No, Rabbi Boteach, the death penalty is barbarian, and hate is idolatry and dumb – The Times of Israel
Posted By admin on May 14, 2022
About Anger, Hate, Revenge, and Capital Punishment
Ive written against the death penalty over and over again, both from the perspective of Jewish Law and from a psychological perspective. I hate to repeat myself, but I must address the subject, now one of Americas most famous rabbis has raised the issue and has written a book on Kosher Hate.
In short: hes almost completely mistaken.
Rabbi Boteach started out very nicely outside of the box. Being Gay was not against the Torahhow could what you ARE be a sin? He did suggest that Gay-Jewish men should marry Jewish women because they will make such nice husbands and fathers, and otherwise, so many Jewish women would numerically be forced to stay single, but hey, no one is perfect.
He stressed that sex is a positive thing in Judaism, and charmed many Gentiles, even on television, with the wisdom of the Sages and the Rabbis about sex and about relationships. He did a lot of good work. Past tense.
His friend Michael Jackson, suspected (and then confirmed) as a serial pedophile, he advised marrying a woman. He never apologized for that.
Lately, hes really on a slippery slope. He started an election campaign as a Republican. He wasnt elected but, in the process, wrote a lot of unwarranted apologetics for right-wing political deceit. He did write that the GOP should rid itself of its anti-sexuality campaigns: anti-abortion, anti-Gay, anti-marriage equality, etc. It would just go downhill from there.
Boteach chose to debate Evangelicals. I warned that he would lose doing so, and so would all Jews. He went anyway. He flattered them and got nowhere. He didnt castigate them, in the stern fashion that Christians got used to over the ages, about Antisemitism in the churches, and their missionary assault and dreams on the Jews, etc. He had to be lovely.
He wrote a book Kosher Jesus. It has a 15-chapter section: Why the Jews Cannot Accept Jesus, instead of: Why Jews Have no Need for Jesus.
It didnt stop there. He then started campaigning against the fake turning the other cheek and loving ones enemy. He was right that that advice was unfit for humans and that the Christian bloodbath through the ages proved that. But, that doesnt mean that hating is holy and anger is redemptive.
Yes, there is a place for anger and hatein therapy. But, funerals of Jewish-Israeli victims of local Antisemitism are so uplifting because people cry, praise the murdered, and praise G^d. While, funerals of (would-be) terrorists are often marred by screams and threats of hatred and revenge. If one needs to die, its so much better to die a victim than a victimizer. Its so easy and primitive to hate, so elevated and elevating to focus on life.
The good rabbi didnt stop there. Today, he wrote he wants the death penalty for terrorists who murdered Jews in Israel, claiming that is Jewish.
Hes so off the derech (Jewish way). First of all, this is assimilation to the worst of the culture surrounding him. One of the ways the US is backward (besides a lack of universal health care) is capital punishment. All of the trial, incarceration (often for decades), and execution procedures are nothing Jewish Law could agree with. Its plain, stupid, hate-filled revenge and cruelty. Trying to prove the value of human life by killing humans.
On a side note, why does he reserve the word innocent for Jews? Are there no innocent Muslims? He sees The conflicting value systems of the two opposing camps. That is so reminiscent of Christian Dualism (not Monotheism): Evil against Good. The Talmud explains: Theres no sinning but in an attack of folly. Had you thought about it some longer, youd not have done it. There are no inherently evil people. If their nature was bad, theyd be innocent. His anger betrays he thinks they do have free will.
This is on top of Christians saying for 2,000 years that they have God and the Testament of love and Jews have the Testament and God of hatred. International press agencies always call Israels deterrence: revenge.
No terrorist who takes that many lives should be permitted to live. Does He still believe in G^d? Why do we say: May G^d revenge their blood?
He is right that Judaism allows for some revenge and feeling of vengeance but only in very limited fashion (compare the avenger of blood). So, we can find Hebrew Bible verses and Rabbinic comments about revenge, but they pale in comparison to G^ds Advice to forgo this. They were highlighted by father and son Kahane, may G^d revenge their blood. But they almost became a caricature when ignoring the multitude of texts preaching peace.
The summary of the Hebrew Bible is: Dont do unto others which you dont want others to do to you. All the Rabbis agree that An eye for an eye means we must financially compensate, not permission to take revenge.
When we must hurt of stop others, doing so angerly makes it a very grave sin (Jacob protecting Dinah against Esav, Shimon and Levi in Shechem, Shimon and Joseph). Not everyone is as calm and holy as Phinehas.Life in jail stands for: unacceptable deeds AND one can always repent.
The Talmud says that a Rabbinic Court that awards the death penalty more than once in 7 years is a bunch of murderers. Some say: once in 70 years! Here, we sometimes have multiple antisemitic murderers per day.
Besides that, research shows that the death penalty doesnt deter. Plus, in this case, its especially meaningless. These Jew-hating Muslims are not afraid to die. What use is to kill or promise to kill them? House demolitions and withdrawing entry permits of close family somewhat seem to work.
And, is he willing to kill them, or is the dirty work for someone else?
