Rabbis & Teachers

HaGaon Reb Aharon Kotler was born in Sislovitz, White Russia in 5652 (1891) and passed away in New York City, on 2 Koslev, 5723 (1962). During his years in Europe -- as Rosh Yeshivah in Kletzk, and his later years in America -- As Rosh Yeskivah of Bais Medrash Govoha, in Lakewood, New Jersey, he was a dominant Torah personality.

Rabbis Wasserman, Blau, and Kotler

In the summer of 1937 at the third convention of the rabbinical leaders of Agudath Israel held in Mariband, which included hundreds of rabbis, heads of yeshiva religious academies and grand rabbis of Chassidic communities from a number of countries. Rabbi Aharon Kotler attended this convention.

In Hapardes (Year 11, Issue 7) Rabbi Pardes describes what he saw at the Convention: “Rabbi Wasserman, Rabbi Kotler, Rabbi Rottenberg from Antwerp, rabbis from Czechoslovakia and Hungary were unanimous in rejecting any proposal for a “Jewish State” on either side of the Jordan River, even if it were established as a religious statebecause such a regime would be a form of heresy in our faith in the belief in the coming of the Messiah, and especially since this little “Jewish” state would be built on heresy and desecration of the Name of G-d.

The late Rabbi Shlomo Rottenberg (a historian and author of Toldos Am Olam and other works), who also attended the Convention in 1937 used to say that he could still remember what was discussed there, and the harsh opposition of these rabbinical leaders to a “Jewish State” that is a violation of the Three Oaths mentioned in the Talmud. (Rabbi A.L. Spitzer)

[From Lo Sasur (Thou shalt not depart) Page 42 Declaration and Letters,Document 17]

American Israeli Torah Center 5 Beekman Street, Suit 531-2 New York, NY 38

Thursday, of the Torah Portion Emor, May 6, 1954

To: The Esteemed Rabbis and Community Leaders in Toronto

Whereas the situation of children learning Torah in the Holy Land is in a horrific and frightful condition, with every day worse than the previous one, it requires extensive efforts, and we must stand up at this fateful hour under conditions that never existed in the history of the Jewish People.

We would like to present our esteemed friend, the philanthropist ………. who took it upon himself to visit you on behalf of the American Israeli Torah Center.

The American-Israeli Torah Center, which was established here at the request of the great rabbis and heads of yeshivas in the Holy Land has the goal of establishing new Torah schools in the maabarot camps and new settlements , and to assist small religious schools in the Holy Land from joining the government-run school system. These schools also are unaffiliated with the government-supported religious school system Chinuch Atsma’i. These unaffiliated schools are organized under the American Israeli Torah Center, and include some 5,000 Jewish children who study Torah with reverence as has been the practice throughout history. The government does not interfere in the curriculum, and does not provide even a single cent. This is the foundation of the existence of Judaism for maintaining the Jewish yeshiva schools and the Torah in the Holy Land.

Therefore, we ask urgently ask you to assist us to try to create great success for this great and lofty goal, and may G-d fulfill in you the verse Blessed is he who sustains the Torah. May you be blessed with all the best.

Yours truly, Aharon Kotler

http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/rabbi_quotes/kotlerLetter.cfm

To All Those Who Believe in Justice: Jerusalem, January 17, 1974

To All Those Who Believe in Justice:

Nations of the world accepted the clear lie when they recognized the Zionists, those heretics who established their state through conquest under the name of “Israel,” as any part of the Jewish People. The nations thereby enabled the Zionist heretics to conquer the Jewish People themselves. Through this action those nations offended the authentic Jewish People, its Torah and faith in a way much worse than how the Jewish People has ever been injured by the Arabs, in view of the fact that these Zionist heretics and their establishment of their state through conquest have no connection to the Jewish People. It is known that only the Torah defines the Jewish People. The Jewish People have no involvement with Zionists, Zionism or their state conceived under the notion of nationalism. Judaism has nothing to do with nationalism.

The Jewish People are absolutely opposed to any injury against the Arab nation. The Arab nation never harmed the Jewish People until the advent of Zionist nationalism. The Jewish People are commanded by the Torah to seek the peace of the governments where they are citizens, and not to rebel against any nation, G-d forbid, especially when this concerns the Holy Land, to which we are forbidden to engage in mass immigration.

Jews who follow the Torah are not even suspected of murder or any injury against any person, and we are severely prohibited from engaging in any violent action, including in relation to the struggle over Palestine. Judaism is totally opposed to nationalism, and in fact Jews have refused to move to the Zionist state even though the state proclaims itself as the representative of the Jewish People.

