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Sunday, August 30, 2015

Satmar Newspaper "Der Yid" Goes "Online"!

Satmar hypocrites can now go on their  smartphones or their computers and get their dose of anti-Semitic news online!



Even though their leader R' Zalman Leib Teitelbum has prohibited his chassidim from having a smartphone or a computer at home, Der Yid has nevertheless decided to go online!


So what's up with that?
Only Satmar yiddish speaking Yoileez would ever read Der Goy, so why did Der Goy go online?
Well, the answer is very simple .... Satmar realized that banning smartphones and computers is like beating a dead horse. The ban will never be observed; every Satmar yungerman has two phones, one "kosher" one that he brings to shul and one smart phone that he keeps on vibrate, in his side pocket.


Der Yid also knows that the chassidim are all on their phones texting on shabbos and the sales and circulation of the newspaper went down the drain, so to boost sales, why not put it online? So instead of the chassidim reading DIN on Shabbos ...they can now access Der Goy online!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

A British Soldier's first view of Israel in 1945 .... saw Jews build the land


Mayim Bialik a Frum Jewish Actress Highlights Hollywood’s Rejection Of Religious Celebrities

Mayim Bialik, 39, the nerdy yet witty character from the Big Bang Theory, recently spoke out about Hollywood and her dedication to being an Orthodox Jewish woman.
According to US Magazine, Bialik told Fox news that she feels Hollywood isn’t as friendly to celebrities who are candid about their dedication to their religious beliefs.
“I think in general it’s never going to be trendy to be observant or religious in Hollywood circles,” she told FOX411. “There are people I know of faith and we tend to congregate together. I study Jewish texts weekly. That’s something positive to me when you’re a person of faith, it stays with you all the time.”
Bialik is not only a devote Orthodox Jew, but she is also openly supportive of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and the Jewish state altogether. In the past when she had visited a friend in the IDF she received some rather hateful and anti-Semitic “fan mail.”
“I’ve gotten a lot of negative attention for visiting Israel,” she said. “That’s what’s amazing … simply by going to Israel this summer and saying nothing more than, ‘I’ve gone to Israel,’ I got the same amount of hatred and threats and anti-Semitism for actually making a statement trying to support people whether I like it or not are serving in an army.”
In addition to visiting her loved ones serving in the Israeli army, she also donated money to IDF last year for bulletproof vests,and enthusiastically supported the first Jewish Legos created by Minnesota man Yitzy Kasowitz.
“Am I dreaming? Jewish-themed Lego sets? I can get behind this Jewcer campaign 1000% and can’t wait for my incentives to come: an IDF Lego man and a Lego tzedakah box! (there’s also a Lego Seder plate!),” she wrote on her Facebook page.
Not only does she just support Israel, but she is also a practicing Jew who prides herself on her modest views. Last September, Bialik took to her blog to criticize Ariana Grande for being skimpy attire on a billboard.
The Big Bang Theory actress may be facing some opposition from anti-Israel fans and liberal Hollywood, but she won’t be going off the derech any time soon, making sure her liberal yet modest opinions are heard.

Nadler goes crying to the ADL begging them to defend him

The ADL is defending the fat slob Nadler even though he took a sharp blade to stab his constituents in the back!
He got all impressed because after seven years, Obama finally invited him to the White House!
After getting attacked by Holocaust survivors, his constituents, he went running like a cry baby to his friends at the ADL begging them to defend them!
Where was the ADL when Obama attacked Netanyahu? Hmmm?
I urge my readers to keep attacking this piece of human waste on social media!

Meanwhile, 200 Retired US Generals Lobby Congress To Reject Iran Deal Nearly 200 retired US generals, admirals and former political officials have come out strongly against the Iran nuclear accord, and have called upon Congress to sink the on the grounds that it will “enable Iran to become far more dangerous.”

