Knowledge is the building block of Judaism. Love of God is contingent on what one knows about Him.
ועל פי הדעה--על פי האהבה--אם מעט מעט, ואם הרבה הרבה
I am planning to post from time to time some of the ideas that I develop as I read and think about issues that catch my attention. Usually they relate to Machshava or Halacha especially how they affect our daily life. I am looking forward to learn from all commenters.
I really think this kind of post is a mistake David. It actually weakens us. We need to focus on Teshuva for feeling guilty for inflicting harm on our mortal enemies, not on convincing ourselves and the world that we are not inflicting harm upon them.
I for one am proud of the pictures of devastation delivered to Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. If these pictures you show truly reflect the situation in Hamasville, we are publicizing our follishness. Our modern day Hitlerian enemies should learn to expect the same such response the allies delivered in the 1940's.
I agree that in war we should have no pity and all the "humane" international laws of war are a travesty. Only the loser turns to them.
Post war (gaza war) the world has turned against us arguing that we are applying indiscriminate punishment. My question is where is the punishment? Why are we indeed letting these murderers enjoy the good life? And if they are, at least let the world know and stop the bellyaching. Our hasbara is a disaster!
The strategy you suggest, cannot work. The reason is that it is precisely our need to project an image of unrealistic morality, that makes our enemies furious. By arguing that we are so "moral" that we do not even inflict harm upon our mortal enemies, we merely bring ever more shrill accusations of "listim atem" upon ourselves.
In the case of Lavan, Yakov tries your approach, to no avail. After his best justification of his morality, Lavan accuses him of theft.
In the case of Esav, Yakov correctly realises that he will not succeed in making a case of his morality. Instead, he shows his utter lack of need for justification in the eyes of Esau. Though it seems that he is honoring Esau materially, this honoring has the effect of removing Yakov from Esaus orbit, Esaus has nothing to take from Yakov, he has been recognized as the "great one". But neither does Esau have anything to give. This inability to interact, to engage Yakov's domain in a hierarchy struggle at all, renders Esau speechless, and he withdraws.
Or you can say that in the case of esav-the reason no harm came to yaakov was because he gave esav everything he owned in order to save his family. Is this a support to the peacenicks and the neturei karta? :)
The peaceniks and Neturei karta actually are suffering from the same, fantastical, "morality" as everyone else. There only difference lies in the mystical force they believe will reward them for this "morality". For regular Israelis the force is the "better nature" of the international community. For Neturei Karta, their misguided concept of God. For peaceniks, the love God.
But, clearly there is a humanitarian crisis. I mean, that is what everyone who says there is a crisis says. Now, how can that be false?
ReplyDeleteHow does anti-antisemitism fit into the rationalistic perspective. This is a phenomenon that simply cannot be explained in rationalistic terms.
ReplyDeleteI really think this kind of post is a mistake David. It actually weakens us. We need to focus on Teshuva for feeling guilty for inflicting harm on our mortal enemies, not on convincing ourselves and the world that we are not inflicting harm upon them.
ReplyDeleteI for one am proud of the pictures of devastation delivered to Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. If these pictures you show truly reflect the situation in Hamasville, we are publicizing our follishness. Our modern day Hitlerian enemies should learn to expect the same such response the allies delivered in the 1940's.
I agree that in war we should have no pity and all the "humane" international laws of war are a travesty. Only the loser turns to them.
ReplyDeletePost war (gaza war) the world has turned against us arguing that we are applying indiscriminate punishment. My question is where is the punishment? Why are we indeed letting these murderers enjoy the good life? And if they are, at least let the world know and stop the bellyaching. Our hasbara is a disaster!
The strategy you suggest, cannot work. The reason is that it is precisely our need to project an image of unrealistic morality, that makes our enemies furious. By arguing that we are so "moral" that we do not even inflict harm upon our mortal enemies, we merely bring ever more shrill accusations of "listim atem" upon ourselves.
ReplyDeleteConsider the cases of Yaakov with
ReplyDeletea. Lavan
b. Esav
In the case of Lavan, Yakov tries your approach, to no avail. After his best justification of his morality, Lavan accuses him of theft.
In the case of Esav, Yakov correctly realises that he will not succeed in making a case of his morality. Instead, he shows his utter lack of need for justification in the eyes of Esau. Though it seems that he is honoring Esau materially, this honoring has the effect of removing Yakov from Esaus orbit, Esaus has nothing to take from Yakov, he has been recognized as the "great one". But neither does Esau have anything to give. This inability to interact, to engage Yakov's domain in a hierarchy struggle at all, renders Esau speechless, and he withdraws.
Or you can say that in the case of esav-the reason no harm came to yaakov was because he gave esav everything he owned in order to save his family. Is this a support to the peacenicks and the neturei karta? :)
ReplyDeleteThe peaceniks and Neturei karta actually are suffering from the same, fantastical, "morality" as everyone else. There only difference lies in the mystical force they believe will reward them for this "morality". For regular Israelis the force is the "better nature" of the international community. For Neturei Karta, their misguided concept of God. For peaceniks, the love God.
ReplyDelete