Read Rabbi Blau's Article, "A Call From Jerusalem" All Jews who believe in G-d and his Torah, and who observe the Torah and its commandments, are loyal to the oaths sworn to G-d, and have no involvement in this nationalist revolution, but rather are hostages under Zionist conquest. Even those who have been dragged into the Zionist project do so against the teachings of their faith and religion. The Zionists tell everyone who opposes their ideology to leave the country, but they are wrong!

Every person in the world who believes in justice must know that the entire world will not be spared if the Zionist experiment is allowed to continue, because many innocent people will be harmed. Every person who is merciful and just must rise up and put a stop to the Zionists!

May G-d bestow peace on us and the entire world.

I request that my letter be distributed wherever it can have a benefit.

Amram Blau

Rabbi Aryeh Leib Alter, known as the Sfas Emes

The following is a letter from Rabbi Aryeh Leib Alter, known as the Sfas Emes, which he wrote early in the Zionist period:

Now behold Satan has come and confused the world....A thick cloak rest over the eyes of the leaders of the Zionists. ONLY OWING TO THEIR LACK OF FAITH AND ABSENCE OF BELIEF IN G-D DO THEY FAIL TO REALIZE THE EXTENT OF THE DANGER INVOLVED IN THEIR PROMISES TO THE MASSES OF THE PEOPLES AMONG WHOM WE LIVE, OF ALL THE WORLDLY DELIGHTS PROVIDED THEY GIVE AID TO THE ZIONISTS. THEY EVEN URGE THEM TO EXPEL JEWS FROM THEIR MIDST. Every sensible person will realize the help they are providing the enemies of the Jewish People....

Aryeh Leib Alter

Once before the Neila prayer on Yom Kippur Rabbi Avraham Yoshe Freund of Nasod said:

"It is not because they are Zionists that they are evildoers. It is because they are evildoers that they are Zionists."

Rabbi Avraham Galanti, who other rabbis described as outstanding in his level of holiness, and who was a student of the great kabbalist Rabbi Moshe Cordovero in the 16th century, explained aspects of the Three Oaths in his book Zechus Avos Merit of the Patriarchs where he recounts how some Jews in Portugal wanted to revolt against the kingdom rather than submit to forced conversion. A rabbi quoted the verses from Song of Songs to the people who wanted to revolt, and pointed to the Talmudic tractate Ketuboth p. 111 which states that G-d made the Jewish People take three Oaths – one was that they should not rebel against G-d by rebelling against the nations. Thereafter the Jews submitted to death rather than forced conversion. Although the description in Ketuboth does not say that the Oaths involve directly rebelling against G-d, it is clear that the very violation of these Oaths is rebellion against G-d himself.

(eminent Jewish philosopher, author of Duties of the Heart, lived in early 11th century in Spain)

Quotes from The Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Betzalel Lowy who lived in the 17th century)

The Maharal of Prague (Rabbi Betzalel Lowy who lived in the 17th century) explained that the prohibition of violating the Three Oaths applies even if the other nations force the Jewish People to do so.

In addition, he wrote in his book Netzach Yisroel (Chapter 24) that these Oaths may not be modified so as to affect the decree of Exile, and he expanded on the description in the Midrashic text on Song of Songs 2:18.

“Even if the nations wanted to kill the Jews with terrible torture, the Jews are forbidden to change the applicability of the Oaths. This is relevant to every one of these oaths and must be understood.” Therefore, not only is it forbidden to leave the Exile even with the permission of the nations, but even if they force the Jewish People to do so under pain of death, it is forbidden to violate these Oaths in the same way it is required to give up one’s life rather than accept another religion

Chaim Elazar Shapiro - The Rabbi of Munkatch

הגה"ק רבינו חיים אלעזר שפירא זצ"ל אב"ד מונקאטש בשעת די פראגראמאן אין חברון און ירושלים, מען זאל מפרסם פאר די גוים, אז מ'איז מוותר אויף די באלפאר:

ובהיותי במארינבאד בעת השחיטה ל"ע לאחב"י בחברון ובירושלים נתתי אז אנטרא"ג ופלא"ן להשקיט השפ"ד על אתר ליסע אז באותו יום לפראג ולוויען לראשי צירי הממשלה האנגלית לפעול מיד בממשלתם בלונדון (ע"י הראדיא) הצלה מיד על אתר ובאופן שיחזרו אלו המפלגות מזכות הבעל פעור שלהם, (אשר הוא ממילא בלי תכלית רק להעלות חימה וקנאה בין הערביים וכיוצא צרות צרורות ר"ל) ולא רצו שום א' מהם ממנהיגי המפלגות הנ"ל שהי' שם (במארנבאד) אם כי הודו שהוא רעיון נשגב, (אין ענין ועת להאריך בפוליטיק כעת) והי' דרך להציל נפשות על אתר, ונתגלה קלונם גם אז ועד עתה כי רק לגרמייהו הוא דעבדי לכבודם וממונם ונצחונם רועי אליל מסיתי כל ישראל אוי לנו שכך עלתה בימינו וכו'.

Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro (1871-1936), of blessed memory, was the rabbi of the Munkatch chassidim in the city called Munkatchev, now located in south-western Ukraine.

He was an outstanding scholar and a commentator on all areas of Torah scholarship. He was known for his vociferous opposition to the Zionist heresy in all its forms, and was a major rabbinical authority paving the way for the succeeding generations of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews. In the period after World War I he worked tirelessly to stem the winds of Zionist heresy from blowing through the loyal Orthodox communities in Eastern Europe, and never refrained from confronting other rabbis who he thought were yielding to the pressures of Zionist influence in the Orthodox communities.

The great scholar, Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro, of blessed memory, the head of the rabbinical court of the city of Munkatch during the riots in the city of Hebron and Jerusalem in 1929, said that the non-Jews should be made aware that loyal Jews declined the offers contained in the Balfour Declaration of 1917.

“While I was in the city of Marinbad during the violence that took place in Hebron and Jerusalem, I prepared a proposal to calm the situation, including that I should travel that very day to Prague and Vienna to visit the representatives of the British government to promote an opportunity to change the situation whereby the ultra-Orthodox parties who were sympathetic to the idea of the Declaration would retract their support of it in a radio broadcast (since in any case there was no positive purpose to the Balfour Declaration, but rather it served only to incite anger and hatred on the part of the Arabs). However, not a single leader of any of those political parties in Marinbad wanted to do so. They even attempted to suggest that the Balfour Declaration was an awesome concept (I do not want to go into details about these political issues) in order to save Jewish souls facing oppression. But the truth of the matter is that this was all merely posturing, and their true interest was in following along after their Zionist heretic masters for purposes of power, money and honor. Woes to us that such things have arisen in our generation.”

(From his Jewish legal responsa entitled Minchas Elazar, Part V, Section 36)

Tikkun Olam

The Hebrew book Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World) is a collection of correspondence and rabbinical rulings published by two members of the Orthodox Jewish community of the city of Munkatchevo, Ukraine in 1936. The collection represents the views of many important scholars and rabbis of Eastern Europe , especially the former Austro-Hungarian Empire against the various permutations of secular and religious Zionism in the period between the two World Wars. Among the many dozens of rabbis whose views are included in the book are Rabbi Yoel Teitelbaum of Satmar (1890-1979) and Rabbi Chaim Elazar Shapiro of Munkatchevo (1870-1936), both whom were known as vociferous and uncompromising opponents of the Zionist heretical movement.

Letter written by the renowned Rabbi Chayim Oizer Grodzinski, zt”l of Vilna to Chief Rabbi Dr. Guedemann of Vienna:

English Translation:

Your honour knows that in the matter of the Zionists and the Mizrachi, I am in correspondence with the Gaonim of this generation, and all of them, have decided that Zionism is the work of the Sitro Achro with all its seductions and incitements, for the purpose of turning Israel from the good path and, that a great danger arises from it for all the Congregation of the Exile—Heaven forbid and that all those who venture to defend the Zionists, are no better than they.

To our shame, some rabbis in our country have joined the Zionists and have founded an organization under the name of Mizrachi, and they have rejected all the rebukes of the Gedoilei Hatorah, and they pretend to be men with respect for the Word of the L-rd.

They have founded committees and it is likely that they will turn to your honour. I am therefore informing your honour that all the Gedoilim in our land are perplexed at the matter. In the books of the Poskim there is no suggestion that it is our duty to found a kingdom. On the contrary, our sages, the Tenoim and the Amoiroim, have expressly forbidden this. These rabbis of the Mizrachi have no faith, and do not trust in the salvation of the L-rd and their minds have become deranged into believing that in a state founded by the hands of man there will be peace for us.”

SOURCE: "The Transformation" The Voice of Torah, pp 186-187

Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik of Brisk (1853-1918), the founder of the "yeshiva approach to Talmudic study," was frequently quoted by his disciples as saying:

"The Zionists do not make Jews heretics in order to have a state, they want a state in order to make Jews into heretics!"

Or, as he once wrote:

"The Jewish people have suffered many (spiritual) plagues -- the Sadducees, Karaites, Hellenisers, Shabbatai Zvi, Enlightenment, Reform and many others. But the strongest of them all is Zionism."

This hideous strength was later explained by his son, the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Velvel Soloveichik (1886-1960) as being due to the Zionists having "attacked the center point of Judaism.

The following is a letter written by Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, one of the greatest rabbis in Lithuania in the early part of the century:

Dear Rabbi Moshe Carpas:

I have also read your words in connection with the sect of the Zionists who are now powerfully banded together. I do not blush to admit that I do not know how to find paths to oppose them.

