Rabbis warn Jews not to sell property to non-Jews

[Player]

Jerusalem (CNN) -- A letter signed by 50 state-appointed rabbis telling Jews not to rent or sell property to non-Jews prompted widespread condemnation Tuesday from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and human rights groups.

The letter warned that those who defied the religious ruling should be "ostracized."

"In answer to many questions, we reply that it is prohibited by the Torah to sell a house or field in Israel to a gentile," the letter reads.

The rest here: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/12/07/israel.rabbis.letter/index.html

[IDF_TANKER]

The rest here: http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/12/07/israel.rabbis.letter/index.html

Because you feel that we haven't covered exhaustively the issue the last time, right? And one flamewar is just not enough.

[GB_FXST]

Stupid is as stupid does. But, even so, the Rabbi's refrained from calling land sellers "rodefim."

[Player]

Because you feel that we haven't covered exhaustively the issue the last time, right? And one flamewar is just not enough.

I don't know what you're talking about. Any thread there is could fall a victim for a flamewar as long as it's not locked. How am I responsible for the actions of others that maybe would happen in the thread I started that's about a current event?

[Mu-Meson]

Stupidity knows no religious boundaries? I'm shocked, shocked! It's almost like stupidity is inherent in the human condition. Radical possibility, I know.

[Ordie]

deleted......(I'll give it a rest)

[Laworkerbee]

I recall how Jews were once prohibited from owning property, land and real estate.

In the good old days in Southen California them Japs, Jews and messicans were all prohibited from owning property in one form or another.

[monolit]

I recall how Jews were once prohibited from owning property, land and real estate.
That's past issue and this thread is about current issue.

[Stormz_STA]

deleted......(I'll give it a rest)

Ordie, don't give up! Fight!

[Laworkerbee]

deleted......(I'll give it a rest)

Too bad I've already quoted you :lol:

[GB_FXST]

That's past issue and this thread is about current issue.

Actually, incorrect. Jews cannot own property in places like Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The PA has decried it a crime punishable by death.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=188604

[Stormz_STA]

Jews cannot own property in places like Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The PA has decried it a crime punishable by death.

He was talking about civilized world. :)

[Octavariable]

He was talking about civilized world. :)

Zing!

10char

[Laworkerbee]

Actually, incorrect. Jews cannot own property in places like Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The PA has decried it a crime punishable by death.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=188604

Funny the PA puts out such a thing since Palestinians have very little or no rights in most of the Arab world. Saddam was their best patron.

[Kaplanr]

Lets not use Old California, Nazi Germany, Jordan or the PA as our barometer; we are better than that. Point blank, these people (mostly by virtue of their being warm blooded, breathing and having opposable thumbs) have no business shooting off their mouths, shouldn't be on the taxpayer's grush, and frankly are an embarrassment to the State of Israel and Clal Yisrael.

[BlackWarder]

Considering that they are getting criticized by their own camp I thinkn that it's safe to assume that this "ruling" won't stend.

On the other hand, I wouldn't sell my home to an Arab, who knows what could happen, I remember back in 03' a friend of mine who was in intel told me about a plot to buy a house in tel aviv, fill it with explosives and blow the entire building, scary ****.

And let's be honest, things like that are common in the Arab street in Israel but no one say any thing about it, last time a Jewish family bought a house in an Arab village they were kicked out of the village.

Warder

[deathil93]

The sad thing is, some people will actually do that.

[Climber]

Lets not use Old California, Nazi Germany, Jordan or the PA as our barometer; we are better than that. Point blank, these people (mostly by virtue of their being warm blooded, breathing and having opposable thumbs) have no business shooting off their mouths, shouldn't be on the taxpayer's grush, and frankly are an embarrassment to the State of Israel and Clal Yisrael.

100% agree.

They are keeping us from being a better country. They are a shame.

[GB_FXST]

Lets not use Old California, Nazi Germany, Jordan or the PA as our barometer; we are better than that. Point blank, these people (mostly by virtue of their being warm blooded, breathing and having opposable thumbs) have no business shooting off their mouths, shouldn't be on the taxpayer's grush, and frankly are an embarrassment to the State of Israel and Clal Yisrael.

The Rabbis are wrong, so there is nothing to justify.

We are better than Jordan and the PA, and these Rabbis help illustrate why. They serve as a foil to demonstrate the liberal democratic nature of Israel, and prejudicial and xenophobic nature of Israel's neighbors.

This is why it is important to view the Rabbis in terms of a larger context. While they are just advocating an immoral policy, there are much worse established policies, namely the laws of the PA and Jordan that classify land sales to Jews as capital crimes.

So, yes, while our lunatic fringe Rabbis have embarassed us once again, they neither speak for the government, nor set official policy and law.

Our lunatic fringe makes noise. And, the government and Clal Yisrael are forced to respond.

Amongst our neighbors, the inmates are running the asylum.

[Kaplanr]

Except there are people who will take what they say as validation of their own biases. It's a struggle sometimes to let the rational overcome the irrational.

[JJC]

The whole irony behind this embarrassing mess is that leading Charedi "ultra-orthodox" rabbis whom everyone hates are the ones that are against this letter. Rav Shteinman and Rav Elyashiv came out criticizing the rabbis who signed on. Rav Shteinman even walked out on the rabbis when they came for the signature. Originally people though it were Charedi rabbis that came up with this letter, but it originated from the religious Zionist camp considered less nuttier than the Charedim. Israeli circus doesn't cease to entertain the diaspora. LOL At least there is some sigh of relief that a heavyweight like Rav Elyashiv is not a completely insane ayatollah that people expect them to be.

[Telmar]

...

This is why it is important to view the Rabbis in terms of a larger context. While they are just advocating an immoral policy, there are much worse established policies, namely the laws of the PA and Jordan that classify land sales to Jews as capital crimes.
...

Selling land to Jews remains illegal in Jordan, but is not a capital crime since 1995.

[GB_FXST]

Selling land to Jews remains illegal in Jordan, but is not a capital crime since 1995.

Do you have a link? At any rate, that is no longer a capital crime does not change the basic point.

[Kaplanr]

Thank G-d for hints of progressive liberalism in the Hashemite Kingdom.


Selling land to Jews remains illegal in Jordan, but is not a capital crime since 1995.