PROTEST IN AGAINST MILITARY SERVICE
FOR YESHIVA STUDENTS
MONSEY, NY
october 23, 2004
Saturday evening, October
23, 2004, a large demonstration was held
in Monsey, NY to condemn the recent decision
by Rabbi Steinman allowing certain Orthodox
Yeshiva Students to serve in a division
of the Israeli Army. The protest was organized
to coincide with his recent visit from “Israel”.
This ruling has inflamed passions across
the Orthodox Jewish spectrum generating
harsh criticism that has attacked the decision’s
complete contradiction to fundamental Torah
law.
Contrary to the perception of many non-Jews
and even many secular and semi-practicing
Jews, the State of “Israel”
and the Zionist movement are actually considered
the antithesis of Jewish beliefs. Proponents
of Zionism have been engaged in a long futile
struggle to find ways to legitimize their
beliefs to traditional Judaism since the
movement was first conceived at the end
of the19th century. Zionism is regarded
within traditional Orthodox Jewry as being
completely contrary to the Torah and to
how it has been practiced for thousands
of years.
Protesters sang Anti-Zionists songs and
held signs denouncing Rabbi Steinman’s
ruling along with the State of “Israel”.
The demonstration drew a crowd in the thousands
as reported at http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/102504/b0125riot.html.
Orthodox leaders involved with the protest
have stated emphatically that Jews have
an obligation to speak out against this
matter as well as Zionism in general.
It is expected that Rabbi Steinman will
encounter further heated protests by the
Orthodox community during his visit to the
United States.