Seeing that these men are known as evil in their localities, and have already proclaimed their purpose, which is to uproot the fundamentals of our faith, and to take over all Jewish communities to aid them in their plan.

It is hardly credible that after the revelations of their arrogant hearts there should still be found right-minded men willing to ally themselves with them. It is greatly astonishing throughout the whole Jewish People that they should be given a place and a voice in public affairs, since it is known they are causing others to sin.

Let the people guard their souls lest they join them in the destruction of our religion and become an obstacle to the House of Israel.

"If you intend to give a coin to the Jewish National Fund, give it to another idolatry, but not to the Zionists, since this idolatry is worse then any other."

Rabbi David Friedman of Karlin wrote many years ago:

"My opinion about this is known, that Zionism is worse than the rest, because it claims that a person can be a Jew without the Torah, and many fell away because of this."

Translated Speech of Rabbi Elya Svei:

It is evident today that it is not enough to have been born in Eretz Yisroel. Being born in Eretz Yisroel -- and even in Jerusalem -- does not automatically endow one with holiness. One doesn't have the compulsion 'not to bow and not to kneel'. There are so many who do bend and kneel…

Something happened about which we cannot be silent. The students in the Talmud Torahs of Jerusalem, these holy children, were exposed to the major of Jerusalem, who name, I feel, may not even be mentioned in front of the Holy Ark. This is whom was put close to the holy children in Jerusalem, so that he might speak to them. This means bowing down, and that means that they have knelt.

There has been no ruling regarding participating in the Jerusalem Municipal Government. No rabbinical organization has commented on it. It was left to individual consideration, and so we are permitted to discuss it and debate it. It is my opinion that participation in any way in the Jerusalem Municipality is questionable.

With what are we dealing here?

We are dealing with the honor of the Holy Sabbath. The Sabbath is the partner of Klal Yisroel. The Sabbath had petitioned G-d to provide her with a partner. So ))HaShem(( said, He would give her a partner, and this was Klal Yisroel. What does 'partner' mean? It means that if you work together, the partnership will bear fruit. What are the fruits that have to come out? The fruits are the witness that ))HaShem(( created the world, and that for the honor of the Sabbath, one has to refuse to participate in certain things.

What kind of tragedy would it have been if the Agudah had not become involved in the Jerusalem Municipal Government? The whole world would say that the Agudah is religious and that she has some principles which she is not ready to forfeit -- even for holy profits. Heaven's honor is at stake.

With what are we dealing here concerning the Sabbath? I was in Eretz Yisroel and I was fated to spend some time in Kiryas Sanz. In Kiryas Sanz there live very fine young men, our best young men, our bnei Torah, and they want to bring up their children in purity and holiness. Children should see a Sabbath. Why isn't it the right of these fine young men that in Jerusalem, to be able to bring up their children without their seeing desecration of the Sabbath? The authorities have built a highway which passes through their area, so that the children should see that one could desecrate the Shabbos. This tears the heart.

I have to tell you that there are in Eretz Yisroel, those who are not bowing down and not kneeling. There is a whole army of individuals in Eretz Yisroel who are not bowing down. There are bnei Torah -- and when you start to speak about bnei Torah, you start to say that they are boys (children), who run around. But we are speaking about bnei Torah -- not children who run around, but only bnei Torah who are the best young men. One is from the finest young men in Kollel Chazan Ish. Another young man is the Rosh Yeshiva in Be'er Yaakob.

The fate of the children of Teheran has become a modern tragedy. We are speaking only to our own people, so we can speak frankly. The story of the children of Teheran is a complicated one. I spoke to the Ponevitzer Rosh Yeshiva, who told me that they had made a beginning. They had hired a man of integrity, but he told me that that was only a beginning. We still have to keep vigilant.

530 children arrive in Eretz Yisroel from Iran. Of these children, only 190 are in religious institutions at this time. "Religious institutions" means, Mizrachi institutions, with the remaining 340 children in secular, free thinking institutions. Of the 340 children, 100 once learned in "Ozar HaTorah", but are now in secular institutions. The 190 children who are now in Mizrachi institutions are in a coeducational atmosphere (because boys and girls are learning together. In Iran, modesty was very important, but here boys and girls are mixed together, and that leads to complete licentiousness. Therefore, you have to know that there are in Eretz Yisroel, a group of young men to typify the finest ideals of Yiddishkeit. They do not bow before atheists. So we, the bnei Torah here in America, have to help the bnei Torah in Eretz Yisroel remain vigilant.

