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] Ofer Pines, a member of the Israeli Knesset, 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] He denied any involvement, and was released due to lack of evidence.[11][12]

In October 2010, he urged Israel Defense Forces soldiers to use Palestinian civilians as human shields, claiming that it was against "true Jewish values" for a soldier to endanger his life for the sake of enemy soldiers or civilians.[13]

Shapira lives in the West Bank Israeli settlement Yitzhar[3] and is the head of the Dorshei Yihudcha yeshiva there.[14] According to Haaretz columnist Akiva Eldar, Shapira's yeshiva receives substantial funding from the Israeli government.[15] His intellectual influences include Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hacohen Kook[16] and Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburg.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Rabbi's book says Jews can kill gentiles", Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 9 November 2009
  2. ^ Roee Sharon, "'ספר שמופץ בימין מסביר מתי מותר להרוג 'גויים" Ma'ariv, 9 November 2009
  3. ^ a b Matthew Wagner, "Shimshon soldiers to be hailed at 'farbrengen'", Jerusalem Post, 12 November 2009
  4. ^ Chaim Levinson, "Police release rabbi arrested for inciting to kill non-Jews", Haaretz, 27 July 2010
  5. ^ a b c Matthew Wagner, "Book advocating killing gentiles who endanger Jews is hard to come by", Jerusalem Post, 11 November 2009
  6. ^ ירן דנש ומרב דוד, "פינס למזוז: פתח בחקירה נגד הרבנים שהסיתו", Maariv, 9 November 2009
  7. ^ Matthew Wagner, "Yitzhar rabbi held for sedition, incitement; Advocates expelling or killing all male Palestinians above 13", Jerusalem Post, 13 September 2006
  8. ^ Uri Blau and Yuval Azoulay, "Violence follows removal of trailer from West Bank outpost", Haaretz, 27 July 2008
  9. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1145274.html
  10. ^ "Rabbi arrested, suspected in West Bank mosque arson", BBC News, 27 January 2010
  11. ^ "Rabbi arrested, suspected in West Bank mosque arson", BBC News, 27 January 2010
  12. ^ 'IDF to blame for price-tag atmosphere'
  13. ^ http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/leading-rabbi-encourages-idf-soldiers-to-use-palestinian-human-shields-1.320311
  14. ^ Jonathan Lis, "Violent clash erupts between rightists and Bedouin near Jerusalem", Haaretz, 29 July 2008
  15. ^ Akiva Eldar, "חמאס לא לבד, גם אנחנו מממנים כוהני דת שמטיפים לרצח תינוקות", Haaretz, 17 November 2009
  16. ^ Matthew Wagner, "Religious Affairs: Caught in the crossfire", Jerusalem Post, 13 March 2008