Among the signatories are top former career officers from every branch of the US military, as well as officials who have served in the White House, under both Democratic and Republican administrations, The Washington Post reported Wednesday.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on Wednesday condemned “hateful rhetoric” directed against Rep. Jerrold Nadler and other Members of Congress who have announced support for the nuclear agreement with Iran, and sharpened its call to reject “vicious ad hominem attacks” as part of the debate about the deal.
According to reports, the comments section of Nadler’s Facebook page is replete with Nazi analogies, vulgarities and obscenities, including references to him as a “stinking kapo,” a coward and traitor to the U.S. and Israel, and one particularly appalling statement that read, “When you die there no place for you on Jewish cemetery.”
“We are disgusted by many of the obscene and offensive comments that are being directed against Congressman Nadler on Facebook by individuals who resent his support for the Iran agreement, including many individuals in the Jewish community. Unfortunately, comments on social media platforms are poisoning the atmosphere. They have clearly crossed the line and gone too far,” Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL National Director, and Evan Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director, said in a joint statement. “Hateful rhetoric that invokes Nazism and demonizes an individual is unacceptable. It has absolutely no place in public discourse, particularly when referring to a widely respected public servant like Mr. Nadler.”
“No matter one’s politics or views on the Iran deal, vicious, ad hominem attacks are unacceptable in any circumstance. Political leaders, opinion leaders, and public figures across the spectrum should set an example by rejecting such rhetoric and forcefully speaking out against language that dehumanizes,” the ADL added.
The three prominent NY Jewish Democrats who came out against the Iran nuclear deal also issued a joint statement on Tuesday condemning the “unacceptable” and “inappropriate” rhetoric from both sides in the debate over the deal.
“We remain concerned that individuals on both sides of the debate have resorted to ad hominem attacks and threats against those who don’t share their opinions. This is unacceptable,” Representatives Eliot Engel, Nita Lowey, and Steve Israel said in a joint statement. “It is especially egregious to attribute malicious intent to decision makers who are thoughtfully debating the details and effects of the agreement.”
The Jewish lawmakers added, “No matter where you stand on the Iran deal, comparisons to the Holocaust, the darkest chapter in human history, questioning the credentials of long-standing advocates for Israel, and accusations of dual loyalty are inappropriate. We call upon those concerned about the consequences of the upcoming vote to refrain from attacks and focus on the substance of the agreement.”
Earlier on Wednesday, The National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) sent a letter of support to Nadler, highlighting his show of courage in voting his conscience on an issue that has already divided the American Jewish community.

Ad Campaign against Fat Nadler Intensifying !

If you read a Jewish newspaper this weekend you are likely to see an ad slamming Congressman Jerry "Fatso" Nadler for his support of the Iran deal. 

The ad plainly states: “Jerry Nadler represents more Jews than any other Congressman. He claims to be Pro-Israel. So why is he backing Obama and Iran?” 

The ad calls on voters to call Congressman Nadler at (800) 733 5417 and “tell him to stand with Israel – NOT Iran.”

Congressman "Fatso" Nadler set of a fire-storm last week when he became the first Congressman from New York to announce his support for President Obama’s deal with Iran. Fat Nadler’s decision to support the Iran deal was especially surprising considering Senator Chuck Schumer’s strong public opposition to the Iran deal just a few days earlier. 

Fat Nadler was roundly condemned by Jewish leaders including those that represent his Brooklyn district: Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Councilman David Greenfield and Senator Simcha Felder. Hikind promised that the community would run a candidate against Fat Nadler and spend millions to defeat him. Greenfield criticized Nadler for lying to the community when he told community leaders days before his announcement that he was undecided. Felder is headlining a rally against Nadler with holocaust survivors later today in front of Nadler’s office.

The decision by Fat Nadler to support the Iran deal has opened a rift between Nadler and Brooklyn’s Jewish community which generally feels ignored by Nadler’s Upper West Side politics. 

However, the community traditionally supported Nadler based on his pro-Israel record. Nadler’s support for the Iran deal was an especially big blow for opponents of the deal because it provides political cover for non-Jews to vote in favor of the Iran deal. These critical ads are likely to be the first of a long campaign of disenfranchisement with Fat Congressman Nadler!

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Rabbi Yaakov Shapiro Rabbi of Beis Medrash of Bayswater, Spokesman for Neturei Karta Savages Blasts Pro-Israel Jews

This arrogant lunatic with the 6 inch brim and fancy glasses is the rabbi of the Beis Medrash of Bayswater
1403 Bay 28 Street, Far Rockaway, NY 11691 
Rabbishapiro@baismedrash.com
He happens to be the great-grand nephew Of R' Yoel Teitelbaum the Anti-Israel Satmar Rebbe. The Satmar Rebbe was saved by a Zionist in WW2 and Rabbi teitelbaum never had the decency to thank him!
Shapiro is the spokesperson of Netruni which is Neturei Karta...
This Shapiro, grandchild of Ameiliek, is teaching teenagers and adults to hate the land that Hashem gifted us..
In the videos below he re-writes history to make the leaders of Israel 'rashaim' and makes Neturei Karta the 'tzaddikim'
There isn't a hell hot enough for this miserable bastard and hater of the Jewish people.
Instead of using the opportunity to live in Israel, he chooses to publicly slander millions of Jews and their elected government. This is one of the worst things a Jew can do even if he disagrees with their decision.

Where are his congregants? Why are they silent? Why don;t they kick this vermin to the curb, and throw him out?

Why is this maniacal Arab loving piece of garbage still in a position to damage and speak Loshon Harah on other Gedoilie Hador who dont hold like his position?



Watching the video of  Yaakov Shapiro of "torah-true jews" and frumteens.com leading an anti-zionist rally in DC I got nauseated.
By inciting goyim against israel, they are killing Jews.As someone who is goreim danger for Jews in Israel by strengthening the hands of the enemies, Yaakov Shapiro is now passul, along with his frumteens essays.
Neturei karta hugs rotzchim who want to kill Jews.
They point out that Rav Shteinman shlita and Rav Eliashiv shlita are Zionists, and that those who threaten to kill Jews are our friends. 
I guess it's ok to be a Zionist, if this is what Anti-Zionism is. 