It says in Targum Yonosen Ben Uziel that one should not be a murderer, neither should one be friends or partners with murderers, and there should not be seen in Klal Yisroel murder. Why? Because your children should not be murderers. What does murder mean? The Even Ezra says that there is murder by one's hand there is murder by speech -- one can kill a person with a word. It is possible to be a fine Jew and still be a murderer. The Targum Yonoson says it is not enough that one alone, is not a murderer; he is also not allowed to be a friend of a murderer. Each Jew has a responsibility to Klal Yisroel in that he must insure that no Jew is a murderer. Why?

If you are only an ideological murderer, and if you won't be able to keep away from this kind of murder, your children will be real murderers.

It says, "you are not permitted to be lewd". You should not be licentious. How does lewdness come to Klal Yisroel? There are a few kinds of lewdness. There is lewdness by word or mouth and there is lewdness with the eyes. Fine Jewish homes, often contain lewd reading material. And there are fine homes wherein is put a box (television) from which enters all lewdness into the house. And this is put in a place of honor in the home! What will happen to these children? What will become of them? No Jewish home may have a television!!

It says further, in Targum Yonoson, that one should not be a false witness. I want to stop here. In public life here in Brooklyn, there is false testimony. We have merited, through blood and sweat and with the Almighty's help, to establish large Yeshivos for the boys and Bais Yaakova for the girls. And these schools produced students of whom all can be proud. But then someone comes and says that they are still incomplete. When the boys go out of the Yeshiva, they are still not finished -- they still need more studies: they still have to go to "Touro College" to be well-rounded. That is the biggest false testimony against the Torah. The boys do not need such "completeness".

One is not allowed to be friends with them! One is not allowed to be partners with them! What will be with our children? From where will our great Torah leaders come? From Touro College they will not come! And mothers of Gedolei Torah will also not come from Touro College, because the Gemorrah says that to merit children who will become Gedolei Yisroel, one has to have modesty. And modesty cannot be acquired in Touro College!

Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky ( הרב חיים קנייבסקי ) is a Haredi Judaism rabbi and posek ("decisor of Jewish law") living in Bnei Brak, Israel.

He is the author of several works of halakha, such as Derech Emunoh ("The Path of Faith"), on agricultural laws and Shoneh Halachos (a systematic presentation of the popular work Mishnah Berurah). His Halakhic rulings regarding prayer are recorded in Ishei Yisroel.

He is the son of Rabbi Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky ("the Steipler"), the son-in-law of Rabbi Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, and nephew of Rabbi Avraham Yeshayahu Karelitz (the Chazon Ish), all prominent posek authorities of the 20th century.

Rabbi Kanievsky is known to refrain from engaging in politics.

Thousands of people visit the holy rabbi yearly, seeking Torah oriented advice on various topics.

The Supreme Rabbinic Court of America and the U.S. coordinator of the Jewish Survival Legion Chief Justice Rabbi Marvin S. Antelman, for example, is an internationally recognized organic chemist and biochemist. He has developed many specifically designed molecules used in many vital industrial processes. He is also noted for his for his work in physical chemistry and astrophysics, and has delivered original papers before the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He heads his own chemical research laboratory at the Weizmann Institute in Rehoboth, Israel. He is one of today's leading experts on Jewish Law (Halakhah). Like the other members of the Court, his professional and scientific work permits him to carry on his judicial and rabbinic work. Almost all the Justices (are) veterans of the Israeli or American Armed Forces. All are experienced in governmental work.

The Supreme Rabbinic Court (the American predecessor and branch of the Sanhedrin Qitanah, has dealt with many "unpopular" questions such as the excommunication of Henry Kissinger, Rabin and Peres.

The following is a letter written by the great Rabbi Meir Simcha of Dvinsk, known as the Ohr Somayach:

May G-d cry out from from His holy habitation and give forth his voice for there have arisen NEW REBELS AND TRAITORS, thinking to establish a State... and have promised to deliver Israel from all its troubles in the Exile.

I cannot utter with my lips nor write down what is in my heart concerning these unstable people.... We should pay no attention to Herzl, because this Zionist vision is driving - G-d forbid - Israel to destruction.

It is our duty to preserve ourselves from being captured and mingled with the empty utterances of Herzl and Nordau and their cabal. I am astonished that the Mizrachi rabbis...will not unite with all those who have taken on themeselves the task of weakening the Zionist traitors. They actually uphold the Zionists and themselves will come to revile all those opposed ot this abominable Zionist movement, who teach that the only hope to Israel springs from the ZIONISTS WHO REJECT OUR HOLY TORAH.

Meir Simcha Hakohen

Rabbi Meir Simche, zt”l the Rabbi of Dvinsk, generally known by the title of his work, Oir Someach. He stated that words would not suffice to express his horror of the Zionist menace. Here are some extracts from the proclamation which he issued on the subject:

English Translation:

“The L-rd doth roar from on high and from His holy habitation gives forth His voice, for there have arisen new rebels and traitors, thinking to lay the foundation of Zion and to establish a kingdom; and they have raised the standard, to gather our Exile, in the promise that in the near future, they will put an end to all trouble and calamity and that they, the Zionists, will deliver Israel from all its troubles.