His rationalization for his revenge is that mass murderers who rot in jail could become bargaining chips for hostage-takers. Too easy! Does the rabbi have a donor card to facilitate becoming an organ donor after death? He could add another one, that he doesnt want to be exchanged for any murderer and the like if taken captive. I have. Jonathan Pollard did.
He must do some serious soul searching, including asking his best friends how he got into this assimilated mess. And, consult a real therapist.
But possibly the worst thing he wrote today was about others like Eichmann. You got to be kidding. He must ask forgiveness for this false Holocaust comparison. Even Arafat could not stand in the shadow of Eichmann.
But, I cant recall he ever said he was wrong, Im not holding my breath. Sad. Let him prove me wrong. Reb Shlomo always said: You never know.
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nutsclose to perfect blogging. As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. He doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. * This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 1500 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog, to which one may subscribe, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. * Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. * Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. * Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. * He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. * He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. * He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. * His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. * To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me.
Go here to see the original:
- Rabbi Englander honored for 23 years of service at Bnai Torah ... - June 28th, 2022
- Rachel Timoner, 51, rabbi helping to amplify the voices of liberal Jews - Cleveland Jewish News - June 28th, 2022
- Why Rabbi Matondo was at Cardiff City's training base today - Wales Online - June 28th, 2022
- 'Attacks the integrity of the Jewish family:' Congregation fights against SCOTUS abortion ruling - WPBF West Palm Beach - June 28th, 2022
- 20 years on, don't forget Andreas the rabbi who just wanted to help - Camden New Journal - June 28th, 2022
- Shabbats on the Beach & Open Houses - framinghamsource.com - June 28th, 2022
- Double standards for rabbis and politics | Elchanan Poupko | The Blogs - The Times of Israel - June 28th, 2022
- These Clergy Are Bridging the Gap Between Religion and Climate - InsideClimate News - June 28th, 2022
- Those Messiah Is Here! signs popping up in New York? Heres whos behind them. - Forward - June 28th, 2022
- An Evening of Inspiration | JewishBoston - jewishboston.com - June 28th, 2022
- SJN: Rabbi Freundlich is donating a kidney in the memory of a special two year old girl - The Suburban Newspaper - June 26th, 2022
- Two New Campus Couples Selected for Beren Campus, Set to Replace the Bernsteins - The Commentator - June 26th, 2022
- Celtic can land the next Patrick Roberts by signing Rabbi Matondo - FootballFanCast.com - June 26th, 2022
- Texas rabbi who founded underwear nonprofit named CNN Hero - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - June 26th, 2022
- Ukraine's only mohel returns to warzone on a Jewish mission - Ynetnews - June 26th, 2022
- This rabbi made the religious case for abortion 30 years ago it didnt go well. - Forward - June 25th, 2022
- This weeks Torah portion is all about the importance of independent journalism - Forward - June 25th, 2022
- What do Jews say about abortion? Your primer as Roe is overturned J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 25th, 2022
- Lifecycles announcements for the week of June 24, 2022 J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 25th, 2022
- Ascending The Ladder - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - June 25th, 2022
- Leeds United can land the next Raphinha in Rabbi Matondo - FootballFanCast.com - June 25th, 2022
- Former rabbinical student recalls the moment his belief in the Lubavitcher Rebbe vanished - Forward - June 14th, 2022
- Two locals are back on their bar mitzvah bimahs as clergy interns J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 14th, 2022
- Federation honors Heller, Chelm at 118th annual meeting - Cleveland Jewish News - June 14th, 2022
- Congregation T'chiyah Has Tripled in Size in Seven Years Detroit Jewish News - The Jewish News - June 14th, 2022
- Poland Chief Rabbi Michael Schudrich to speak at Federation annual meeting June 9 - Cleveland Jewish News - June 6th, 2022
- The ordination of the first female rabbi 50 years ago has brought many changes and some challenges - Religion News Service - June 6th, 2022
- Rhythm of an ominous beat: Rabbi Shergill on what ails Punjabi music - The Tribune India - June 6th, 2022
- A Lancaster County rabbi addresses the antisemitic and racist 'great replacement theory' [column] - LNP | LancasterOnline - June 6th, 2022
- Today is a Jewish holiday, the festival of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks - The State Journal-Register - June 6th, 2022
- Does God Have Regrets? OpEd Eurasia Review - Eurasia Review - June 6th, 2022
- Queen Elizabeth II and the Jews - aish.com - Aish - June 6th, 2022
- As a young rabbi, he helped women obtain illegal abortions. At age 90, he's fighting for them once again The Forward - Forward - June 4th, 2022
- A Tearful Reunion in Ukraine For an Elderly Congregant and His Rabbi - Homebound through pandemic and war, Jewish man has been cared for from afar -... - June 4th, 2022
