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November 30, 2009
The Jewish Prisoner: Past, Present and Future
Headstones of Rabbi Meir of Rothenburg and Alexander ben
Shlomo Wimpfen in the Jewish cemetery in Worms, Germany.
Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg (1215 – 2 May 1293) was one of the greatest Jewish scholars of the Medieval age.
In Paris, Rabbi Meir witnessed the public burning of twenty-four cart loads of the Talmud by Louis IX on Friday, June 17, 1244.
In Germany, he was the Rabbi for several large Jewish communities. Rabbi Meir founded and financed an important yeshiva in Rothenberg where many of his students went on to become some of the best known and most important Halachic, Jewish law, authorities.
Rabbi Meir was acknowledged as the leading Ashkenazi authority on Talmud and Jewish law. The Jewish communities in France, Italy, and Germany frequently turned to Rabbi Meir for guidance. So great was his scholarship and wisdom that he was known as The Light of the Exile.
Among his disciples were the towering Rabenu Asher ben Jehiel and Rabbi Mordecai ben Hillel Ashkenazi.
In 1286 King Rudolph I declared the Jews of his lands servi camerae—serfs of the treasury—which destroyed Jewish political freedoms, in effect encouraging official persecution of the Jews. Rabbi Meir, his family, and scores of other Jews tried to flee the German lands, but Rabbi Meir was captured in Lombardy and imprisoned in a fortress near Ensisheim in Alsace.
Knowing that Rabbi Meir was beloved by the Jewish community, Rudolph demanded a huge ransom.
The Jewish community complied, and 23,000 marks silver was raised.
But Rabbi Meir refused to be ransomed.
To his students—crouched by the window of his prison cell—he explained that the ransom would only encourage further kidnappings, thereby placing other Rabbis in danger.
Rabbi Meir was that rare man who placed the future and safety of the Jewish community before his own well being.
Rabbi Meir died in prison after seven years.
Fourteen years after his death his body was ransomed by Alexander ben Shlomo Wimpfen.
Gilad Shalit has been in cruel captivity for over three years, kidnapped by the terrorist gang Hamas.
Israel will, eventually, release hundreds of terrorists in order to secure Shalit's freedom.
The politicians are in favor of this deal because precedent has already been set by previous unwise Israeli administrations. And Shalit's captivity is an open wound in Israeli society, a loud, squabbling extended family.
The IDF is in favor of this trade—this deal with the devil—because the IDF lives by a doctrine that no soldier is ever left behind.
The security services are unhappy for obvious reasons, but they have to go along. And, they reason, at least they know on whom to keep an eye. And let's not forget that a number of Arab prisoners have already been flipped so they will supply valuable intel to the Israelis.
But let us be clear: you and I and every Jew in the world is, with each of these lopsided trades, placed in harm's way because the Arab Muslim terrorists understand that Israel and Judaism are built on a foundation of empathy and decency.
And for the Arab Muslim terrorist and their western enablers this virtue is nothing less than a fatal weakness to be exploited again and again and again.
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at November 30, 2009 09:08 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
Especially, when it is strongly rumored that animals like Marwan Barghouti, may be included in the swap.
All for some perverted thinking that a deal can be struck with him...some have written he is a Mandela like personality. Mostly lefty, who else, press from Europe that lionizes killers.
Barghouti has liters of Jewish blood dripping from his hands, and releasing him, and his kind, as Robert noted above, will only encourage more kidnappings and other atrocities that will forever scar future families.
Posted by: Lance at November 30, 2009 11:01 AM
Lance:
I understand the impulse to ransom Shalit. Unfortunately, this is positive reinforcement for terrorism.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 30, 2009 01:32 PM
Robert, I agree with everything you said. (and also Lance)
On a completely different tack, I was also thinking of the incredible pressure this will put on Gilad Shalit - maybe not the best analogy, but like some sort of giant "Saving Private Ryan" where Tom Hanks tells Tom Sizemore that Ryan better invent a longer lasting lightbulb or something.
Posted by: Mark at November 30, 2009 07:01 PM
"Israel and Judaism are built on a foundation of empathy and decency..And for the Arab Muslim terrorist and their western enablers this virtue is nothing less than a fatal weakness to be exploited again and again and again."
After 9/11, I was reminded of a passage in the musical Camelot:
When Guinivere is caught with Lancelot, she is tried for treason, according to the jury system King Arthur has established, and is sentenced to be burned at the stake. Arthur does not want this to happen, but he is caught in a fork gleefully described by Mordred:
"Kill the queen and your life is over. Kill the law and your life is a lie." (approximate quote)
A big part of the enemy strategy is clearly to put western societies and institutions in precisely this kind of fork. It is a strategy that has been greatly aided by western enablers, unwitting and othewise.
Posted by: david foster at November 30, 2009 08:49 PM
Robert:
The arguement over Gilad's release is by no means an easy issue.
I as you believe that his release will enhance terrorism and cause further deterioration in our security.
However, their are others who feel that his release no matter how difficult for us in the long run should take place.
My wife(a right wing Israeli) recently wrote a letter to Bibi Netanyahu stating her logic behind his release.
Please read her sincere letter and try to consider the opposing view.
(Letter sent to your email)
Posted by: Gregg at December 1, 2009 02:27 AM
In regard to Shalit, I wonder if Israel would say that each day that Shalit isn't released 100 of the worst terrorists in Israeli captivity will be executed, continuing until Israel gets Shalit back, and that Israel will start taking more terrorists and Hamas officials until Shalit is released.
Posted by: PCD at December 1, 2009 08:59 AM
Mark:
The only thing I expect from Gilad Shalit is that he endure the horror of his ordeal and live a normal life.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 1, 2009 10:08 AM
David:
I sat through the first three minutes of Camelot and then beat a hasty retreat.
Now, look at what I missed, true political wisdom.
That'll teach me.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 1, 2009 10:10 AM
Gregg:
I agree, it's not simple issue. But neither was Entebbe. I believe that there's been a fundamental shift in Israel's way of dealing with terrorists and these prisoner exchanges are the culmination of this thinking.
I'd very much like to read your wife's letter, but I never received it. Try again.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at December 1, 2009 10:12 AM
Robert...actually, I never actually *saw* Camelot, but think the music is fairly decent...can't remember where I ran across the quote.
Posted by: david foster at December 1, 2009 02:33 PM
I believe Entebbe may be key in understanding Prime Minister Netanyahu's willingness to release hundreds of murderers in exchange for Shalit. Had the Rabin government negotiated with terrorists, and the Entebbe rescue never taken place, Yoni Netanyahu would not have died then.
The prime minister has written that when he meets bereaved parents, he mourns for them as he has mourned for his own parents.
Thus, when Netanyahu meets Noam and Aviva Shalit, he nobly wants to end their suffering and prevent their son from having the fate of Ron Arad and other MIAs. Ultimately, however, Robert is absolutely right that doing so will assuredly result in the deaths of many more.
Posted by: Joe Schick at December 2, 2009 12:20 PM