I cannot utter with my lips nor put down in writing that which is in my heart concerning these unstable men. We ask ourselves what have these unbelievers heard that they have come forth? Who called them and what do they want with us? They talk of redeeming us from exile while we do not desire redemption at the hands of man, seeing that we know that its end is—Heaven forbid—destruction and vanity, and all this comes upon them through the desire for greatness and power that burns and consumes their hearts like fire.

Heaven forbid that we should hasten the hour. Even were the foundation of a kingdom a basic commandment and even were we to hear a Voice from Heaven telling us that it is our duty to hearken to Dr. Herzl, then we should say that no attention is to be paid to a Voice from Heaven because this Zionist vision is driving--Heaven forbid--Israel to destruction.

It is our duty to preserve ourselves from being captured and mingled with the unstable utterances of Herzl and Nordau and with their conspiracy, and I am astonished that the Mizrachi rabbis, venture to dispute the words of our teachers and, instead of doing their duty, by uniting with all those who have taken upon themselves, the task of weakening the traitorous Zionists, they uphold them and will finally pursue and revile all those opposed to this abominable movement as if in truth—Heaven forbid—the only hope remaining to Israel springs from the Zionists who reject our Holy Torah.

King David cried out “I have seen renegades and I was grieved for they did not observe Thy word. Let dust seal their mouths for they are no better than the renegades who apostatized.”

SOURCE: "The Transformation" The Voice of Torah, pp 183-186

As the most renowned German Jewish leader of the nineteenth century, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wrote:

"We mourn over the sin which brought about that downfall (the Temple destruction -- author), we take to heart the harshness which we have encountered in our years of wandering as the chastisement of a father, imposed on us for our improvement, and we mourn the lack of observance of the Torah which that ruin has brought about. Not in order to shine as a nation among nations do we raise our prayers and hopes for a reunion in our land, but in order to find a soil for the better fulfillment of our spiritual vocation in that reunion and in that land which was promised, and given, and again promised for our observance of the Torah. But this very vocation obliges us, until G-d shall call us back to the Holy Land, to live and to work as patriots wherever He has placed us, to collect all the physical, material and spiritual forces and all that is noble in Israel to further the weal of the nations which have given us shelter. It obliges us, further, to allow our longing for the far-off land to express itself only in mourning, in wishing and hoping; and only through the honest fulfillment of all Jewish duties to await the realization of this hope. But it forbids us to strive for the reunion or possession of the land by any but spiritual means. Our Sages say G-d imposed three vows when he sent Israel into the wilderness: (1) that the children of Israel shall never seek to reestablish their nation by themselves; (2) that they never be disloyal to the nations which have given them shelter; (3) that these nations shall not oppress them excessively (Kesubos 111a)."

Find this book and others on Rabbi Hirsch at our online bookstore. The purpose of our exile, in addition to that of punishment, is to test us. Nachmanides (1194-1278) writes that the ultimate redemption depends on the Jewish people remaining faithful and preserving their identity in all the lands of their exile. This is a difficult task. The forces of persecution and the enticements of assimilation have often proved all too powerful. Yet, despite all, a remnant of Jewry has always remained faithful and continues so, praise be to G-d, until this very day.

Thus, Jews are enjoined to perform a most precarious balancing act. On the one hand there is the obligation to act in an honest, empathetic, loyal and patriotic manner towards the nation in which they dwell. This obligation extends to Jewish relations with all peoples living within the nation. On the other hand, there is a need for spiritual and to some extent social isolation in order to practice the Torah and preserve Jewish survival. Inclining too far to either side of this dichotomy can result in much evil and confusion. In the proper balance, though, lies the fulfillment of Jewish destiny. And, combined with the yearning for the Messiah, it is the only recipe for the world's salvation.

And, again, in his commentary on the prayer book, Rabbi Hirsch writes:

"During the reign of Hadrian when the uprising led by Bar Kochba proved a disastrous error, it became essential that the Jewish people be reminded for all times of an important, essential fact, namely that (the people of) Israel must never again attempt to restore its national independence by its own power; it was to entrust its future as a nation solely to Divine Providence." The contradiction between loyalty to the lands in which the Jewish people dwell in their exile and Zionism, was also explained by Rabbi Hirsch:

"This close connection with states everywhere is not at all in contradiction to the spirit of Judaism, for the independent national life of Israel was never the essence or purpose of our existence as a nation but a means of fulfilling our spiritual mission." "Land and soil were never Israel's bond of union..."

"For this (Messianic -- author) future which is promised to us in the glorious predictions of the inspired prophets as a goal of the Galus (exile -- author), we hope and pray, but actively to accelerate its coming is prohibited to us."