Rabbi Shapiro at Neturei Karta Protest

Two White Reporters killed on live TV by a Gay Black Guy ..... Video

Reporters Alison Parker & Camraman Adam Ward were murdered this morning on live TV, Station WDBJ7.... 
Alison Ward with Fiancee 
Vester The Murderer

A manhunt is underway for a gunman who killed a local news reporter and photographer on live television Wednesday morning during a routine interview outside Moneta, Virginia.

Alison Parker was interviewing a woman at about 6:45 a.m. when shots rang out. Both women screamed.
As the camera fell to the ground, the audience caught the briefest glimpse of a man who appeared to point a gun toward the downed cameraman.
The station cut away to a shocked anchor, Kimberly McBroom, back in the studio.
Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were killed in the shooting at Bridgewater Plaza near Moneta, the station, WDBJ-TV, reported later.
Ward's fiancée was in the control room and saw the shooting, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks told CNN.
    The woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back and is in surgery, said Barb Nocera, the chamber's special projects manager said.
    The gunman is believed to have fired six or seven times, Marks said.

    Jewish Bochrim make a huge Kiddush Hashem


    Tuesday, August 25, 2015

    Rabbonim: Schools Must Accept Non-Vaccinated Children

    Parents... you guys are in real trouble... get used to your kids getting chicken pox, whooping cough, polio, mumps, and measles very very soon...
    Listening to these "gedoilim" may get your children very sick at best  or even die Chas V'esholom at worst!
    These insane rulings are going to get us all killed! And they call it "Daas Torah?" 
    Call the signers, Rabbi Shmuel Kaminetzky, Rav Mattiyahu Salomon,and Rav Malkiel Kotler and tell them to stick to halacha and not get involved in medicine!



    Now phones with "Kosher Sim Cards" are prohibited by "Gedoilim"


    Hellllllllowwwww!!!!?
    Is anyone home?????
    So now phones compatible with "kosher sim cards" are treif!

    The Gedoilim are completely out of touch with the world ...
    There is absolutely no one that can tell me that either Rav Sheinman or Rav Kanievsky know a thing about technology. 

    So it's the askanim who are whispering this nonsense into their holy ears....
    Who are the askanim? Are they business people, who are familiar with the internet? I doubt any businessman making a parnooseh and feeding his family, would advise the Gedoilim to prohibit a phone that is compatible with the  "kosher sim card"!
    The regular "Joe Shmo" working like a dog all week doesn't have time to deal with those "kosher" fold up phones. In order to run a business, you need to be fast and up to date with technology! 

    The Gedoilim themselves are causing their respective followers to lose confidence in them. They will lose their flock very quickly because no one with any brains are taking them seriously any more..and what's even worse ...we will lose our youth who are now mocking them because of the naivete of the Gedoilim...
    Very few people are listening to them...go to any wedding and walk into the lobby or look outside and you will see hundreds of Yeshivishe guys and Chassidishe guys with smart phones!
    Chazal say that Rabbonim should not issue prohibitions that the community cannot ultimately abide by! 
    These prohibitions can only be adhered to by Kollel guys!

    Do I have the solution? No!
    But this is certainly not the way to keep them in the fold!

    I just recently leased some cars.... I decided to give the business to a yeshivishe guy that learns a half day and leases cars the other half! 
    So I asked him to either  text me or email the details of the deal including all my options ... we were talking about 6 cars.
    he said that his Rav won't let let him text or email...
    I told him to tell his Rav that Hashem will provide this Talmud his parnooseh some other way, because I'm taking my business elsewhere...
    I called my favorite Satmar Chusid in the leasing business and ordered the 6 cars and had the details texted and emailed in less than a minute!


    Gedolei Hador of Degel Hatorah led by Maran HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita and HaGaon HaRav Chaim Kanievsky Shlita have come out against newer generation smart phones that are compatible with kosher SIM cards. These phones are advertised as ‘compatible’ with kosher SIM cards.


    The declaration from the gedolim appears in Yated Neeman, referring to the new ‘compatible’ phones as a פריצת הגדר (breach in the wall of kedusha), citing the known “churban” that has resulted from prohibited technological devices.

    The announcement continues by explaining gedolim have been calling on the tzibur to only purchase approved kosher phones for the past decade, warning of the new threat, of the “prohibited phones that are now compatible to kosher SIM cards and thereby advertising as being a kosher phone”.

    The declaration continues by detailing the spiritual destruction that results from ignoring the words of the gedolim and exposing oneself to this prohibited technology and the consequences of such actions.

    Lion Kills Safari Guide but nobody cares!


    Crazy world we live in; the media cares more about a man killing a lion, than a lion killing a man!

    When Cecil the lion was "murdered" the entire media was busy with the story ignoring stories about ISIS beheading Christians at the same time. 
    Now that a lion kills a Safari guide ... media is hinting that it was the Safari Guide's fault, writing that one of the "lions had cubs, and became hostile"
    Did they talk to the lion? How do these guys know that it was because the lion was upset? There was no discussion with the lion but they conjure up all kinds of crazy reasons! 
    Who cares why the lion killed the guide, a lion is a lion, and a lion will kill, period. Lions aren't nice guys! 
    Very few outlets gave this news any coverage, if they did it's somewhere in the sports section...
    Poor sports section readers are now going to have to read about a lion killing a guy!

