kvetch
Devout UK Hindu-Jew
To me there are 2 possible definitions of a Jewish State
1) AN ETHICALLY JEWISH STATE
The Talmud (Shabbos 31a) records a famous incident involving the Sages Hillel and Shammai.
A gentile approached Shammai and made the following request:
"Convert me to Judaism on the condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one leg."
Shammai did not approve of this request and chased the man away.
The gentile then approached Hillel with the same request.
Hillel responded that he would do so, and encapsulated the Torah into one statement:
What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbour.
A Jewish state based on THAT definition of Torah, I would whole heartedly support
As long as "neighbour" means ALL neighbours including Arabs and everyone and not just Jewish neighbours.
A "light unto all nations", indeed
2) AN ETHNICALLY JEWISH STATE
I deeply understand that for Israeli Jews to feel safe and secure in a troubled neighbourhood,
With all the past deep Jewish persecutions in Europe, and conflicts with the Arabs
Israell MUST have a permanent and large Jewish Majority.
For the forseeable future
Until there has been decades of true peace, at the very least.
That is a given
HOWEVER
This has all kinds of problems, unless it is based on the above ethical definition.
All non Jews are automatically and permanently 2nd class citizens, forever.
Harsh measures will and are being taken to preserve this Jewish Majority at all costs
Especially at the cost of true Jewish ethics
HOW CAN THIS DILEMMA BE RESOLVED?
HOW CAN ISRAEL BE BOTH ETHICALLY AND ETHNICALLY JEWISH
DISCUSS
SITTING ON ONE BUTTOCK ONLY
BUT NOT IN A HALF ASSED WAY
1) AN ETHICALLY JEWISH STATE
The Talmud (Shabbos 31a) records a famous incident involving the Sages Hillel and Shammai.
A gentile approached Shammai and made the following request:
"Convert me to Judaism on the condition that you teach me the entire Torah while I am standing on one leg."
Shammai did not approve of this request and chased the man away.
The gentile then approached Hillel with the same request.
Hillel responded that he would do so, and encapsulated the Torah into one statement:
What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbour.
A Jewish state based on THAT definition of Torah, I would whole heartedly support
As long as "neighbour" means ALL neighbours including Arabs and everyone and not just Jewish neighbours.
A "light unto all nations", indeed
2) AN ETHNICALLY JEWISH STATE
I deeply understand that for Israeli Jews to feel safe and secure in a troubled neighbourhood,
With all the past deep Jewish persecutions in Europe, and conflicts with the Arabs
Israell MUST have a permanent and large Jewish Majority.
For the forseeable future
Until there has been decades of true peace, at the very least.
That is a given
HOWEVER
This has all kinds of problems, unless it is based on the above ethical definition.
All non Jews are automatically and permanently 2nd class citizens, forever.
Harsh measures will and are being taken to preserve this Jewish Majority at all costs
Especially at the cost of true Jewish ethics
HOW CAN THIS DILEMMA BE RESOLVED?
HOW CAN ISRAEL BE BOTH ETHICALLY AND ETHNICALLY JEWISH
DISCUSS
SITTING ON ONE BUTTOCK ONLY
BUT NOT IN A HALF ASSED WAY
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