Kill Terrorists and Examine Terrorism

Rabbi:

I mostly agree with your essay, but I doubt that we could agree on who is and who is not a terrorist. Until we have a single definition applied uniformly to everyone, almost nothing you propose is even remotely possible.

Was the IRA a terrorist group? Yes and no. Depends on the standard and how it is applied. Did they engage in terrorist activities? Yes. Did they also engage in legitimate freedom fighting? Also Yes.

Was Baruch Goldstein a terrorist? Without question, but, to this day, Israel does not and will not call him a terrorist. The settlers in Hebron, Amona and Kiryat Arba build shrines to this piece of filth.

Are Muslims in Kashmir terrorists. Sometimes yes, sometimes no. India has blocked the UN mandated plebiscite on Kashmir since 1948. Who is responsible for what? Not at all clear.

Even if you and I sat down in a respectful and civilized way, I seriously doubt that we could achieve consensus on who is and who is not a terrorist. I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

Rabbi,

I thought you might be interested in this moving post from Shoja, a Kerala Christian, on the slaughter of R. Gavriel, his Rivka who was six months pregnant, in front of their beaten two year old son brought to safety covered in his mother's blookd.

s_j_thaikattil :
I wish to offer my heartfelt condolences to all the family and friends of the Indian and non-Indian victims of Mumbai 26/11. May they all find the consolation, strength and support they need to come to terms with their loss and continue with their lives. May all those who are wounded and/or have been traumatized by the incident recover completely.

My special love and condolences to two year old Moshe Holtzberg, orphaned overnight in the terrorist attack but saved miraculously by the protective hand of God that came in the form of his Indian nanny, whose heart piercing cries for his mother are haunting. Jews have lived quiet lives in India for over twenty two CENTURIES (including in my native state of Kerala), without being discriminated against or persecuted by Indians of any religion, caste or creed. The small community of Jews in Mumbai lived among Indian Muslims and had a specially good relationship with them. The fact that a Jewish house in India, which offered accommodation and Kosher food to passing Jews visiting India, was specifically targeted, has left Indians of all religious persuasions shocked beyond belief.

There are many tales of sorrow and courage associated with the Mumbai 26/11 terrorist attack.

May God use this incident of mindless violence bring people of all nations of good will together to protect the innocent and to advance God's righteousness, His mercy and His peace in all places where hate filled ideologies make people blind to their higher purpose and universal calling. I extend my special gratefulness and thanks to the US, UK and Israeli, and my own now home country Australia, governments who have been prompt in their offer of active help and support to India and Indians in their time of confusion and grief. My grateful thanks also to all governments and peoples of various nations who have offered their moral support to India and Indians.

It is a stark reminder that we live in an interdependent world and we all need each other.

Soja John Thaikattil
Sydney, Australia

December 4, 2008 7:24 PM

I agree, "No appeasement when it comes to terrorists ".

With that said, I believe we should revisit our relationship with "The Terrorist State": ISRAEL!

They STEAL land and refuse to return it; they imprison anyone that objects to their theft. All the while, they march onward with GENOCIDE of the rightful owners of the land, the Palestinians.

They ILLEGALLY possess WMD's; over 200 nukes and who knows how many biological or chemical weapons they possess. They make Saddam Hussein look like a Choir-boy! War after war after war has been fought by good American soldiers to protect these TERRORISTS from justice!

Yeah, I agree, "No appeasement when it comes to terrorists ". Call your Representatives in Congress and tell them, "NO MORE MONEY FOR ISRAEL"! Stop supporting TERRORISM!

Rabbi Hirschfeld writes: "We need to be ready to understand, not excuse, those who would commit unspeakable acts against us. We need to understand them because it will make us more effective at fighting those who are already committed to our destruction. It will also make us more effective at preventing the growth of a new generation committed to the same thing."

Does that include the Jewish Talibans, who study in their YESHIVOT HESDER - Military Madrasas - to Hate Palestinians and do the Utmost to evict them from THEIR LAND?

The Zionist Rabbis in the "Rabbinical Council of the Settlers", led by Orthodox Rabbi Dov Lior, Ya'acov Shapira, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch oppose hiring Palestinian laborers, renting homes to Palestinians, and justify the Israeli Army "RIGHT" to shoot Palestinian Civilians. Isn't that FASCIST TERROR?
Did not the Nazis practice similar Antisemitic policies against Jews in the 1930s?

Only a small part of Zionist Jews and Fundamentalist Palestinians are Terrorists.
But STATE TERROR by the State of Israel leads to a response "in Kind".

1.500.000 Palestinians in Gaza are denied basic commodities, and worse still they are denied FREEDOM. 3.000.000 West Bank Palestinians are harassed every day in Israeli Checkpoints, financed by the U.S. of A -- that Terror breeds Terror.

That is what a [reserve] Israeli Battalion Commander, Elisha Shapira said. He complained that orders handed to the troops leave an intolerable margin of evil. "Don't beat the Palestinians, but bring them swollen to detention", said Shapira.
Isn't that Terror of The Innocent?

Only a small part of Zionist Jews and Fundamentalist Palestinians are Terrorists.
But STATE TERROR by the State of Israel leads to a response "in Kind".