     I'm just wondering why the entire world was obsessed with Cecil? Is it because they named him? So now he's human?
    Crazy media!

    A lion charged and killed a safari guide who was leading a group of tourists in the same national park in Zimbabwe that was the home of Cecil the lion who was killed by a bow hunter in July.
    Police spokeswoman Charity Charamba said Tuesday that Quinn Swales was in Hwange National Park when he spotted six lions on Monday.
    “One of the lions had cubs and they became hostile. Mr. Swales at first manage to scare the lions away but then the male lion later made a U-turn and attacked him,” Charamba told The Associated Press. None of the tourists was harmed, she said.
    Swales was leading six tourists on a walking safari when he spotted fresh lion spoor and decided to track a pride of lions consisting of two females, two cubs and two males, according to the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
    The collared lion, named Nxaha, attacked Swales, the parks authority said.
    Cecil’s killing in July by American dentist James Walter Palmer just outside the park sparked outrage in the United States. The collared lions are being monitored for an Oxford University study.
    Camp Hwange, the safari company that employed Swales, said the 40-year-old guide succumbed to the injuries on the same day he was attacked.
    “He was tracking lions when a male lion unexpectedly charged,” said Camp Hwange in the statement issued Monday, adding that Swales was leading a photographic walking safari when he was attacked.
    Camp Hwange’s Facebook page says it offers game drives and game walks where “game likely to be encountered include all of the cat family, wild dog, elephants and buffalo in huge numbers.”
    The parks authority said a man who sells curios to tourists was killed by an elephant in the resort town of Victoria Falls, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Hwange, also on Monday.

    Monday, August 24, 2015

    Iranian Official: We “Reject the Existence of Any Israeli on This Earth”

    Hussein Sheikholeslam
    Hey Ezra: What do you say now? What does your fat congressman think about this?
    Hey Satmar Goons: He is ready to kill Satmar Chassidim too! 
    R" Sternbuch: Hey Rabbi? Are you going to shmooze about this to your sheep as well?
    Hussein Sheikholeslam, a senior adviser to Iran’s Speaker of Parliament, told the Hamas-affiliated newspaper al-Resalah that Tehran “reject[s] the existence of any Israeli on this earth,” a position he says Iran relayed to the P5+1 powers during the nuclear negotiations, The Times of Israel reported Wednesday. According to Sheikholeslam, Iran “will do everything to renew” its support for Hamas, which Tehran lessened in retaliation to the Sunni group’s opposition to the regime of Bashar al-Assad after the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
    Sheikholeslam’s comments are the latest in a series of threats issued against Israel by Iran since the Islamic Republic signed a nuclear agreement with the P5+1 powers last month.
    A video posted on a website linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), titled “Preparation of the complete destruction of Israel by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Islamic Revolution in Iran,” called for Israel’s “erasure from the annals of history,” according to another report in The Times of Israel on Wednesday. The clip depicts an invasion of Jerusalem by an Islamic army that includes Hamas and Hezbollah among its ranks.
    Earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said on his English-language Twitter account that Iran will “take all possible means to support anyone who fights Israel, is against the Zionist regime and supports resistance.”
    Khamenei has often taken to Twitter to issue threats against Israel and the United States. Last month, the Supreme Leader tweeted a graphic depicting President Barack Obama with a gun to his head and deriding the “aggressive and criminal U.S.” This past November, also on Twitter, Khamenei called for arming Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, and shared his nine-point plan for the “elimination of Israel.”
    In a speech delivered only four days after Iran signed the nuclear accord with the P5+1 powers and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), Khamenei emphasized Iran’s ongoing hostility towards Israel and the United States, saying, “The slogans of the Iranian nation on Al-Qods Day show what its position is. The slogans ‘Death to Israel’ and ‘Death to America’ have resounded throughout the country, and are not limited to Tehran and the other large cities. The entire country is under the umbrella of this great movement.”
    This past Sunday, Lt. Col. (ret.) Michael Segall, a senior analyst at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (JCPA), documented Iran’s ongoing agitation against the Jewish state and argued that it is an expression of one of the Islamic Republic’s founding principles:
    Sixteen years after his death, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s founding vision — that the eradication of Zionism is an inevitable precondition for redeeming contemporary Islam — keeps guiding the current generation of Iran’s religious, political and military establishment. To him the destruction of Zionism was an axiom never to be questioned or strayed from and an objective to be perpetually and actively pursued. According to this vision, Israel should be fought as part of a protracted global struggle between Islam and the West, which “planted intentionally the Zionist Entity in the heart of Islamic World.” […]
    The Iranian religious, political, intellectual and military elite support and repeat Khamenei’s messages. Members of the Iranian Army high command (as opposed to the Revolutionary Guards) have even declared their willingness and capability to destroy Israel, once the leader’s order is given. Practically speaking, the regime’s intelligence and international subversion agencies, mostly the Revolutionary Guards Quds Force, massively support anti-Israel terror groups and stage repeated conferences in Iran dedicated to denial of the Holocaust and to the deligitimization of Israel’s right to exist. […]
    Accepting Iran as a nuclear threshold state capable of launching a military nuclear program, should it decide to, will allow it to intensify its direct anti-Israel aggression and its subversive activity against moderate Arab states, such as Egypt and the Gulf states, now under a nuclear umbrella.
    After Assad’s regime launched a chemical attack that killed hundreds of civilians in a suburb of Damascus two years ago, Sheikholeslam threatened that Israel would be the “first victim” of any punitive strike on Syria. A year and a half ago he was reported to boast that Hezbollah has tens of thousands of missiles aimed at Israel.

