This is an interesting debate between Jonathan Hoffman (co-vice chair of the Zionist Federation and hero of this blog) and Rabbi Aharon Cohen (of the nasty anti-Zionist Neturei Karta).
Inspite of the efforts of the rather bizarre host (hey, it’s Press TV, what do you expect?) there is some interesting discussion here about the relationship between Israel and Jewish law. I particularly enjoyed Jonathan’s explanation of the ‘mosaic of laws’ in Israel.
It’s also great when Jonathan rounds on Rabbi Cohen about Neturei Karta’s disgraceful response to the Mumbai massacre.
You can watch the video here.
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Thanks Chas – It is at 17:00 minutes in where he attempts to justify this abomination:
http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/article.php?p=27215
His argument is completely bizarre:
1. The terrorists who murdered the Holtzbergs did wrong but only the Almighty can punish them
Implication: There should be no judges or courts
2. The Holtzbergs had it coming to them because they accepted the existence of Israel
3. Zionism is responsible for deaths of Jews
Funny I thought Israel is a haven from antisemitism for Jews and that those Jews there who have lost their lives have lost them to those who disagree with Israel’s existence – one of whom is him.
Wish I’d said that …
I love this blog and will continue to read, but Press TV is just a disgusting channel. I felt my skin crawl hearing traditional Jewish music on a channel of the Iranian state that wants to murder and subjugate Jews. I imagine the Persians felt big and clever having a discussion on the nature of Zionism and Judaism -quite an intellectual departure from the blood libels and Jews are racists (don’t mention the Iranian Baha’is though).
Also the intro is pure propaganda that makes the Israelis out to be violent and rejoicing in it. However rarely do you see Israelis handing out sweets and rejoicing when children are murder. Also, it goes without saying, that the crimes against humanity perpetrated by the Iranians under the doctrine of fundamentalist Shia Islam are far worse – 1,000,000 dead in Iraq-Iran war, executions of gays and minorities, funding of terror groups. So let’s have a discussion on the violent nature of the Islamic Republic of Iran and its theocratic founding doctrine!
A bit of a rant but the Iranians are the biggest bunch of racist hypocrites there are!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyUX6wV1lBQ
This is the kind of attitude we should have when it comes to the Iranians. Enjoy!
I absolutely agree that Press TV is a disgusting channel, Mary. I should have spelled that out more clearly rather than assuming it was taken as read. I do, though, salute Jonathan Hoffman for so bravely, tirelessly and brilliantly supporting Israel – including on Press TV. I also think that – despite where it took place – this is an interesting debate. I have replaced the embedded video with a link, because the video was automatically starting when the main page loaded. I know how annoying that can be.