Posted on 02/10/2023 9:09:47 AM PST by JOHN ADAMS
The Chief Rabbi of the Israel Police penned an open letter on Tuesday addressed to rabbis throughout Israel urging them to advise their congregants to carry legal and licensed firearms on Shabbat. In his letter, Rabbi Rami Brachyahu said that this measure was necessary in the wake of the recent terrorist attack in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Neve Yaakov in which seven people were murdered outside of a synagogue where most did not carry arms because of the Shabbat.. “We are learning that the religious neighborhoods and synagogues can serve as an extensive target for terrorist acts,” he wrote. “This incident joins the terrorist attacks that took place in the cities of Bnei Brak and Elad last year.” He explained that after deliberating with prominent rabbis he had come to his opinion. “In deliberation with prominent rabbis and on the recommendation of relevant police authorities, I appeal to the rabbis of Israel to instruct their communities that everyone who has a license to carry a firearm should carry that firearm with them on Shabbat, especially during prayer times in the synagogues,” he said. He also urged that synagogues should have the ability to call the police at any time if an emergency situation occurs. Related articles: Police uncover weapons in Bedouin town Attorney, former IAF pilot questioned on suspicion of incitement “It is appropriate that every synagogue have a kosher cell phone [on the premises] that can be used to call the police if, G-d forbid, an emergency occurs. Halakhically, in any event of concern for ‘risk to life,’ the police must be called, even on Shabbat,” he said. “May the verse be fulfilled through us: ‘The Lord shall grant strength to His people; the Lord shall bless His people with peace,’” he ended.
(Excerpt) Read more at israelnationalnews.com ...
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Terrorists never take a day off
and cowards.
For Every Jew, a Walther PPQ.
Needless to say most liberal Jews in the US would disagree. Their solution would be to restrict gun ownership, believing that the terrorists would obey the laws. Probably would need to restrict knives and autos too.
Is a firearm a tool, which would make carrying it work?
Yes. That’s the problem that Rabbi was addressing.
But since the Maccabees, the Jewish law has been that you can do whatever you need to do to save a life, including carrying a weapon and fighting on the Sabbath.
I apologize - “do whatever you need to do” is not accurate. You can violate the Sabbath to save a life.
Jewish law has a different answer when it reaches the question whether you can take one (innocent) life to save another. But that’s not what you asked; only my hyperbolic response made this correction necessary.
Yeah, but it’s a hole-y tool.
LOL
It’s a sword
Most often for self-defense
Tool or not, carrying anything is work. But there are exceptions to the restriction, like in the case of performing surgery on someone who is injured on the Sabbath and might not survive without it. It's called Pikuach nefesh, Hebrew for 'watching over the soul.'
Some years ago I recall the Islamo-Fascists were being testier than usual, so the Israelis hung a curtain made from pig skin across the doorway of their public transportation buses. It was impossible to enter without touching the pigskin, which stopped the Muhammadans from trying to board. Because in Islam touching anything to do with swine is unforgivable, but in Judaism you can be forgiven if it was done in the interest of saving a life.
Same principle.
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