    WATCH How American Reggae Singer Matisyahu Stands Up Against Modern Day Anti-Semites

    A defiant Matisyahu stood up against anti-Semitic pro-Palestinian activists in the crowd by delivering a moving performance of his monumental hit "Im Eskachyich Yerushalyim"



    A defiant Matisyahu stood up against anti-Semitic pro-Palestinian activists in the crowd by delivering a moving performance of his monumental hit “Jerusalem,” a modern day version of the ancient Jewish hymn “If I forget thee O Jerusalem (Im Eshkagech Yerushalayaim)” that is recited by the groom at the end of every Jewish wedding ceremony.
    The song describes the 3000-year old bond between the Jewish people and Jerusalem and the current attempts by Israel’s enemies to deny Jewish history in the city (See lyrics below this article). Matisyahu performed the song in front of the pro-Palestinian activists who waved giant PLO flags and repeatedly heckled the singer during the concert.
    A local pro-Palestinian group belonging to the global Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel had pressured the organizers of the festival into canceling Matisyahu’s performance after he refused to answer questions about his stance on a Palestinian state. Matisyahu was singled out by the organizers because he is Jewish; no other artist scheduled to perform at the festival was asked questions on the subject.

    107 HAREDI RABBIS DECLARE: REPORT CHILD ABUSE TO POLICE


    One-hundred-and-seven rabbanim and dayanim have contributed their signatures to a kol koreh (public pronouncement) affirming the halachic obligation of all Jews to immediately report and notify secular law enforcement when they know of an instance of child abuse. The kol koreh is a historic watershed, due to its unprecedented, broad-based support from a large number of haredi rabbanim.
    Some of the signers include Rabbi Nota Greenblatt, dayan, posek, and rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Gedola in Memphis; Dovid Goldwasser, rav of Bnei Yitzchok in Brooklyn; Rabbi Dov Aharon Brisman, rosh beis din of B’datz Philadephia; Rabbi Peretz Steinberg, co-chairman of Bais Din Agudath Yisroel in Kew Garden Hills; Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim; Rabbi Noach Isaac Oelbaum, rav of Nachlas Yitzchok in Kew Gardens Hills; Rabbi Kalman Epstein, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Shaar HaTorah in Queens; and Rabbi Shmuel Fuerst, dayan of Agudas Israel of Illinois, who was heavily involved in putting the kol koreh together.
    The Kol Koreh Reads:
    “We, the undersigned, affirm that any individual with firsthand knowledge or reasonable basis to suspect child abuse has a religious obligation to promptly notify the secular law enforcement of that information. These individuals have the experience, expertise and training to thoroughly and responsibly investigate the matter. Furthermore, those deemed “mandated reporters” under secular law must obey their State’s reporting requirements.
    Lives can be ruined or ended by unreported child abuse, as we are too often tragically reminded. The Torah’s statement in Leviticus 19:16, “Do not stand by while your neighbor’s blood is shed,” obligates every member of the community to do all in one’s power to prevent harm to others. In conclusion, every individual with firsthand knowledge or reasonable cause for suspicion of child abuse has a Torah obligation to promptly notify the proper civil authorities.”
    You can view the complete Kol Koreh with signatures here:http://issuu.com/jewishpress.com/docs/kol_koreh/1

    80th yahrzeit of Israel’s holy and illuminating Light, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook ztz’l,

