Yitzhak Shapira (do not mistake with messianic rabbi Itzhak Shapira) is an Israeli rabbi who lived in Kiryat Moshe neighborhood in Jerusalem,[1] and is head of the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva.[2]
The King's Torah
editIn 2009, he published a book (The King's Torah) in which he argues that it is permissible for Jews to kill non-Jews, including children, under certain circumstances.[3][4] The book suggests that there may be a reason to kill babies on the enemy side, even if they have not violated any laws, due to the potential future danger they might pose based on the assumption that they will grow up to be evil like their parents.[5] The author also proposes that indirect killing of children could be justified as a means of exerting pressure on enemy leaders or if the children are obstructing a rescue operation and their presence contributes to murder.[6] Shapira also argues that children of a king can be harmed to pressure him if he is considered wicked and harming them would prevent him from acting wickedly. He argues that it is preferable to kill one person who is pursuing another with the intent to murder, rather than killing multiple individuals.[7]
The book was distributed by Yeshivat HaRaayon HaYehudi in Jerusalem, which adheres to the ideas of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane.[8]
Yehuda Bauer described the book as a "mortal danger to the Jewish people as a whole".[9] Ophir Pines-Paz, a member of the Israeli Knesset at the time, called on the attorney general to open a criminal investigation against Shapira on account of the book.[10]
Anti-Palestinian sentiments and incidents
editShapira was detained for questioning in 2006 over an article that advocated expelling or killing all male Palestinians above the age of 13 in the West Bank.[11] In 2008 he signed a "manifesto" in support of Israelis suspected of beating two Arab youths during that year's Holocaust Remembrance Day.[12]
In January 2010, he was arrested for his "alleged involvement in the torching of a Palestinian mosque in the village of Yasuf."[13] He denied any involvement, and was released due to lack of evidence.[14][15]
In October 2010, Shapira urged Israel Defense Forces soldiers to use Palestinian civilians as human shields, claiming that it was against "true Jewish values" for a soldier to endanger his life for the sake of enemy soldiers or civilians.[16]
References
edit- ^ Rosenbaum, Hagit (14 September 2017). "Rabbi Yitzchak Shapira, head of the 'Od Yosef Chai' yeshiva and author of the stirring book 'Torat Hamelech', in a first interview (Hebrew)". www.inn.co.il. Retrieved 3 March 2024.
- ^ Lis, Jonathan; Lappin, Yaakov (29 January 2010). "Court frees Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva head Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ "Rabbi's book says Jews can kill gentiles", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 9 November 2009
- ^ Roee Sharon, "'ספר שמופץ בימין מסביר מתי מותר להרוג 'גויים" Ma'ariv, 9 November 2009
- ^ Wagner, Matthew (2 January 2010). "Shapira's distinction between Jewish, gentile blood". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Levinson, Chaim (27 July 2010). "Police release rabbi arrested for inciting to kill non-Jews". Haaretz.
- ^ Roy Sharon, " Police release rabbi arrested for inciting to kill non-Jews ", Maariv, 11 September 2009
- ^ Wagner, Matthew (11 November 2009). "Book advocating killing gentiles who endanger Jews is hard to come by". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Bauer, Yehuda (11 March 2011). "The racist teaching of the extreme right". Maariv.
- ^ ירן דנש ומרב דוד, "פינס למזוז: פתח בחקירה נגד הרבנים שהסיתו", Maariv, 9 November 2009
- ^ Wagner, Matthew (12 September 2006). "West Bank rabbi, activist arrested". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ Uri Blau and Yuval Azoulay, "Violence follows removal of trailer from West Bank outpost", Haaretz, 27 July 2008
- ^ Levinson, Chaim (26 January 2010). "Settler rabbi arrested over West Bank mosque arson". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 6 April 2010.
- ^ "Rabbi arrested, suspected in West Bank mosque arson", BBC News, 27 January 2010
- ^ Lazaroff, Tovah (17 May 2010). "'IDF to blame for price-tag atmosphere'". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ "Leading Rabbi Encourages IDF Soldiers to Use Palestinian Human Shields". Haaretz. 20 October 2010.