"You must not say that [the Iron Dome protects us]. Everything is actually miracles [and not science, not engineering, not the IDF]. 1,500 missiles fell [on Israel] and almost [none] hit [targets]! This is not normal – this is an open miracle! And where did the missiles [do the most damage?] Both cables of Gaza's electricity supply [which they hit by mistake]! Don’t you see the Divine providence? We need to talk about that and highlight it."
Believing The Iron Dome Missile Defense System Protects Israel Is Idol Worship, Haredi Rabbi Says
Shmarya Rosenberg • FailedMessiah.com
During a talk given to students in the Ohr Yisrael haredi yeshiva, mashgiach (dean of students) Rabbi Pinchas Goldwasser spoke about “miracles” that have occurred so far in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Goldwasser said the US-funded Iron Dome missile defense system that has shot down hundreds of incoming Hamas missiles should not be given credit for doing so, the Israeli haredi news website Kikar HaShabbat reported.
Instead, Goldwasser insisted, it was only “God’s kindness” that was protecting Israel.
"Today, idol worship, thank God, almost does not exist,” Goldwasser began.
But, he continued, relying on the rules of nature and seeing things through the lens of natural occurrences is itself a form of idolatry that is still very common. Thinking that the Iron Dome, its engineers, operators, IDF intelligence, “all those systems,” are protecting Israel is, Goldwasser asserted, “idol worship.”
"You must not say that [the Iron Dome protects us]. Everything is actually miracles [and not science, not engineering, not the IDF]. 1,500 missiles fell [on Israel] and almost [none] hit [targets]! This is not normal – this is an open miracle! And where did the missiles [do the most damage?] Both cables of Gaza's electricity supply [which they hit by mistake]! Don’t you see the Divine providence? We need to talk about that and highlight it,” Goldwasser insisted, adding that “…even those who rely on the blessing of [senior Ashkenazi haredi rabbinic leader] Rabbi Chaim [Kanievsky to remain safe] – that is like committing idolatry."
Everything is really from God, Goldwasser insisted, and only God should be credited.
The vast majority of haredim led by their rabbinic and political leaders refuse to serve in the IDF and have repeatedly rioted to try to stop the new draft of haredi yeshiva students into the Israeli military.
Thirty-one Israeli soldiers have been killed and many others wounded in the Gaza fighting. None of them appear to be haredi.
[Hat Tip: Marty Bluke.]