    In honor of the 80th  anniversary of the yahrzeit of Israel’s holy and illuminating Light, Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook ztz’l, it is fitting to clarify his approach to the rabbinate and p’seekat halakha (determining Jewish law).
    On the one hand, we find in his halakhic responses an inclination towards chumra (a prohibition or obligation in Jewish practice that exceeds the bare requirements of halakha), and personally, he was even more machmir (strict). On the other hand, in certain issues he was considered to be maykel (lenient).
    On the one hand, his followers view him as the highest standard of a rabbi, and in fact, he took pains to establish the Chief Rabbinate. On the other hand, we find that he himself deeply regretted having been forced to serve in the rabbinate.
    The Complete Torah
    There have been scores of Torah giants in recent generations, but the stature of none compares to that of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook, ztz”l (1865 -1935). His genius was astounding – there was no field of Torah study that he had not mastered: Talmud and Halakha, the Bible and MidrashKabbalah and Hassidut, rationality and faith.
    Experts in the wealth of rabbinic literature are not usually the innovative thinkers, and the innovative thinkers are usually not experts; those who focus on details do not have a broad and comprehensive perspective, and those with a broad perspective do not penetrate deeply into the details. Rabbi Kook, however, was an expert and sharp, a deep-thinker and had a comprehensive outlook. The words of Torah were alive and radiated within him in such a wondrous way that his entire being was resplendent with Torah, and his complete focus from early childhood until the last day of his life was devoted to clarifying the Torah in its completeness.
    His teachings enlighten, guide, and revitalize the entire world: the sacred and secular, humanities and the sciences, the individual, society, nations and humankind, the diverse natural talents, and how all of this progresses towards rectification and redemption by means of the Jewish nation. His mind was full of ideas and innovations from all facets of the Torah which stood before his very eyes.
    The foundation for all this was his unparalleled righteousness and piety; his entire life was devoted to serving God. The giants of Torah and Hassidism testified themselves that his regular weekday prayers were on the same level as their prayers on Yom Kippur.
    His Tendency towards Hasidism and Enhancing Mitzvoth
    Rabbi Kook saw the aspect of truth and light in every opinion, and therefore he tended to enhance and beautify mitzvot, and thus, to act stringently according to all the various halakhic opinions. This was not difficult for him at all, for he was happy with each hiddur (enhancement) that had a basis in halacha, provided that the stringency was not at the expense of others.
    Sometimes he even tended to be strict in what seemed to be contradictory stringencies, because, in his breadth of knowledge, he saw how the two conflicting opinions actually complemented each other, and therefore, did not consider them to contradict. This can be seen, for example, in regards to his opinion on conversion (Daat Kohen 153-154).
    Although, in times of duress (sha’at dachak), he decided in accordance with the rules of halakha to be lenient, similar to the rulings of all poskim (Jewish law arbiters) for generations – to rely on the lenient opinion of individual poskim. However, even situations of sha’at dachak differ, so at times he would be more lenient, and other times less – according to the extent of necessity, and no more. For example, regarding shmitta (the Sabbatical year): on the one hand, he instituted the ‘heter mechira’ (a halakhic mechanism whereby agricultural lands in Israel are sold to non-Jews, allowing the lands to be cultivated and vegetables grown during the Sabbatical year), but on the other hand, whenever possible, he tended to follow the stringent opinion, trying as best as he could to maintain the mitzvot of shmitta, and guide Jewish residents of the country on the ideals of the Torah. Therefore, even after the mechira, he forbade Jews to perform the types of agricultural work specifically written in the Torah, even though according to the strict letter of the law, there is no difference between the various types of work, for today, shmitta is a rabbinic ordinance. Not only that, he even agreed to try and integrate ‘otzer Beit Din’ with the ‘heter mechira’, despite the seeming paradox between them (Igrot Ha’Ra’ayah 313-314, Mishpat Kohen 76).
    The Ridbaz’s Testimony of Rabbi Kook’s Crying
    As well-known, the Ridbaz (Rabbi Yaakov Dovid Wilovsky) conducted an ardent struggle against the ‘heter mechira’. Concerning the conflict over the shmitta year of 5670 (1909),Ridbaz hurled serious allegations against Rav Kook, and slandered him numerous times. In contrast, Rabbi Kook replied to him with respect and love.
    In the introduction to his book “Beit Ridbaz”, he wrote several things that were not accurate, seeing as he was negligent in checking rumors he had heard. For example, as he wrote about Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan from Kovno, that he had allegedly retracted his support for the ‘heter mechira’. He also wrote inaccurate things about Rav Kook that he heard from Rabbi Yehuda Leib Zeltzer, who later had to write a letter of apology to Rabbi Kook, denying what had been said in his name (see the article by Rabbi Eitam Henkin in ‘Alonei Mamre” 121).
    Nevertheless, we can apparently trust his own personal testimony, as he wrote: “I bear witness to the heavens and earth that the rabbi of Jaffa (Rabbi Kook) cried before me – he did not cry regular tears, but exceedingly hot ones”. However, the reason for Rav Kook’s crying was not due to a change of heart regarding the ‘heter mechira’ as Ridbaz implied, but simply because of the heavy pressure he was under to maintain the ‘heter’; for indeed, Rabbi Kook fully understood just how strong the halakhic basis for the ‘heter mechira’ was – above and beyond all other ‘heter mechirot’ customary in Jewish law, as he clarified in his book and respones. Rather, he cried because of the machloket (dispute), and the stressful situation that forced the yishuv to forgo observing shmitta ideally. Rabbi Kook’s crying was akin to the altar shedding tears for a married couple that gets divorced (Gittin 90b), even though in certain circumstances it is a mitzvah to divorce.
