in a free country but we also live in a dangerous world and we are often held responsible for each others words and deeds.
Chochom ainav berosho.
This rabbi is the closest thing Klal Yisroel has to boots on the ground in Venezuala right now. While he is asking at least his community to be passive politically during these days, the least that us outsiders can do is not to make things difficult for him and hIs Jewish countryman.
I think the fact that he remains silent about Chavez’ death (and has nothing good to say about him) is telling enough.
I suppose, it is not only about his anti-semitic quirks, but also about his economic policy. Probably the jewish community in Venezuela suffered a lot from the price-fixing policies in commerce…