- Bay Area Jewish Healing Center to shut down after 31 years J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - June 4th, 2022
- Dr. Edward Reichman Appointed as the Rabbi Isaac and Bella Tendler Chair in Medical Ethics - Yeshiva University News - Yu News - June 2nd, 2022
- Chicago Pastor Chris Harris and Skokie Rabbi Ari Hart team up to erase $1.9 million in medical debt - FOX 32 Chicago - June 2nd, 2022
- There are days when we just have to put one foot in front of another until it's over, says Rabbi Steve Leder on the loss of a child. - KCRW - June 2nd, 2022
- Our outrage must evolve into the will to stop gun madness - The Dallas Morning News - June 2nd, 2022
- Will We Bring Bikkurim During Shemittah? - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - June 2nd, 2022
- Ealing rabbi and campaigning survivor among those honoured by Queen - Jewish News - June 2nd, 2022
- The Detroit church founded by antisemite Father Coughlin hosts an event on Jewish-Catholic relations - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - June 2nd, 2022
- Rabbi Blau headed to Poland on RCA mission - Cleveland Jewish News - May 14th, 2022
- Rabbi: Jewish Law Provides Room For Debate To Protect Life In The Womb And The Mothers Health - CBS Miami - May 14th, 2022
- Some Conservative rabbis are flouting the intermarriage ban J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 14th, 2022
- The Out-of-Town In-Towner: Rabbi David Bashevkin and Authentic Religious Experience - The Commentator - The Commentator - May 14th, 2022
- 'Survivor' Torah scroll will journey from Palo Alto to Israel this summer J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 14th, 2022
- Rabbi Chaim Ingram From London To Sydney And Music To The Rabbinate - The Jewish Press - JewishPress.com - May 14th, 2022
- Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley: May 20-26 - Sedona.Biz - The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley - Sedona.biz - May 14th, 2022
- EMOR: We cannot teach Torah by avoiding portions we don't like J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - May 14th, 2022
- How the Munich Massacre relates to Russia's invasion of Ukraine - Online Athens - May 14th, 2022
- Mammon In Light of Torah - The Commentator - The Commentator - May 6th, 2022
- Jewish summer camp veterans are opening a camp for trans kids. It was filled within weeks. - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - May 6th, 2022
- Rabbi Bears Witness In Poland - East Hampton Star - April 30th, 2022
- 79 year old becomes community's newest rabbi | Community | jewishaz.com - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - April 30th, 2022
- Rabbi: Palestinian Issue Will Only Be Resolved by Ending the Occupation - IQNA (International Quran News Agency) - April 30th, 2022
- A letter to the Muslim community in Illinois on the sanctity of the Haram al-Sharif - Mondoweiss - April 30th, 2022
- Spirit & Place Festival coming to Indianapolis this May - WISH TV Indianapolis, IN - April 30th, 2022
- N.J. synagogue holds Blessing of the Animals event (PHOTOS) - NJ.com - April 30th, 2022
- Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley: May 6-12, 2022 - Sedona.Biz - The Voice of Sedona and The Verde Valley - Sedona.biz - April 30th, 2022
- Striking Pair: Pastor & Rabbi Team Up To Bring Community Together With Duckpin Bowling - CBS Baltimore - April 25th, 2022
- 79 year old becomes new rabbi | Community | jewishaz.com - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - April 25th, 2022
- Rabbi Akiva's Students and the Omer - aish.com - Aish - April 25th, 2022
- 'There Is Always Hope.' A Ukrainian Rabbi on Celebrating Passover in a Time of War - TIME - April 25th, 2022
- Retired QC rabbi to be honored at May 1 Holocaust remembrance - WHBF - OurQuadCities.com - April 25th, 2022
- Rabbis on the move: departures and promotions across the Bay Area J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - April 25th, 2022
- Bay Area rabbis bear witness to Ukrainian refugees in Poland J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - April 25th, 2022
- Mariupol, one of Putins main targets in Ukraine, once sheltered a great yeshiva - JTA News - Jewish Telegraphic Agency - April 25th, 2022
- Holocaust memorial plaza opens to the public - KTNV 13 Action News Las Vegas - April 25th, 2022
- An unexpected reminder of the wonder of a synagogue experience J. - The Jewish News of Northern California - April 25th, 2022
- Daily Kickoff: Remembering Orrin Hatch + Passover growth in the UAE - Jewish Insider - April 25th, 2022
- Utah DWR to auction antlers and furs from poached wildlife - Salt Lake Tribune - April 25th, 2022
- Faith Matters: April's holidays ask us to give something up for the common good - The Recorder - April 25th, 2022
- Rabbi who foiled hostage-taking will be guest speaker at Ramadan celebration - Forward - April 2nd, 2022
- Herzogs visit to Ankara shows strong US-Turkey ties: US rabbi | Daily Sabah - Daily Sabah - April 2nd, 2022
- Overseeing Generations of Growth: Rabbi Yosef Blau's Historic Career at YU - The Commentator - The Commentator - April 2nd, 2022
- 12 ways to celebrate Passover in the Tampa Bay area - Tampa Bay Times - April 2nd, 2022
- Even the Army Couldnt Keep Them Apart - The New York Times - April 2nd, 2022
- Rabbi of Ukraine city captured by Russia warns of 'new ... - March 29th, 2022
- Retired Rabbi Jon Adland part of investigation for sexual ... - March 29th, 2022
Comments