    His Rabbinate
    It should be noted that, from the start, Rav Kook did not want to serve in the rabbinate. Until the end of his life, although aware of the considerable importance of the rabbinate in Israel, he suffered from it, for it shortened his days and embittered his life. The need to decide between different views, each containing a certain amount of truth, weighed on him, for he saw the truth and good in all opinions. He longed for an ideal world, and the need to instruct a ‘heter’ for Clal Yisrael because of the emergency situation hurt him. Therefore, even upon deciding in favor of the ‘heter’, to a certain extent he was pleased that others went out of their way to cite the stringent opinion.
    As part of his responsibilities, a rabbi is also required to arouse and protest with regards to religious affairs, and Rabbi Kook fulfilled his duty in this aspect with great devotion. But in order to do so, he had to deal with the practical details of Kashrut, divorce, disputes and fights, while at the same time, his soul longed to study Torah in its entirety, to reveal the secrets of the Torah so as to bring redemption to the world. He most definitely appreciated the tremendous value of revealing the Torah in general with all its minute details, and the connection of the study of Talmud with the study of practical Jewish law. He explained how such study draws the redemption nearer, and on his own initiative, devoted a lot of time writing the work ‘Halakha Berura’ towards this purpose. However, the practical and instructional problems did not leave him enough spare time to deal with the lofty ideals his soul desired— ‘ma’aseh Breshit, veh’ma’aseh merkava’ (esoteric speculation about Creation and the Workings of the Chariot, based on Ezekiel I) [Sukkah 28a].
    How He Assumed the Rabbinate
    As noted, Rav Kook was reluctant to serve in the rabbinate. As was customary in those days, before marrying, his father-in-law, the ‘Aderet’ (Rabbi Eliyahu David Rabinowitz-Teomim), who was one of the greatest Torah scholars of the generation and the Rabbi of Ponevezh, undertook to support him in his own house for several years so that he could study Torah. But the ‘Aderet’, a righteous and pious man, was required to collect money for the poor people of his congregation, and especially the hundreds of families whose homes were burned, and for that purpose, he even mortgaged his own property. This created a situation in which he had to give his daughter and son-in-law his own bed, while he himself slept on chairs in the study room. When the ‘Chofetz Chaim’, a good friend of his, heard about this, he asked Rabbi Kook to agree to accept the first rabbinate offered him. Thus, Rav Kook was forced to begin serving in the rabbinate at the age of twenty-three, contrary to his original plan.
    Rabbi Kook’s financial situation never improved as he donated all his money to poor people seeking help, and thus, was constantly compelled to serve in the rabbinate. And since he was a genius, righteous and beloved, and led the rabbinate as one of the most eminent rabbis in the country, he was constantly requested to serve as a rabbi in different communities.
    The Regular Rabbinical Leader
    In retrospect, however, it is apparent that Rabbi Kook was not a regular rabbinical leader. A regular rabbinical leader normally formulates a position and strengthens it, without providing any significant room for dissenting opinions. The less important leaders among them even override opinions of all those who disagree with them. However, our teacher and guide, Rabbi Kook, understood the point of truth in all the various approaches, from the right and the left, Haredim and heretics, and even those who opposed him viciously.
    A regular posek, after determining halakha, does not allow any room for those who disagree, rather, patterns a clear guideline and strengthens it. An example of this can be learned from the Rishon LeZion, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ztz” l, who, after clarifying and strengthening the ‘heter mechira’ as  Rav Kook had done, no longer took into account the disagreeing opinion; he expressed no sorrow or pain over the need to rely on the ‘heter’, and came out in force against all the detractors of his halakhic decision. This, despite the fact that he did not include the mitzvah of yishuv ha’aretz (settling the Land of Israel) in his halakhic considerations, but agreed to the ‘heter’ based solely on the financial strain of the farmers and consumers (Yebiyah Omer, Sect.10, Y.D. 37-44).
    A regular posek who would have also included the halakhic consideration of yishuv ha’aretz, a commandment which is equivalent to all 613 mitzvot, would have gone a step further and determined that in our present situation, it is a mitzvah and an absolute obligation to abide by the ‘heter mechira’, since thanks to it, the mitzvah of yishuv ha’aretz is strengthened.
    Rabbi Kook’s Heavy Sigh About Granting the “Heter
    However, Maran HaRav Kook was pained over the need for a ‘heter’. And although at present the mitzvah of shmitta is a rabbinic ordinance, while some authorities are of the opinion that it should be observed only due to ‘midat chassidut’ (as a pious and meritorious act), and furthermore, there is profound controversy about when shmitta year actually occurs (currently, either 5772 (2011), 5774 (2013), or 5775 (2014)), and by selling the land, we can definitely rely on the lenient opinion, as he himself wrote in his letters (Igeret 311). Nevertheless, since he envisaged the great light hidden in the mitzvot of shmitta, even when today, in practice, its obligation is limited and uncertain – the need to expropriate the obligation of observing shmitta by means of the ‘heter mechira’ truly hurt him.
