True Torah Jews' Statement on Jerusalem

True Torah Jews' Statement on Jerusalem

In anticipation of the American-sponsored peace conference next month between
the State of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, certain Modern Orthodox
Jewish groups, including the Orthodox Union, the National Conference of Young
Israel and the Rabbinical Council of America, have joined forces to protest
against any potential Israeli concessions on Jerusalem. They "respectfully
remind the American sponsors that Jerusalem is not merely a piece of territory.
Since Biblical times Jerusalem has been and remains central to Jewish faith and
practice." Rabbi Pesach Lerner of Young Israel stated that "world Jewry opposes
Israeli negotiations which would include any discussion of ceding sovereignty
over part or all of Jerusalem."

This militant Zionist position does unfortunately represent Modern Orthodoxy, a
movement that is characterized by Jews bending Jewish law to fit their modern
agenda. However, it is inaccurate to say that it represents world Jewry. World
Jewry includes hundreds of thousands of more traditionally Orthodox Jews who do
not see any inherent value in Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem or any other
place. Most of these Jews, in fact, see the Zionist occupation of the Holy Land
as a terrible sin and a misfortune.

Rabbi Hersh Lowenthal, spokesman for True Torah Jews, explained the traditional
Jewish position. "Jews recite in their prayers, 'Because of our sins we were
exiled from our land, and we are unable to ascend, appear and bow before You in
the Temple.' We affirm that the exile was a Divine decree, and that during exile
we have no right to sovereignty over the ancient Jewish holy sites. The Talmud
(Kesubos 111a) forbids Jews to wage wars or take over the Holy Land; we must
only wait for the Messianic era, when G-d will bring peace to all humanity.
These principles, which were once clear to all Jews, have apparently been
forgotten by the Modern Orthodox movement."

Torah Jews praise the efforts of President Bush and his administration to bring
about peace in the Middle East. The Torah teaches that Jews must maintain a
peaceful relationship with all nations among whom they live. To use the Jewish
religion as a reason to oppose peace is nothing less than a falsification of
Judaism.

We continue to pray for the safety and security of all Jews and non-Jews in the
Holy Land.



True Torah Jews/Jews Against Zionism
183 Wilson St, PMB 162, Brooklyn, NY 11211
  www.jewsagainstzionism.com
Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007