I would like to clarify the answer published in my name in last month's issue of Moment Magazine.
First of all, the opinions published in my name are solely my own, and do not represent the official policy of any Jewish movement or organization.
Additionally, my answer, as written, is misleading.
It is obvious, I thought, that any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion. Fundamental to the Jewish faith is the concept that every human being was created in the image of G-d, and our sages instruct us to support the non-Jewish poor along with the poor of our own brethren.
Rabbi Manis Friedman Clarifies His Statment
I would like to clarify the answer published in my name in last month’s issue of Moment Magazine.
First of all, the opinions published in my name are solely my own, and do not represent the official policy of any Jewish movement or organization.
Additionally, my answer, as written, is misleading.
It is obvious, I thought, that any neighbor of the Jewish people should be treated, as the Torah commands us, with respect and compassion. Fundamental to the Jewish faith is the concept that every human being was created in the image of G-d, and our sages instruct us to support the non-Jewish poor along with the poor of our own brethren.
The sub-question I chose to address instead is: how should we act in time of war, when our neighbors attack us, using their women, children and religious holy places as shields. I attempted to briefly address some of the ethical issues related to forcing the military to withhold fire from certain people and places, at the unbearable cost of widespread bloodshed (on both sides!) — when one’s own family and nation is mercilessly targeted from those very people and places.
Furthermore, some of the words I used in my brief comment were irresponsible, and I look forward to further clarifying them in a future issue.
I apologize for any misunderstanding my words created.
— Rabbi Manis Friedman
yosef
think before you speak, resist the urge to be a shock-jock,
wish to be anonymous Raizy Kramer
Please don’t apologize – what you said is right – brave and 100% true.
A Supporter
With respect
You are a wise and upright man. Thank you for clarifying your words and providing context.
Milhouse
Rule #1: Don’t give quotes to drek magazines like Moment. Stick to quality publications such as the National Enquirer.
a gal
the clarification doesn’t sound any more like him than the original article did!! Who’s writing this stuff??
Frustrated Lubavitcher
A first time offense is excusable, I’ve been hearing and reading too many out of place, uneducated, and sometimes irresponsible remarks in Rabbi Friedman’s broadcast talks, articles etc.
Someone that is known as such a prominent figure and scholar in Lubavitch should be careful with his words and shouldn’t profess a knowledge in subjects about which he is unfamiliar or draw conclusions about major issues without foreseeing possible repercussions.
No apology can fix the damage done.
The only step that he can take is to stop making such statements. Not about Military strategies, not about the economy, not about assisted repreduction according to Torah, vedal.
Frustrated Lubavitcher
A first time offense is excusable, I’ve been hearing and reading too many out of place, uneducated, and sometimes irresponsible remarks in Rabbi Friedman’s broadcast talks, articles etc.
Someone that is known as such a prominent figure and scholar in Lubavitch should be careful with his words and shouldn’t profess a knowledge in subjects about which he is unfamiliar or draw conclusions about major issues without foreseeing possible repercussions.
No apology can fix the damage done.
The only step that he can take is to stop making such statements. Not about Military strategies, not about the economy, not about assisted repreduction according to Torah, vedal.
ah poshta yid fuen shcuna
to my head counsoler, of cgi 65-66 ” manis yr a real man ,and in yr name is man , wow wat a mench , i respect u more, kol hakovod
camper of bunk daled
cgi detroit
normal person
Well we need to treat our neighbor in a fair way and use the same force as they use we can’t use excessif use of force we have to send only 6000 rockets on them as they did on our kids and not use excessif use of force
!!
Only those who do can make a mistake.
May you go mchayil lechoyil in spreading the words of the Rebbe!
CM
Dear Rabbi Friedman,
Thank you for apologizing. As you know, there is no place for such comments as those that were published in your name. You will find any comments like this from the Rebbe in any of the sichas, farbrengens, videos and audiotapes.
I would have hoped though, that you had the experience not to give ambiguous quotes to the news media. This was truly irresponsible.
I’m looking forward to a full article from you clarifying your remarks, but focusing on the positive. Don’t give anyone any excuse to misrepresent you. That accomplishes nothing.
Yanky N.
For anyone looking for a source that Rabbi Friedman’s statements are against Halacha, please see the Rambam in Hilchos Melachim U’Milchemoisehem, chapter 5. The Rambam says that there are only two types of wars in which an entire nation must be killed: milchemes shiva amamim and milchemes Amelek. These are the only two times when there is an obligation to kill entire nations because there are specific commandments from the Torah regarding these two types of war.
