THE NEW YORK TIMES,
STATEMENT
OF PRINCIPLES
In view of the recent
developments in the
In order that our stand be
clearly understood, a brief historical review is
necessary.
About a century ago some
self-styled Jewish leaders started to propagate
nationalistic ideals within the world Jewish community. This
eventually led to the formation of the world Zionist movement.
From the beginning, this
concept was vehemently denounced by the Rabbinical authorities of the time as being diametrically
opposed to Judaism.
One of the basic tenants of
our faith, is that since Divine will has placed us in exile, we are forbidden to have any nationalistic aspirations. We are bound by Divine oath to accept the yoke of the Diaspora and live in peace and harmony within the nations that Divine destiny has placed us. When the demand for a Jewish state became insistent, the opposition
of our great Rabbis grew in intensity. They declared for the whole world to know that the Jewish people do not want a state before the
advent of the messianic era.
This stand was in no way
altered even by the de-facto establishment of the
State of Israel.
In addition to this basic
ideological transgression, this so-called State of
Israel has consistently indulged in activities which constitute a breach of our religious rights. Complete communities were forced to expose their children to an atheistic education; autopsies are performed
against the wishes of the deceased and their kin; the sanctity of the resting places of our sages are being
violated in a most shameful manner. From all the above it follows that
the Zionist organisations and the State of Israel can in no way
claim that they represent world Jewry. We also declare that all the
belligerent acts perpetuated by the State of Israel are against our Divine law (i.e.
Torah) and thus completely foreign and repulsive to
us.
It is our sincere desire to
live in peace and tranquillity in the nations wherein
we reside and be able to observe our religious practices till our final Divine redemption, when peace and tranquillity will come to all mankind.
CENTRAL RABBINICAL CONGRESS
Of The
(212)384-6765