    This is one of the reasons he did not stand upon his dignity and understood those who disagreed with him, even though from a halakhic perspective, their claims were tenuous (see, Orot HaTechiya 5).
    Therefore, he wrote: “… I intentionally did not order everything concerning this matter (the ‘heter’) with complete comprehension, satisfactorily arranged and full of meaning, and several aspects and clear reasons I left out altogether, all in order that the matter of the ‘heter’ not be become too accustomed …” (Igeret 311). And at a later date, he added that even if those who oppose intensify their disagreement to the ‘heter’, forcing him to explain just how firmly the ‘heter’ is based in halakha, nevertheless, “even then, with the help of the Almighty, I will not stop always pointing out that it is a ‘heter’ for times of duress, and a matter of ‘hora’at sha’ah’ (a temporary order), however, l’chatchila (a priori) it is better for me not to have to do so (to further clarify the foundations of the ‘heter’), and leave the issue in the unforceful manner I gave it in the introduction (to‘Shabbat Ha’aretz’).”
    Rabbi Kook’s Method of Study
    Each section and sevara (deriving new results from logic) of the Torah were greatly cherished by Rav Kook, therefore, he loved to debate at length and discuss the less significant assertions as well, to the point where his listeners and students did not understand his teachings accurately. Thus, sometimes those who disputed him ignored his main claims, and questioned the ‘heter’ by attacking side issues which he wrote only as conjecture for discussion.
    For example, regarding the ‘heter’ itself, which according to the strict letter of the law contains no concern of “lo techanem” (‘do not give [non-Jews] a resting place in the land’) since it is for a limited time and for the benefit of Clal Yisrael, as explained in the Rishonim (see, “Peninei Halakha: Shevi’it v’Yovel 7:6). However, in order to add ‘dikduk’ (preciseness) and ‘hidur’ (enhancement), he continued to discuss the matter and wrote that it is preferable to sell the land to an Ishmaelite who already owned land, and based this on the rendering of the ‘Bach’ – which later turned out to be erroneous. On this, the disputers had a field day, when in fact, all of the discussion there is a complete side issue (see the introduction to ‘Shabbat Ha’aretz’, chap. 12; Mishpat Kohen 63).
    When Did Rabbi Kook Come Out Publically Against Those Who Opposed Him
    Only when they damaged the livelihood and dignity of the farmers, or the general matter of yishuv ha’aretz by means of immigration and settlement, did Rav Kook come out strongly against the wicked actions of those who pretended to be righteous, and in fact, violated the principles of the Torah.
    Thus, upon hearing that the opponents of the ‘heter’ in Jerusalem not only boycotted the fruits of the ‘heter mechira’, but went further and gave permission to market the fruits of the Gentiles in their place, he wrote: “My pen shakes in my hand at the despicable deed presently carried out against our brothers, residents of the moshavot. Because, after being strongly held until now, not to grant a hechsher (kashrut approval) to the Gentiles so as not to oust the oppressed and poverty-stricken Jewish farmers, whose eyes and livelihood are dependent on the proceeds from the grapes, and now, after the conflict over the question of shmitta has been settled, whose main goal is to help our fellow brothers the residents of the moshavot, seditious elements have been revealed, who secretly advised to buy specifically from the Gentiles, and lift the horn of our enemies who are laughing at our not working the fields! How we ourselves chase our brothers, our fellow Jews. Heavens above! One cannot imagine the enormity of shame, Chilul Hashem (desecration of God), and wickedness this contains. The blood of my heart boils, and my pain reaches to the heavens from this terrible situation, from the fall of Torah and true fear of Heaven in this matter …”
    And when the chumra was weak and contrary to the rules of halakha, especially when it hurt people, he was emphatic about instructing the ‘heter’, to avoid the uprooting of the Torah, God forbid. For the Torah commands to make a fence around the Torah, and from this our Sages learned that it is forbidden to make a fence around a fence, and he wrote about his ‘heter’ of sesame oil on Passover. Although in that case he also acted with great honor for the elderly rabbis who were machmir, although in his opinion, they were completely wrong in their interpretation of halakha (Orach Mishpat, 112).
    Rabbi Kook’s Exalted Approach Gave Room to Various Methods
    With his great righteousness, piety and incredible talents, Rav Kook ztz”l devoted himself to the entire Torah, from the heights of its superior knowledge stemming from God’s supreme unity, to the entire scope of its revelations, thus making him a channel for the light of Torah for all generations. Out of all this he was able to see and understand the Divine historical process, and the progression of the spirit of the Jewish nation and humanity towards tikun olam and redemption.
    Notwithstanding, with all of his greatness and light, Rav Kook had a “shortcoming”: he could not restrict himself to the midat ha’din (attribute of Strict Justice) required for the leadership of a single method in all public affairs. Thus, he gave room to those who disagreed with him to reinforce their mistakes.
    But apparently there was no choice. This was the path of revealing the light of Torah in its completeness, and the Divine guidance for these miraculous generations, where darkness and light serve in confusion. And it is our responsibility to continue in the path of his exalted teachings, to build frameworks and pave the way for public and practical revelation of the entire Torah, by all Am Yisrael, in all areas of the Land of Israel.
    This article appears in the ‘Besheva’ newspaper, and was translated from Hebrew. Other interesting and informative articles by Rabbi Melamed can be found at: http://en.yhb.org.il/