The implication from what the Rambam does not say here is that there is no obligation to destroy entire nations of men, women, children and holy sites, in a defensive war.
(It is worthwhile noting that a defensive war, even though it may be considered a milchemes mitzva, cannot possibly be given the same regard as milchemes Amalek, which must be waged only against bona fide descendants of Amalek, or milchemes Shiva Amamim, which the Rambam says is a mitzva which has already been fulfilled.)
If Rabbi Friedman was simply discussing his (misguided) military strategies it would be one thing. But when he turns this into a religious obligation, he flies in the face of what Judaism actually says about warfare.
To be sure, we should have no problem with Israel collaterally killing civilians when they follow the laws of war (and we can certainly discuss how these laws fit into divrei haRambam). That is an inevitable and unfortunate cost to fighting a defensive battle. However, to do like Rabbi Friedman and advocate genocide during the course of battle sounds neither like morality nor like Judaism.
Chana
I have gone on some of Rabbi Friedman’s events and shiurium and he likes to say things in a shocking way. That is how he “gets” people and how he “loses” people. He wants his students to know that Torah is the polar opposite of what the secular world’s morals and values. This is true, the Torah offers concepts that are novel to many secular people. But to show this in a shocking way has it downfalls.
At a lecture for baal teshuvah girls that I attended a few years ago, he told the audience of girls who obviously were not raised frum that if a girl chash veshalom were to have relations with a non-Jew she should be shot — this is verbatim of what he said.
Did he mean this literally? No. Did he want these girls to get the seriousness of the matter? Yes, he did and for some this worked. For others, this turned them off to Yiddishkeit and especially to the Chabad movement. For a girl raised in the modern world, the idea of being shot for something not “so terrible” in the secular worlds moral is archaic and chauvanistic.
I think his shock value is sometimes very neccesary but has its appropriate audience. I have grown to appreciate Rabbi Friedman, but fully understand the sentiment of a secular Jew whose first encounter with his words would result in a disguist to Judaism. That is unfortunate and not the Rebbe’s goal.
Still A Fan
Dear Rabbi Friedman,
Every nation in the world (besides perhaps the swiss wimps) would agree with your clarification. However we have to be careful when making shocking statements which are true yet misleading. The Rebbe always wanted things to be given over in an accepted manner. This means not diluting the idea yet putting it into context and explaination.
by the way mazal tov to rabbi friedman,
as tonight is his son (benny)s wedding
Am Yisrael Chai!
You know, I may not know much but what he said is basically what the IslamoNazis are doing to the Jews around the world. Only because he is a Jew is it getting this much coverage. When Terrorists say stuff like this against Jews it is just brushed to the side as what they say means nothing. Well they mean nothing anyway but thats besides the point. Just look on the net for Death to Israel and you will see some frightening images. Manis you are a great man and a brave man. A holy Jew. May G-d Bless you with the fat of the Earth and bring about the redemption immediately with the arrival of King Moshiach!
Rabbi pinchos Woolstone
Every individual who regularly speaks in public, has articles printed in the media or teaches has regretted at least one idea he/she has expressed.
Rabbi Freidman is an intellect of note, he has drawn many closer to Torah and Mitzvos as elucidated by Chassidus Chabad
Let us remember that infallibility is not a human quality, only G-d is perfect.
The rabbi has apologize for the ill conceived statements made in moment magazine,I assume he is kicking himself and will be much more careful in the future.
Lets now move on and bring Moshiach to a world full of human tragedy.
Dinah A
B”H
Why is it we stand silent afraid to speak because it may be shocking to some, or feel we must wait for the appropriate audience??
Are we not the emissaries of G-d?
Caution
Beware of Foot In Mouth Disease
Yossi
Beware of losing your Self Respect
Aarah
The apology in Rabbi Friedman’s clarification letter is humbling.
I thank you, Rabbi Friedman, for all of the understandings your words create. They far far out weigh this misunderstanding.
I look forward to the world hearing more of your thoughts about this, and the world should continue to be blessed, with greater understanding through your words. Great opportunites will come from this. HaYom Yom Sivan 12 says
“Cherish criticism – for it will place you on the true heights.”
Yes, I’ve been “shocked” in the last 15 years by some terminologies, but I continued to listen, and I gained understanding and knowledge. So, nu, the world is listening…lets hear more.
david
did you say or didn’t you?
“The only way to fight a moral war is the Jewish way: Destroy their holy sites. Kill men, women and children (and cattle)”. [Emphasis mine.](fropm the article).