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Neturei Karta

Question

I would be interested to know what you think of this video involving Neturei Karta?

Answer

The video you referenced disturbed me greatly. If you will allow me a moment, I am going to get on my soap box here:

I don’t have an issue with someone being pro or con the establishment of the State of Israel. As Americans we are taught to respect those who differ with us, as students of Torah we are taught the same thing. However, the issue I do have with these people is consorting with those who delight in killing Jews. For that I see no excuse, nor do I have anything but the greatest of contempt for such people. Feeling that there are religious reasons that there shouldn’t be a state before the coming of the Messiah, is not an excuse to encourage those who are sworn to kill Jews!

Additionally, if the reporter was correct that they seemed to acquiese with the Arab denial of the Holocaust, then their behavior is obscene. You can tell what sort of people they must be if they are willing to lower themselves like that in order to ingratiate themselves with an anti-semite.

That said I wish to assure you that these people represent no one but themselves, and, thank G-d, there are only a handful of them. Their attitudes and behavior are not indicative of the outlook of the overwhelimng majority of Orthodox and Hassidic Jews.

Follow-up question

Question

Hello. My question is: what is the official opinion of orthodox Jewish people about their “fellow Jews” of Neturei Karta; How can you tell a member of Neturei Karta from a normal orthodox Jew by visual appearance? Also I would like to know if the world wide (and in particular, American) Jewry does anything to educate people that Neturei Karta is not a representative of the Jewish people?

Answer

First off, there is no such thing as an “official” position of Orthodox Jews. There is no one governing body in existence which tells Orthodox Jews what to do. We need to look at the Torah and the teachings of the Sages and understand how to apply what they teach us to new situations.

I am not aware of any manner in which you can visually tell members of the Neturei Karta from other Chassidic Jews who dress similarly. It is their actions of certain of their members that are abhorrent, not their dress.

As far as education goes, many Orthodox groups have issued press releases and other statements disavowing any connection to the Neturei Karta fringe groups that associate with the Palestenians.

It is also important for you to know that even amongst those who are Neturei Karta there is not a uniform opinion, and many of them are aghast at the behavior of those who have consorted with muderers of Jews.