Posted to Chabad News on
Lubavitch World Headquarters official Statement - Lubavitch.com

Na'ama Margolese of Beit Shemesh

“Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17)

King Solomon, the wisest of all men, thus defined and described the ways of Torah. These words are as true today as they were in his day.

A Response to Violence in the Name of Religion

Lubavitch World Headquarters official Statement – Lubavitch.com

Na’ama Margolese of Beit Shemesh

“Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17)

King Solomon, the wisest of all men, thus defined and described the ways of Torah. These words are as true today as they were in his day.

Pleasantness and peace are not only fundamental to the observance of Torah-true Judaism, but are the only appropriate paths to maintaining and promoting authentic Jewish values.

Violent behaviors of individuals or groups who abuse, intimidate and insult others are a flagrant offense to Torah and tzniut (modesty), in both letter and spirit, and deserve to be unequivocally condemned.

Tzniut, intrinsic to Jewish family and social life, covers the gamut of human behavior and is intended to cultivate dignified comportment in the privacy of an individual’s life and especially in their interaction with others. When organically and wholesomely practiced, it is a key to a functional, healthy and respectful environment at home, in the workplace and society at large.

With respect to tzniut, Chabad seeks the participation of all members of the Jewish community. Indeed, women are critical participants in the community, maintaining significant leadership positions, as is evident in Chabad communities worldwide.

Ahavat Yisrael, the bedrock of Jewish life, has always been the inspiration motivating Chabad’s mission. Chabad will continue to reach out to all Jews with respect, acceptance and inclusion in the full spirit of Ahavat Yisrael.

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21 Comments

  • to number 1

    they bring it upon themselves….with that kind of taliban behaviour!! its not all of them, but we all look the same, so we all get flack for their terrible behaviour!

  • anon

    just like chabad is very smart by not mixing in against non religious they should also get smart by not mixing in against the charaidim

  • CR

    Yes, what of those “religious” people who regularly make death threats against others? What of those who Mechallel Shabbos (and are Chayav Misa as a result) by throwing rocks in the Reshus HaRabim? What of those who regularly consort with our enemies; people who regularly employ the most vile anti-semitic images and rhetoric in their propaganda? What of those who still assert that nearly 7 million Jews in Eretz Yisrael are worthy of the most horrible Misa Meshuna because of an outlier interpretation of a certain Midrash?

    With some groups that should know better you have to say “I hate them with utmost hatred; they are as enemies to me!” until they do much needed Teshuvah from these evil ways.

  • Thanks!

    Thank you for communicating an important, even vital message to all of us. I wonder if this message will make a difference in how we treat each other or even blog each other on a site such as this. I hope it does. At the same time, I think some suggestions for some of us as to how to express our views without hostility, sarcasm, insult,etc., would be great. I say this, because in my experience a bit more guidance may be needed when individuals have not been given models of healthy communication within a frame of spirituality. How about some examples of preferable communication we can learn from.

  • ANON

    the people spitting on this little girl and intimidating women and girls are the same ones that beat their daughters at the kotel…..do you want to be like them? Did you see the video?

    Thank you Chabad for always making the right choice. Non-judgemental, and always accepting. BH you can travel the world over and as long as there is a Chabad, you will be treated well and you will be safe.

  • mendy

    very nice that a statement about tznius shows the girl’s feet, doesn’t anybody at Lub HQ know how to crop a photo?

  • Muttle from meziboz

    It’s true that the media in israel are guilty of spreading lies and hatred against the frum. Let’s take a lesson from how the Rebbe dealt with lies and constant ridicule from the litvish and other opponents. We can also learn from how the basht and Alter rebbe dealt with opposition. They were for the most part simply ignored. We carried out our mission and gave little attention to the negativity. As a result, their lies and messages of hate eventually became irrelevant. Time has proven that they never had a permiating message. And eventually the critics changed and took on the same approach that they once opposed.

  • George H. Heart

    Chabad is a shining light for the entire world and the extremist haredim in Israel should take notice!

  • Winston had it right

    FANATIC
    noun: a person motivated by irrational enthusiasm (as for a cause)
    Example: “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject–Winston Churchill”

  • Alex

    can you tell us what attacks are those which where a. physical and b. where not provoked by the Haredim rioting? Yes maybe there is some incidents of violence to some haredim,however they are not encouraged or covered for by a wider community. With Haredim the attacks are committed by organized mobs while Rabbis say nothing,which makes them responsible. The Haredim make hillul hashem of every other religious Jew from modern-orthodox to Chabad,anybody who doesn’t get a kick out from the violence,rioting,burning of tired and generally behaving like Arabs. Saying that somebody else is behaving in NOT a nice way doesn’t excuse the bad behaviour of the Religious public. Same as if the secular Israelis where eating pork and violating Shabbos, doesn’t make it ok for Haredim to do the same!

  • Yizhok Rosenstein,Bet Shemesh

    After seeing all the resposes and condeming, etc.I must add that HERE in Bet Shemesh,we did NOT see any of the attacks and spitting.We did see reporters wandering arround looking for trouble.The vast majority here are totaly unaware of the violence that is being condemed.Dont believe everything on telivision.check out if the story is true before you give an oppinion.

  • shlomo as always with bad English

    seems to me chabad in Israel don’t agree with this article. from Israeli hcabads rabays most CH it not modesty