Some of the Israeli media and many politicians directed a heavy barrage this morning against Rabbi Aviner for expressing the Halakhic [Jewish legal] opinion that one who weakens the army by maligning it or by refusing orders could be liable for the death penalty.
Rabbi Aviner, head of Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim and a popular author and speaker, wrote an article this past week criticizing those who besmirch the IDF or refuse to serve in Judea and Samaria during the ongoing Oslo War. He quoted an opinion by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin [dean of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva, d. 1893] that one who \"weakens the hands of the military is deserving of death, for he endangers the entire nation.\" Rabbi Aviner also brought examples from the Bible in which Jews who refused military orders were killed.
Opposition leader MK Yossi Sarid (Meretz) jumped on the opportunity to call for Rabbi Aviner to be brought to trial \"for having called for the murder [sic] of those who refuse to serve in the territories.\" Israel Radio\'s news channel interviewed Sarid and other left-wing personalities, presenting Rabbi Aviner as if he had incited to murder. Arutz-7\'s Tamar Yahel reports that Rabbi Aviner later explained that his words had been distorted, and that he did not call for anyone\'s murder.
The Ynet website, for instance, headlined its story on the issue as follows: \"Rabbi Aviner: It is Permitted to Kill Those who Refuse to Serve\" - instead of, \"Rabbi Aviner: Army Empowered to Put to Death Those who Refuse to Serve.\"
Rabbi Aviner, head of Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim and a popular author and speaker, wrote an article this past week criticizing those who besmirch the IDF or refuse to serve in Judea and Samaria during the ongoing Oslo War. He quoted an opinion by Rabbi Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin [dean of the famed Volozhin Yeshiva, d. 1893] that one who \"weakens the hands of the military is deserving of death, for he endangers the entire nation.\" Rabbi Aviner also brought examples from the Bible in which Jews who refused military orders were killed.
Opposition leader MK Yossi Sarid (Meretz) jumped on the opportunity to call for Rabbi Aviner to be brought to trial \"for having called for the murder [sic] of those who refuse to serve in the territories.\" Israel Radio\'s news channel interviewed Sarid and other left-wing personalities, presenting Rabbi Aviner as if he had incited to murder. Arutz-7\'s Tamar Yahel reports that Rabbi Aviner later explained that his words had been distorted, and that he did not call for anyone\'s murder.
The Ynet website, for instance, headlined its story on the issue as follows: \"Rabbi Aviner: It is Permitted to Kill Those who Refuse to Serve\" - instead of, \"Rabbi Aviner: Army Empowered to Put to Death Those who Refuse to Serve.\"