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Rabbi Manis Friedman
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Last update - 16:17 09/06/2009
Chabad rabbi: Jews should kill Arab men, women and children during war
By Nathaniel Popper, The Forward
Tags: Israel News, Chabad 
 

Like the best Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis, Manis Friedman has won the hearts of many unaffiliated Jews with his charismatic talks about love and God; it was Friedman who helped lead Bob Dylan into a relationship with Chabad.

But Friedman, who today travels the country as a Chabad speaker, showed a less warm and cuddly side when he was asked how he thinks Jews should treat their Arab neighbors.

"The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle)," Friedman wrote in response to the question posed by Moment Magazine for its "Ask the Rabbis" feature.
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Friedman argued that if Israel followed this wisdom, there would be "no civilian casualties, no children in the line of fire, no false sense of righteousness, in fact, no war."

"I don't believe in Western morality," he wrote. "Living by Torah values will make us a light unto the nations who suffer defeat because of a disastrous morality of human invention."

Friedman's use of phrasing that might seem more familiar coming from an Islamic extremist has generated a swift backlash. The editor of Moment, Nadine Epstein, said that since the piece was printed in the current issue they "have received many letters and e-mails in response to Rabbi Friedman's comments - and almost none of them have been positive."

Friedman quickly went into damage control. He released a statement to the Forward, through a Chabad spokesman, saying that his answer in Moment was "misleading" and that he does believe that "any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion."

But Friedman's words have generated a debate about whether there is a darker side to the cheery face that the Chabad-Lubavitch movement shows to the world in its friendly outreach to unaffiliated Jews. Mordecai Specktor, editor of the Jewish community newspaper in Friedman's hometown, St. Paul. Minnesota, said: "The public face of Lubavitch is educational programs and promoting Yiddishkeit. But I do often hear this hard line that Friedman expresses here."

"He sets things out in pretty stark terms, but I think this is what Lubavitchers believe, more or less," said Specktor, who is also the publisher of the American Jewish World.

"They are not about loving the Arabs or a two-state solution or any of that stuff. They are fundamentalists. They are our fundamentalists."

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League and a regular critic of Arab extremists, said that in the Jewish community, "We are not immune to having these views. There are people in our community who have these bigoted, racist views."

But, Foxman warned, Friedman's views are not reflective of the Chabad rabbis he knows. "I am not shocked that there would be a rabbi who would have these views," Foxman said, "but I am shocked that Moment would give up all editorial discretion and good sense to publish this as representative of Chabad."

A few days after anger about the comment surfaced, Chabad headquarters released a statement saying that, "we vehemently disagree with any sentiment suggesting that Judaism allows for the wanton destruction of civilian life, even when at war."

The statement added: "In keeping with Jewish law, it is the unequivocal position of Chabad-Lubavitch that all human life is G-d given, precious, and must be treated with respect, dignity and compassion."

In Moment, Friedman's comment is listed as the Chabad response to the question "How Should Jews Treat Their Arab Neighbors?" after a number of answers from rabbis representing other Jewish streams, most of which state a conciliatory attitude toward Arabs.

Epstein said that Friedman was "brave" for stating his views so clearly.

"The American Jewish community doesn't have the chance to hear opinions like this," Epstein said, "not because they are rare, but because we don't often ask Chabad and other similar groups what they think."

The Chabad movement is generally known for its hawkish policies toward the Palestinians; the Chabad Rebbe, Menachem Mendel Schneerson, rejected peace accords with the Palestinians. Rabbi Moshe Feller, the top Chabad rabbi in Minnesota, said that the rebbe taught that it is not a mitzvah to kill, but that Jews do have an obligation to act in self-defense.

"Jews as a whole, they try to save the lives of others," Feller told the Forward, "but if it's to save our lives, then we have to do what we have to do. It's a last resort."

Friedman is not a fringe rabbi within the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. He was the English translator for the Chabad Rebbe, and at the rebbe's urging, he founded Beis Chana, a network of camps and schools for Jewish women. Friedman is also a popular speaker and writer on issues of love and relationships. His first book, "Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore?" was promoted with a quote from Bob Dylan, who Friedman brought to meet the rebbe.

On his blog and Facebook page, Friedman's emphasis is on his sympathetic, caring side. It was this reputation that made the comment in Moment so surprising to Steve Hunegs, director of the Jewish Community Relations Council: Minnesota and the Dakotas.

"Rabbi Friedman is a best-selling author who addresses some of the most sensitive issues of the time," Hunegs said. "I intend to call him and talk to him about this."

But Shmarya Rosenberg, a blogger and critic of Chabad who lives a few blocks from Friedman in Minnesota, says that the comment in Moment is not an aberration from his experiences with Friedman and many other Chabad rabbis.

