Annals of Halakha: Rabbi Rules Settlers Can Use Phone On Shabbat To Stop Evacuation Of Outposts

"If one sees a movement of troops on Shabbat and there is a possibility that those troops are on their way to destroy outposts, one can use the phone, on Shabbat, to report about it…"

Rabbi Dov Lior: Phones may be used on Shabbat to stop IDF evacuations
ELAN MILLER , THE JERUSALEM POST

Kiryat Arba Chief Rabbi Dov Lior has given permission to the residents of West Bank settlements to use their phones on Shabbat to report "suspicious IDF movements," according to settlement activists.

A message being circulated by Efrat-Gush Etzion-Kiryat Arba Hevron Action Committees warned settlers to remain vigilant, stating: "In light of the threat of destruction of outposts, the public is asked to stay alert and report any suspicious movement of troops."

The message continued, "If one sees a movement of troops on Shabbat and there is a possibility that those troops are on their way to destroy outposts, one can use the phone, on Shabbat, to report about it to the known activists of the area and they will check what is going on and give instructions to the public accordingly."

Nadia Matar, a representative of the Efrat-Gush Etzion-Kiryat Arba Hevron Action Committees explained on Sunday that following Defense Minister Ehud Barak's recent meeting with US Middle East envoy George Mitchell, settlers fear the IDF may dismantle settlement outposts at any moment.

Matar noted that six or seven Caterpillar D9 armored bulldozers have been taken to a military base near Alon Shvut, in Gush Etzion, and made clear that settlers are on "high alert" as they fear that these vehicles will be used to dismantle "20-or-so outposts" in the vicinity in the not-too-distant future.

One of the country's most prominent Zionist rabbis, Lior is no stranger to controversy. During 2005's disengagement from the Gaza Strip, Lior called on all his former students to defy their commanders and refuse to take part in the "expulsion" of Jews. Earlier this year, he also said in an interview that it is forbidden for Jews to hire or rent property in Israel to Arabs.

I would suspect Rabbi Lior's logic runs as follows:

1. Settling the Land of Israel takes precedence over other Jewish laws and values, including saving life. (Lior and other settler rabbis reject halakhic rulings by Rav Schach and other haredi rabbinic leaders that allow giving up parts of the Land of Israel in order to save lives.)

2. Shabbat (the Sabbath) should be broken to save life.

3. Since settling the Land of Israel is more important than saving life, therefore Shabbat – which is to be broken to save life – can and should be broken in order to further settlement of the Land of Israel or to prevent giving up any part of the Land of Israel to non-Jews.

I do not agree with what appears to be Rabbi Lior's logic, in part because I believe it eventually may lead to murder of Israeli soldiers carried out by Liior's followers, and eventual martyrdom of Lior's followers patterned after the Masada myth.

If, however, Rabbi Lior is ruling based on telephone use being intrinsically permitted on Shabbat, although banned by custom – which is my understanding of the status of telephone use on Shabbat– my only disagreement would be Rabbi Lior's attachment to outposts located deep in Arab areas, and his refusal to agree to negotiations based on land for peace. In other words, I would still object to his politics.

Comments

[Yosef ben Matitya]

this 'rabbi' lior, is a rabbi dmc (de mi culo). his religion is not judaism.

[Ben]

He is right about permissibility of phone use though. There is nothing in the modern phone that produces sparks, which was the reason to ban original phones. The times have changed and the rabbis, as ususal, are behind the times. The mantra is: We will not change any ruling done by earlier authorities even if this ruling was driven by factors not existing today. The customs of Israel should not be changed!

Hopefully rav Lior expands his ruling to any use of modern phones on Shabbat. In this case I'll become his follower and will begin to use phone on Shabbat.

[SJ]

The conservative judaism movment reserves the right to use cars on shabbat if they really really need it to get to synagogue.

The settler movement is starting to look like the conservative movement because the settler movement is now appearing to dismiss shabbat halachas based on perceived necessity.

[Reb Doniel]

He is a Lubavitcher. Likewise, the Rebbe said that based on Orach Chaim 329:6, the IDF has full power to be mechalel shabbos in order to save an ir from destruction. The SA says that this in case goyim come to attack. Ramah adds that even if the goyim haven't mounted their attack yet, we have the ability to wage war against them in order to save ourselves.

I have never before seen a halacha which discusses attacking goyim applied to the IDF, although I am sure this is the lomdus which Rav Lior applied here.

Chabad seems to have aligned themselves with an odd ultra-nationalist brand of Religious Zionism, even though they don't officially agree with Zionism, probably due to Reb Sholom Dov's opposition. To me, it seems as if they are aligned with the RZ sector in Israel rather than the UTJ/Charedi/Yeshivish sector all due to politics. The Yeshiva crowd doesn't like them, so they go and support the National Union. Go figure.

[justayid]

"The conservative judaism movment reserves the right to use cars on shabbat if they really really need it to get to synagogue"

Sigh. Once again. That was, IIUC, a minority opion, justified based on an "emergency". I think many C folks today would prefer the Chabad approach of "don't ask, don't tell" It would mean the Rabbi would announce during YK services that a white mercedes has its lights on in the parking lot, but I could do without that anyway.

[justayid]

Also - IIUC there is a C rabbi in NYC who has said the driving leniency does not apply in NY, as you are never outside of walking distance of a shul in NYC.

[Elan Miller]

Hi, as the person who wrote the articlein question I feel that I might be in place to comment.

I disagree with your assumption of Rav Lior's logic: I can't imagine that he, or any other Zionist Rabbi, believes settling the land of Israel to be more important than other biblical commandments. His deduction is based on the fact that the settlements form an additional line of defence. As such, settlers consider these settlements and outposts as playing a vital role in keeping Israelis further away from the West Bank safe.

I agree with you in that I think that Rav Lior's ruling is beyond crazy, but I believe that you misunderstand his logical process.

[ah-pee-chorus]

so one may violate one of the most important things in judaism, shabbos, to aid in defending illegal outposts, but no legal loophole ala shtar mechira or pruzbool can be devised to save the lives of agunot. sounds like self preservation is the real god.

[MisterApikoros]

Justayid:

It wouldn't be my Mercedes. I drive a BMW.

[nobody]

By your invented logic behind Rabbi Dov Lior's ruling, you show you are ignorant of the issues and Jewish law. Rav Lior does not just pasken out of vague abstract logical inferences that are solely based on politics. But you apparently do.

[nobody]

"so one may violate one of the most important things in judaism, shabbos, to aid in defending illegal outposts, but no legal loophole ala shtar mechira or pruzbool can be devised to save the lives of agunot. "

Interesting question, but do you know what Rabbi Dov Lior's position is on that issue? Or did you just assume what you want it to be and then argue against that? I am curious to know his opinion on that issue as well.