The following was written by the eminent late Rabbi Shaul Brach, one of the great anti-Zionist rabbis in Hungary before World War II, in the introduction to a religious text called Avos Al Banim. His words, just like the words of Rabbi Teitelbaum ring clearer than ever today.

"Since the dawn of the Zionist movement, suffering has not ceased to exist in the world. All the warnings of the Torah have been fulfilled in their details among our People all over the world. For a believer it is no surprise that the Zionists are the same as the heretics at the time of the Destruction of the Temple. Thus, divine judgment has been unleashed on the entire world.

It is, however, surprising how they can continue in their ways unless they have rejected the entire Torah and the Prophets, inasmuch as they support Zionism, they must surely hope they are successful. But the Torah states, "..lest the Land vomit you out because of how you defiled it."

It is amazing that the leaders of the Agudah movement want many Jews to live in the Holy Land. Don't they fear for the lives of their children given the fact that there is nowhere else on earth where there is so much heresy and sectarianism as in the Holy Land today?

As far as our brethren in America who support the Zionist heresy in the Holy Land are concerned, if they don't face up to the truth, in liberal AMERICA they will quickly feel the effects of the verse, "With anger poured out will I rule over you." May G-d have mercy.”

Lubavitcher Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Sholem Dov Ber Schneersohn ZT"L On the Zionists, Zionism and the State (A letter written by the famous Lubavitcher Rebbe, R. Shalom Dov ber Schneerson of blessed memory)

An important contribution to the struggle against Zionism was made by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Grand Rabbi Sholem Dov Ber Schneersohn ZT"L. His words that are here translated, deal at some length with the character of Zionism and some of the falsifications and ambiguities connected with it. They were uttered in response to questions raised by Rabbi Aaronson who sought to justify the Zionists in the eyes of the Rebbe and ventured to raise questions on the subject of the strong letter written by the Rebbe three years earlier. This account of the dispute with Rabbi Aaronson was written by the Rebbe himself and here are a few extracts:

Rabbi Aaronson:

The Lubavitcher Rebbe:

From all the writings of the Zionists we can clearly see that their main aim and activity is to create the impression among the Jewish People that the whole purpose of the Torah and the commandments is merely to strengthen national feeling. This theory can easily be adopted by the youth who regard themselves as instruments prepared for the fulfillment of the Zionist ideal. They regard themselves as completely liberated form Torah and the commandments. They think nationalism has replaced religion... When Herzl was in the Holy Land he was far removed from G-d. He OPENLY PROFANED THE TORAH BY ENTERING THE HOLY CITY ON THE SABBATH. HE WENT TO THE SITE OF THE SANCTUARY WHICH EVEN FROM A HUMAN POINT OF VIEW HE SHOULD NOT HAVE DONE, THUS OPENLY PROFANING THE SABBATH IN THE HOLY CITY, AND IN THE PLACE OF HIS TEMPLE, DOING EVIL IN THE SIGHT OF G-D. In order to influence our brethren in favor of the Zionist aspiration for an independent nation and government, they have no alternative but to lead the people astray from the path of of Torah and the commandments, or at least, to weaken their attachment as much as possible SO THAT NATIONALISM SHOULD PREVAIL OVER TORAH, BECAUSE IT IS KNOWN THAT THOSE ATTACHED TO THE TORAH ARE UNLIKELY TO CHANGE AND ACCEPT SOME OTHER FORM OF FAITH. It is surely clear that the Zionists not only are not approaching Judaism, but that they entirely destroy Jewish souls in intentionally TAKING AWAY FROM THEM EVEN THE HIDDEN AND MYSTICAL FEELING IN THEIR SOULS FOR THE TORAH AND THE COMMANDMENTS.... Sholem Ber Schneersohn

"Regarding your question about the Zionists, allow me to respond briefly. Those who assist the Zionists will pay at the Day of Judgment, because they are causing the masses to sin. Therefore, whoever is on the side of G-d and his Torah shall not join with evildoers and not become attached to them. On the contrary, they should oppose them as much as possible."

Your friend in truth, Shalom Dov Ber from Lubavitch

He also said:

"The Zionists were more clever than the others, since they exchanged nationalism for the Torah and commandments, as Mandelstam wrote publicly, that a Jew doesn't have to be someone who keeps the commandments , but rather is a Zionist, even if he does not wear phylacteries and does not keep the Sabbath...."