"What he's saying is the standard normal view of a Chabadnik," Rosenberg said. "They just don't say it in public."

For his part, Friedman was quick to modify the statement that he wrote in Moment. He told the Forward that the line about killing women and children should have been in quotes; he said it is a line from the Torah, though he declined to specify from which part. Friedman also said that he was not advocating for Israel to actually kill women and children. Instead, he said, he believed that Israel should publicly say that it is willing to do these things in order to scare Palestinians and prevent war.

"If we took this policy, no one would be killed - because there would be no war," Friedman said. "The same is true of the United States."

Friedman did acknowledge, however, that in self-defense, the behavior he talked about would be permissible.

"If your children are threatened, you do whatever it takes - and you don't have to apologize," he said.

Friedman argued that he is different from Arab terrorists who have used similar language about killing Jewish civilians.

"When they say it, it's genocide, not self-defense," Friedman said. "With them, it's a religious belief - they need to rid the area of us. We're not saying that."

Feller, the Chabad leader in Minnesota, said that the way Friedman had chosen to express himself was "radical."

"I love him," Feller said. "I brought him out here - he's magnificent. He's brought thousands back to Torah mitzvah. But he shoots from the hip sometimes."

Contact Nathaniel Popper at popper@forward.com
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  1.   Foot in mouth Rabbi strikes again 11:30  |  Ofer Maimon 09/06/09
  2.   Same same 11:35  |  Bandar Michaels 09/06/09
  3.   muslims preserved the holy sites and minorities when they ruled 11:44  |  muslim-- 09/06/09
  4.   Chabad rabbis 11:51  |  Jeep 09/06/09
  5.   entire goverment of israel is run by friedmans 11:53  |  muslim-- 09/06/09
  6.   Once upon a time 11:58  |  David 09/06/09
  7.   fanatics 12:11  |  J.L 09/06/09
  8.   Accommodation 12:11  |  DavidSanders 09/06/09
  9.   A racist hatemogerer exposes himself. 12:21  |  Gray 09/06/09
  10.   @Bandar: I`m a catholic, but I have to agree. 12:27  |  Gray 09/06/09
  11.   Chabad`s True Colors 12:34  |  Rabbi Moshe 09/06/09
  12.   Fanaticism 12:40  |  Yehudi 09/06/09
  13.   Same Same 12:44  |  Monti 09/06/09
  14.   only one man? hah! 12:45  |  Sal 09/06/09
  15.   I hope Bob Dylan reads this 12:59  |  David D 09/06/09
  16.   Chabad Rabbi 14:02  |  Jan Bresky 09/06/09
  17.   Torah Values? 14:06  |  Singer 09/06/09
  18.   What`s fanatic about that? 14:19  |  Allon 09/06/09
  19.   Hateful words. 18:10  |  j 09/06/09
  20.   I don`t believe in thought crimes 20:55  |  Mark 09/06/09
  21.   Damage control 21:58  |  justis 09/06/09
  22.   Muslim#3. WRONG! If I built a synagogue on top of the Kaaba 22:03  |  Jae 09/06/09
  23.   Good now we have supposed "rabbis" speaking Loshon Hora . Quite 22:05  |  Jacob 09/06/09
  24.   "J" from Toronto 22:08  |  PHIL FINE 09/06/09
  25.   Josephs tomb lies in cesspool in nablus, Jewish temple built on 22:10  |  Jacob 09/06/09
  26.   I sympathize with the need of Israel to defend itself, but ... 22:21  |  Stein 09/06/09
  27.   This dude is UGLY inside and out. 22:22  |  G. 09/06/09
  28.   Racism 22:26  |  Mike 09/06/09
  29.   Just wanted to see if the rumours are true 00:30  |  Eunice 10/06/09
  30.   Anyone out there stupid enough to believe 01:29  |  Mark Lincoln 10/06/09
  31.   RABBI`S CAN SAY STUPID HORRIBLE THINGS TOO... 01:30  |  JEWISH DOCTOR 10/06/09
  32.   Kill All The Christians? 01:34  |  Bob The Christian 10/06/09
  33.   Ashamed 02:05  |  Lynne 10/06/09
  34.   Chabad 02:17  |  Michelle 10/06/09
  35.   muslim?? 02:20  |  Michelle 10/06/09
  36.   Chabad??? 02:31  |  Michelle 10/06/09