1.500.000 Palestinians in Gaza are denied basic commodities, and worse still they are denied FREEDOM. 3.000.000 West Bank Palestinians are harassed every day in Israeli Checkpoints, financed by the U.S. of A -- that Terror breeds Terror.

That is what a [reserve] Israeli Battalion Commander, Elisha Shapira said. He complained that orders handed to the troops leave an intolerable margin of evil. "Don't beat the Palestinians, but bring them swollen to detention", said Shapira.
Isn't that Terror of The Innocent?

Only a small part of Zionist Jews and Fundamentalist Palestinians are Terrorists.
But STATE TERROR by the State of Israel leads to a response "in Kind".

1.500.000 Palestinians in Gaza are denied basic commodities, and worse still they are denied FREEDOM. 3.000.000 West Bank Palestinians are harassed every day in Israeli Checkpoints, financed by the U.S. of A -- that Terror breeds Terror.

That is what a [reserve] Israeli Battalion Commander, Elisha Shapira said. He complained that orders handed to the troops leave an intolerable margin of evil. "Don't beat the Palestinians, but bring them swollen to detention", said Shapira.

Isn't that Terror of The Innocent?

Only a small part of Zionist Jews and Fundamentalist Palestinians are Terrorists.
But STATE TERROR by the State of Israel leads to a response "in Kind".

1.500.000 Palestinians in Gaza are denied basic commodities, and worse still they are denied FREEDOM. 3.000.000 West Bank Palestinians are harassed every day in Israeli Checkpoints, financed by the U.S. of A -- that Terror breeds Terror.

That is what a [reserve] Israeli Battalion Commander, Elisha Shapira said. He complained that orders handed to the troops leave an intolerable margin of evil. "Don't beat the Palestinians, but bring them swollen to detention", said Shapira.

Isn't that Terror of The Innocent?

Rabbi Hirschfeld writes: "We need to be ready to understand, not excuse, those who would commit unspeakable acts against us. We need to understand them because it will make us more effective at fighting those who are already committed to our destruction. It will also make us more effective at preventing the growth of a new generation committed to the same thing."

Does that include the Jewish Talibans, who study in their YESHIVOT HESDER - Military Madrasas - to Hate Palestinians and do the Utmost to evict them from THEIR LAND?

The Zionist Rabbis in the "Rabbinical Council of the Settlers", led by Orthodox Rabbi Dov Lior, Ya'acov Shapira, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch oppose hiring Palestinian laborers, renting homes to Palestinians, and justify the Israeli Army "RIGHT" to shoot Palestinian Civilians. Isn't that FASCIST TERROR?
Did not the Nazis practice similar Antisemitic policies against Jews in the 1930s?

Rabbi Hirschfeld writes: "We need to be ready to understand, not excuse, those who would commit unspeakable acts against us. We need to understand them because it will make us more effective at fighting those who are already committed to our destruction. It will also make us more effective at preventing the growth of a new generation committed to the same thing."

Does that include the Jewish Talibans, who study in their YESHIVOT HESDER - Military Madrasas - to Hate Palestinians and do the Utmost to evict them from THEIR LAND?

The Zionist Rabbis in the "Rabbinical Council of the Settlers", led by Orthodox Rabbi Dov Lior, Ya'acov Shapira, Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, Rabbi Nahum Rabinovitch oppose hiring Palestinian laborers, renting homes to Palestinians, and justify the Israeli Army "RIGHT" to shoot Palestinian Civilians. Isn't that FASCIST TERROR?
Did not the Nazis practice similar Antisemitic policies against Jews in the 1930s?

Only a small part of Zionist Jews and Fundamentalist Palestinians are Terrorists.

But STATE TERROR by the State of Israel leads to a response "in Kind".

1.500.000 Palestinians in Gaza are denied basic commodities, and worse still they are denied FREEDOM. 3.000.000 West Bank Palestinians are harassed every day in Israeli Checkpoints, financed by the U.S. of A -- that Terror breeds Terror.

That is what a [reserve] Israeli Battalion Commander, Elisha Shapira said. He complained that orders handed to the troops leave an intolerable margin of evil. "Don't beat the Palestinians, but bring them swollen to detention", said Shapira.

Isn't that Terror of The Innocent?

Dialog is really important. Dialog with absolutists is impossible.

Yours is a very thoughtful article and I appreciate your sentiments, yet I believe it's time to dialog on the role of religion in the 21st century. There's a basic incongruity. Fundamentalist belief systems have no place in an enlightened, technological, literate culture. It's my contention that religious fundamentalism is both an elephant in the living room and a bull in the china shop. Daily, we hear of an egregious act perpetrated for the sake of an inflexible religious conviction, yet we as a society tend to ignore the root cause: intolerance. I honestly feel it's time to divest ourselves of the notion that inflexible dogma is tolerable, for in addition to being a bull and an elephant, religious dogma is also a sacred cow. I don't believe that God ever expected "faith" to be the suspension of reason.
“The fear mongers were gone. Those who had abused their faith to hammer others, to wage war, to profit, to support and to further prejudice were all gone, and in their wake a peace descended on the earth…” Thanks for the ear and all the good work Rabbi Hirschfield.

Sincerely,
Kurt Niece
www.kurtniece.com