Hundreds of thousands of Jews live in Yehudah v'Shomron, and the overwhelming majority are law-abiding people who simply want to build their lives in the Land of Israel. But a small minority have engaged in acts of violence against innocent Palestinians, including attacks on olive harvesters, destruction of property, and random violence. And while the perpetrators may be relatively few, the silence of too many religious and communal leaders in the face of these actions raises troubling questions about moral responsibility, religious leadership, and the values we claim to uphold.
What does the Torah demand of Jews who believe that this land is rightfully ours? What happens when rabbis appear to provide halachic justification for robbery, or when religious leaders hesitate to condemn the perpetrators? And does speaking publicly about these incidents undermine the settlement movement, or is silence ultimately more dangerous?
Rabbi David Stav, chairman of Tzohar and a leading Religious Zionist rabbi, joins me for a candid and challenging conversation about Jewish violence in Yehudah v'Shomron, the responsibilities that come with Jewish power, and the moral obligations of those who believe deeply in the Jewish right to the Land of Israel.
Rav Stav is an unapologetic supporter of Jewish settlement in Yehudah v'Shomron. But he makes a striking argument: precisely because he believes that God gave us this land, he believes that our continued presence here depends upon our moral behavior toward those who live alongside us.
It's a conversation about Religious Zionism, the moral demands of the Torah, the responsibilities of rabbinic leadership, and what it truly means to deserve the Land of Israel.
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Music: "Happy Rock" by bensound.com
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