  37.   SURPRISED? This Mindset`s Reflected In ISRAEL`S Policies/Actions. 02:32  |  Proud Pal Defender 10/06/09
  38.   THE RADICAL RABBI 02:44  |  JOSE MARCIO 10/06/09
  39.   Foxman`s Censorship 03:49  |  Gary White 10/06/09
  40.   Chabad needs to get rid of this guy. 03:52  |  Iyov 10/06/09
  41.   I wonder 03:59  |  Robby 10/06/09
  42.   He`s not an Israeli, guys... 05:09  |  Azanyah 10/06/09
  43.   Re Rabbi 05:17  |  shlomog 10/06/09
  44.   Re Rabbis 05:22  |  shlomog 10/06/09
  45.   Re Monti 05:24  |  shlomog 10/06/09
  46.   he is disgusting 08:27  |  sweisJerusalem 10/06/09
  47.   Law to deal with Rabbi Manis Friedman unacceptable interpretation 08:31  |  H.H.M 10/06/09
  48.   My response unchanged 08:47  |  JW 10/06/09
  49.   HOLY KILLING 08:49  |  pierre 10/06/09
  50.   Conext, everyone - context! 09:51  |  Susan 10/06/09
  51.   Law to deal with Rabbi Manis Friedman unacceptable interpretation 11:11  |  H.H.M 10/06/09
  52.   Spreading violence 12:01  |  Andrea 10/06/09
  53.   history proves you wrong #22 17:19  |  muslim-- 10/06/09
  54.   They talk the talk, you walk the walk 19:50  |  Colin Wright 10/06/09
  55.   Re: "They talk the talk, you walk the walk" 09:09  |  Miron 11/06/09
  56.   Words 11:58  |  j 11/06/09
  57.   re: muslim-- 15:48  |  UsedToPostHere 11/06/09
  58.   WRIGHT There are 1.2 million Israeli Arabs& only a handfull 15:49  |  PETER SM 11/06/09
  59.   Follow the Jewish Law 16:09  |  TorahWay 11/06/09
  60.   shlomog/44 19:13  |  Deacon2 11/06/09
  61.   can`t believe it 22:58  |  samet 11/06/09
  62.   Denounce this man...and stop calling him rabbi! 00:28  |  joya 12/06/09
  63.   #59-learned into pure ignorance 00:40  |  joya 12/06/09
  64.   Jews should kill 01:02  |  Dave 12/06/09
  65.   Shandeh far unz 05:02  |  Itzik 12/06/09
  66.   calm down 10:52  |  joe go 12/06/09
  67.   Iron and clay mix in Daniel 2 21:00  |  BeoWolf 13/06/09
  68.   Self Defence - I`m not a fool 21:09  |  Adam 13/06/09
  69.   Perhaps it is the so-called "Jewish Way now. 21:16  |  Witness 13/06/09
  70.   words 12:20  |  j 14/06/09
  71.   Hunt an Enemy Wherever, Whenever. 17:23  |  Chabad Rabbi 14/06/09
  72.   Scary man 07:55  |  Navah D 15/06/09
  73.   not so scary 17:03  |  tiff 16/06/09
  74.   to Adam 17:05  |  Eve 16/06/09
  75.   V 17:08  |  youcancallmeV 16/06/09
  76.   Rabbi Mais Friedman 12:37  |  Salim Jiwa 17/06/09
  77.   Setup of the 1st Degree 13:35  |  Stan 17/06/09
  78.   haaretz - i thought ur a *newspaper` 13:35  |  isak 17/06/09
  79.   Nothing new 19:24  |  Aliya 17/06/09
  80.   The Chabad Rabbi on Morality 20:44  |  Yaakov Sullivan 17/06/09
  81.   Chabad rabbi: 13:03  |  Bruria 18/06/09
  82.   Please Muslim respond, did you forgot Baibar, please look him up 07:45  |  Joel 19/06/09
  83.   Chabad rabbi: Jews should kill Arab men, women and children duri 19:30  |  Bernard Marks 19/06/09
  84.   Hate Crimes? 01:12  |  Denise 20/06/09
  85.   Thank you, Rabbi, for the clarity 08:09  |  Michael 23/06/09
  86.   Nutcase Rabbi and Hamas Spiritual Leader are One and the Same 04:56  |  John Q. Public 28/06/09
  87.   Funny 22:36  |  iqbal 29/06/09
  88.   Shame on you Rabbi 22:38  |  Carlos 29/06/09
  89.   somebody shut him up once and for all-nu kvar 12:54  |  Israelit metsuya 30/06/09
  90.   No TorahWay... all that will happen 19:46  |  American 01/07/09
  91.   Then perhaps Ahmedinnejad was right also... 17:19  |  Jimmy 11/07/09
  92.   More racism from our own 19:35  |  Ted P 20/07/09
  93.   The religions of Abraham 21:27  |  Benjamin Franklin 07/08/09
  94.   Irony 07:32  |  Sam 28/10/09
  95.   who listens any way 08:22  |  Joe 17/11/09
  96.   A need to separate Person from Philosophy 13:39  |  Chabad Chossid 03/12/09
  97.   friedman? is this a jewish name? 06:08  |  marc 15/12/09
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