Yitzhak Shapira
Yitzhak Shapira is an Israeli rabbi who in 2009 published a book (The King's Torah) in which he writes that it is permissible for Jews to kill non-Jews (including children) who threaten Israel.[1][2] The conditions under which this permission applies include presence of the assumption that a child will grow up to become an enemy of the Jewish people[3], to put pressure on enemy leaders, or if they are "in the way".[4] The book was distributed by Yeshivat HaRaayon HaYehudi in Jerusalem, which adheres to the ideas of the late Rabbi Meir Kahane.[5]
The book contains an endorsement by Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.[5] A member of the Israeli Knesset (Ofer Pines) called on the attorney general to open a criminal investigation against Shapira on account of the book.[6]
Shapira was arrested under suspicion of incitement in 2006 after having advocated expelling or killing all male Palestinians above the age of 13.[7] In 2008 he signed a "manifesto" in support of Israelis suspected of beating two Arab youths during that year's Holocaust Remembrance Day.[8] In January 2010, Shapira was arrested for his "alleged involvement in the torching of a Palestinian mosque in the village of Yasuf."[9][10]
Shapira lives in the West Bank Israeli settlement Yitzhar[3] and is the head of the Dorshei Yihudcha yeshiva there.[11] According to Haaretz columnist Akiva Eldar, Shapira's yeshiva receives substantial funding from the Israeli government.[12] His intellectual influences include Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hacohen Kook[13] and Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburg.[5]
References
- ^ "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
- ^ a b Matthew Wagner, "Shimshon soldiers to be hailed at 'farbrengen'", Jerusalem Post, 12 November 2009
- ^ Chaim Levinson, "Police release rabbi arrested for inciting to kill non-Jews", Haaretz, 27 July 2010
- ^ a b c Matthew Wagner, "Book advocating killing gentiles who endanger Jews is hard to come by", Jerusalem Post, 11 November 2009
- ^ ירן דנש ומרב דוד, "פינס למזוז: פתח בחקירה נגד הרבנים שהסיתו", Maariv, 9 November 2009
- ^ Matthew Wagner, "Yitzhar rabbi held for sedition, incitement; Advocates expelling or killing all male Palestinians above 13", Jerusalem Post, 13 September 2006
- ^ Uri Blau and Yuval Azoulay, "Violence follows removal of trailer from West Bank outpost", Haaretz, 27 July 2008
- ^ http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1145274.html
- ^ "Rabbi arrested, suspected in West Bank mosque arson", BBC News, 27 January 2010
- ^ Jonathan Lis, "Violent clash erupts between rightists and Bedouin near Jerusalem", Haaretz, 29 July 2008
- ^ Akiva Eldar, "חמאס לא לבד, גם אנחנו מממנים כוהני דת שמטיפים לרצח תינוקות", Haaretz, 17 November 2009
- ^ Matthew Wagner, "Religious Affairs: Caught in the crossfire", Jerusalem Post, 13 March 2008