After Mishne Torah, the next major halachic code was Rav Yaakov the son of Asher's Rosh Arba'ah Turim (lit. "four pillars"). He dealt only with the laws that are still relevant, and divided them into four major sections: Orach Chayim, dealing with the daily laws and laws of Shabbat and holidays, Yoreh De'ah, dealing with laws of kashrut, mourning, and niddah, Even HaEzer, dealing with women's issues such as marriage and divorce, and Choshen Mishpat, which deals with the civil code. These divisions became the standards for many later works, and this work remains as the standard source-text for halachic discussions. In addition, he also wrote a brief commentary on the Torah, known as Ba'al HaTurim, which focuses on gematria, as well as a longer commentary. He studied under his father, and was the teacher of Abudraham.

Quotes from Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam The Divrei Yechzkel of Shinova

The great rabbi from Shinova, who was the son of the holy Sanzer Rabbi of Poland said this 100 years ago, at the dawn of Zionism:

"You should know, that when a Jew recites 'Hear O Israel, G-d is our Lord, G-d is One' he should have in mind to reject all idolatry in the world, and Zionism is also idolatry, and he must reject it as well."

Rabbi Moshe Leib Diskin once said:

"The rabbis of the generation should gather together and issue a writ of excommunication against the Zionists and eject them from the Jewish People, and make decrees against their bread and wine, and to forbid marrying with them, JUST LIKE OUR SAGES DID WITH THE SAMARITANS."

Rav Yehuda ]]HaChassidwas another member of the German pietists. He was born in Speyer ''(Shapira)'' in 1150 and dies in Regensburg in 1217. Although he was a Tosafist, this work of his is his best known. It is a collection of short thoughts, ideas, and pieces of advice on virtually every area of Jewish life. Many of these notes are based on Kabbalah rather than halacha. He received much of his knowledge from his father, Rav ShmuelHaChassid, and he taught luminaries such as the authors of the [[Or Zarua and Semag.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Hakohen, the Chofetz Chaim "I am sure, that the zionists are descendents of Amalek."

Editor Note: For more information on this statement, read the website article: [http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com//rabbi_quotes/chaimclarification.cfm Clarification of Statements by the Chofetz Chaim

The great Rabbi Yisrael Meir Hakohen, known as Chafetz Chaim wrote the following words decades ago:

If the thoughts of these Zionists were really for the good of Israel as they claim, they would refrain from this effort, and THERE WOULD BE AN END TO ALL THE CALAMITIES THAT SPRING FORTH FROM IT. At first sight there seems no reason why I should expand on this theme, seeing as it is clearly forbidden in the Talmudic tractate Ketuboth to go up to the Holy Land en masse. I fear that as one sin brings on another, that if they succeed, they will later transgress the prohibition against rebelling against other nations.

(G-d) knows that I have written these words from concern for our brethren, the Children of Israel, lest He withdraw his care for us - Heaven forbid - SINCE WHOEVER READS THE WORDS OF THE ZIONISTS WILL KNOW THAT EVEN THE BEST OF THE OTHER PEOPLES WILL BE TURNED INTO OUR ENEMIES. Yisrael Meir Hakohen

(Source: Chapter 3 of Rabbi Wasserman's booklet, "Proper Prayer")

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English Translation: “Woe unto me if I do not speak although I am not a man of words. If it were not a matter of life and death, I would not be willing to write. Your honour has done well to turn to the great ones of our people and enlarge on the extent of danger involved in it. It is not a time to keep silent.

If the thoughts of these Zionists were really for the good of Israel as they claim they would withhold themselves from the matter, and there would be an end to all the calamities, that spring from it. At first sight there seems no reason why I should expand on this theme, seeing that it is clearly forbidden in the tractate of Kesubos to go up to the Land in a column, meaning with a multitude. I in my innocence venture to fear, that one sin brings on another, and that if they transgress the prohibition against, rebelling against the nations of the world.

I have pain in expanding on this theme. I spoke seriously to one of the most famous Mizrachists in our country, and I told him that all their activity was opposed to the Torah. He regarded as if I were deluded, and told me that there was no other way to rid ourselves of the Exile, and asked how long we should wait for redemption through miraculous means.

I became convinced that there was no hope of these people listening to the voice of the mighty men of the Torah. We are able to know at a glance that our healing will not spring from them, and that their glory shall not be for ever, especially seeing that it is publicly known that a certain one of them, has denied the G-d of Israel and that another like Sennacherib has reviled the Hosts of the Living G-d. What have they to do with Israel and with the Holy Land?

The Holy One, blessed by His Name, knows the thoughts of human hearts. He knows that I have written all these words from concern for our brethren, the children of Israel, lest He withdraw His care for us—Heaven forbid—for whoever reads the words of the Zionists will know, that even the best among Gentiles will be turned into our enemies.

Let our brethren know that until the time of the Messiah, we are destined to be in Exile and to be subordinated to the nations until the Holy One, blessed be He, Himself will deliver those whom He collects and, eye to eye, will Israel see G-d return to Zion.”

SOURCE: "The Transformation" The Voice of Torah, pp 188-19