by Ilan Solomons on Sunday, February 27, 2011 at 11:06am
From Yoni Isaacson:
I would like to ask Ilan Solomons to publicly clarify a number of things. You claim to be Orthodox and seem to be a very influential member of Bnei Akiva, yet some of the things you say and imply confuse me a little. so here goes:
i. Do you believe that the Torah, written and oral (including the Talmud) is the word of G-d and though subject to valid interpretation, is not negotiable.
ii. Do you believe that the Torah gives authority to Talmidei Chachamim, masters of the talmud and poskim, and not journalists, to make halachaic decisions?
iii. Do you believe that the land of Israel was given by G-d to the Jewish people and belongs to them, as described in the Torah?
I defend your freedom of speach either way: some of my best friends are not Orthodox or even Jewish, but thought your readers , and particularly your fellow Bnei Akiva members, deserve clarification on this
I just want to clarify something before I give you clarity on your very sexy questions ;-) which I find rather entertaining I must say :-)
I was a Bnei Akiva maddie and channie but my kids last year as a maddie was last camp in... december which was my kids last camp as channichim. So I am not involved anymore in an official capacity, although I join them for davining occassionally still. I am seemingly influential in Bnei? Wow thats interesting thats something I am sure many in Bnei would take umbrage with, I mean I was never a rosh of anything the highest position I ever attained on Bnei was sgun chinnuch on camp. I am glad I give over this perceived image of an influential character thanks nice to hear this ;-)
My only issue is why are these questions coming up now with my so called Bnei members? I mean i was involved for several years and never were these concerns publicly raised, its just a bit puzzling that it only comes up the year after I finshed! Maybe Rav Yoni you can clarify why the sudden spike in interest of my religious views and practices??? I am very interested to hear?
Ok so let me answer your questions systematically:
i. Yes - as per the 13 principles of faith which is part of my culture Jewish cultural beliefs I believe in this principle.
ii. Yes - although i would sometimes prefer if some journalists like Amira Hass, Uri Avnery, Gidon Levy and Larry Derfner, etc would replace some of these crazy reactionary Chareidi Rabbonim, who make the most racist, anti progressive pasaskim, which only seek to chareidize the community, and bring in unnecessary Chemuras that only divide Klaa Yisrael further and further their own religious fundementalist agenda's, but yes in principle to your question this concept is clearly and undoubtedly part of the Jewish culture
iii.Yes I do, but I do believe that we have developed from the dark days of when we ethnically cleansed Caanan and behaved like barbarians in acquiring the holy land. I also believe that the although we have a national and religious right to every square inch of the Eretz Yisrael we are however not entitled to behave like savages and madmen to enforce this right. And we have to be reasonable and not supresse others who dwell on the lands we claim or prejudice them in any way. We are a human people but sometimes you would nt think that were the case the way those bloody settlers behave- and not I am talking about my own family who live in thse settlements and are just as guilty of violating palestinian rights - ofetn like Cossacks and russian marauders that inflicted pogroms on jews in eastern europe! This I do not accept and will never accept being done in the name of my faith.
I hope this clarifies your concerns and " my fellow Bnei Akiva members". I was worried you were going to ask me realy difficult stuff like my studies of Spinoza,Mendelsohn, Hess, and other such works which i learn with fellow maddies and channies! I guess that isnt such a concern why I study and taech thse types of works! I am glad to hear this doesnt woryy any one too much ;-)
Thanks Rav this was very enjoyable I really had a good time clarifying these vey serious concerns about my cultural view :-)
I am more than willing to clarify any further concerns you may have :-)
I would like to ask Ilan Solomons to publicly clarify a number of things. You claim to be Orthodox and seem to be a very influential member of Bnei Akiva, yet some of the things you say and imply confuse me a little. so here goes:
i. Do you believe that the Torah, written and oral (including the Talmud) is the word of G-d and though subject to valid interpretation, is not negotiable.
ii. Do you believe that the Torah gives authority to Talmidei Chachamim, masters of the talmud and poskim, and not journalists, to make halachaic decisions?
iii. Do you believe that the land of Israel was given by G-d to the Jewish people and belongs to them, as described in the Torah?
I defend your freedom of speach either way: some of my best friends are not Orthodox or even Jewish, but thought your readers , and particularly your fellow Bnei Akiva members, deserve clarification on this
I just want to clarify something before I give you clarity on your very sexy questions ;-) which I find rather entertaining I must say :-)
I was a Bnei Akiva maddie and channie but my kids last year as a maddie was last camp in... december which was my kids last camp as channichim. So I am not involved anymore in an official capacity, although I join them for davining occassionally still. I am seemingly influential in Bnei? Wow thats interesting thats something I am sure many in Bnei would take umbrage with, I mean I was never a rosh of anything the highest position I ever attained on Bnei was sgun chinnuch on camp. I am glad I give over this perceived image of an influential character thanks nice to hear this ;-)
My only issue is why are these questions coming up now with my so called Bnei members? I mean i was involved for several years and never were these concerns publicly raised, its just a bit puzzling that it only comes up the year after I finshed! Maybe Rav Yoni you can clarify why the sudden spike in interest of my religious views and practices??? I am very interested to hear?
Ok so let me answer your questions systematically:
i. Yes - as per the 13 principles of faith which is part of my culture Jewish cultural beliefs I believe in this principle.
ii. Yes - although i would sometimes prefer if some journalists like Amira Hass, Uri Avnery, Gidon Levy and Larry Derfner, etc would replace some of these crazy reactionary Chareidi Rabbonim, who make the most racist, anti progressive pasaskim, which only seek to chareidize the community, and bring in unnecessary Chemuras that only divide Klaa Yisrael further and further their own religious fundementalist agenda's, but yes in principle to your question this concept is clearly and undoubtedly part of the Jewish culture
iii.Yes I do, but I do believe that we have developed from the dark days of when we ethnically cleansed Caanan and behaved like barbarians in acquiring the holy land. I also believe that the although we have a national and religious right to every square inch of the Eretz Yisrael we are however not entitled to behave like savages and madmen to enforce this right. And we have to be reasonable and not supresse others who dwell on the lands we claim or prejudice them in any way. We are a human people but sometimes you would nt think that were the case the way those bloody settlers behave- and not I am talking about my own family who live in thse settlements and are just as guilty of violating palestinian rights - ofetn like Cossacks and russian marauders that inflicted pogroms on jews in eastern europe! This I do not accept and will never accept being done in the name of my faith.
I hope this clarifies your concerns and " my fellow Bnei Akiva members". I was worried you were going to ask me realy difficult stuff like my studies of Spinoza,Mendelsohn, Hess, and other such works which i learn with fellow maddies and channies! I guess that isnt such a concern why I study and taech thse types of works! I am glad to hear this doesnt woryy any one too much ;-)
Thanks Rav this was very enjoyable I really had a good time clarifying these vey serious concerns about my cultural view :-)
I am more than willing to clarify any further concerns you may have :-)
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