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Monday May 07, 2007
I don't feel obligated to take part in the wave of protests or demonstrations calling on Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to resign from the government. The serious portion of the protesters are the bereaved families that lost their loved ones in the Second Lebanon War. These are calls of hurt and pain bursting forth from the depths of the heart, and we must respect them and esteem them. Their cries and their mourning must dictate our pace. It is their unlimited right to protest and to criticize beyond normal behavioral boundaries. Only the expression, "You shall be comforted from the Heavens" would be appropriate. I don't understand the throngs of demonstrators that are taking the trouble to get on every stage to "explain" to the bereaved families that their sacrifices were in vain. That is a cruel exploitation of the families' grief, which was turned from the deep unification of their mourning to hatred and an uncontrolled struggle - to the point of throwing the blame for the murder of their loved ones on the prime minister. In this raging debate, it is very important to remember several undeniable truths. Firstly, no one voted for Ehud Olmert because of his knowledge of security or his understanding of war management. Therefore, the claim that Olmert didn't direct the war is surprising. Let's imagine what the public reaction would have been had Olmert actually run the war! Wouldn't everyone say, and justifiably, "Who put you in charge of the army? Why don't you leave this work to the security forces and the army who have been appointed to this job?" Was the expectation of Olmert that he would direct the fighting in Bint Jbeil, or that Olmert was meant to prevent the bombing of the orphanage, or to prevent the tragedy in Tel Hai? Regarding actually going out to war, wasn't there a general agreement among the government, the Knesset and the nation as a whole? What are you placing blame for? True, the defects mainly manifested in the lack of coordination between the fighting forces, their commanders and the higher echelon need to be fixed. When a prime minister is chosen, you are not electing a Superman who knows and understands every area as though he were a leader in his time. Therefore, the largest reform that needs to be taken, aside from the regular repairs, is whether a law should be enacted to establish that the declaration of war is not in the hands of one man. This kind of declaration should be examined by three people who agree and bring it before a political security cabinet, and only after that bring it before the government, who would make the final decision whether to declare war or not. Only this kind of process could prevent a hasty entry into war, with the hope that everyone will understand that this is the only way to deal with special situations.
1 | Ed Hausman, Monday May 07, 2007
Rabbi, thank you for suggestions. They are entirely in line with the Winograd findings that it is the system that needs work, and not every fallible Prime Minister alone who is to blame.
My heart aches for the mourners. Playing on their grief for partisan advantage is a disgrace.
2 | dov epstein, Monday May 07, 2007
No, no, no. This is so evenhanded, and non-chalantly objective that one would wonder is ANYone ever responsible for his gov't. No, this is UTJ's way of hoping to retain enough of a good face w/in the gov't that Cheder and Kollel subsidies won't be threatened. This gov't, as a matter of fact is run prety much like a Kollel. No wonder it's so blase. Men died( no, don't say it was Divine intervention--everything is that) because of an absolutely disorganized gov't. Olmert IS a crook, and a morally bankrupt scoundrel. Anybody with a half reading of Tanach and Gemorrah could glean samples and similarities of ancient admonitions and flaws that hurt the Jewish people. So, the Haredi parties don't want to play politics, and just want to assure the educational system it supports receives its share.The price has always been tacit or even overt support of the gov't. I wear a black kippa, and put my kids thru that system, and even that system has its cronies, nepotists, and favorite sons. You have to be a "known" entity to find favor even there. But this is a pathetic appeal to reason that is based on so much "reason" that it defies reason. With so much going for a man like Avraham Ravitsky, a true supporter of Torah, and Mitzvot, this unveiled support of Ehud Olmert, a man of shame, begs belief.
3 | H.H, Monday May 07, 2007
With all due respect, the fact that you cannot understand the protests does not make the protests invalid. Olmert was elected to be a PM. He selected an inexperienced defense minister that is his responsibility. Olmert made flip-flop decisions during the war; He is responsible for the failure. Any other honorable human being that "his hands are smeared with blood" Will resign. I am surprised that wise man like you can't comprehend H.H
4 | Iche Behr, Monday May 07, 2007
Article kind o' foolishly inaccurate. The Chief of staff was fired because he was not entusiastic about destroying Jewish towns and villages. The Army was trained over and over for a long time to uproot Jews from their homes..The new chief of staff was gang ho on Jewish expulsion from Gaza. The reserves were not called up. Permission was not given to the Army to attack Lebanon. These were strategic,political, ideological errors. Situation can improve only by getting rid of leftist ideologues, and placing Jewish patriots in charge.
5 | Eli Wapniarski, Monday May 07, 2007
Excuse me. But the PM of country has the responsibility as elected leader of the country to lead the country.
When the most powerful army in the region comes across a few thousand guerrillas and an army that is unwilling to fight and permits the unceasing barage of short and medium range missiles to rain down on its territory for more than a week killing civilians in a clear violation of the Geneva Conventions; without the militarily inexperienced PM saying hey something isn't working here, maybe we need to change direction and then demand that change then the PM bears the responsibility of poor judgment.
Experience or not in matters of military leadership it is responsibility of the PM to direct the right people to do the right job. He failed in that responsibility.
He and his cronies continue to allow terrorism to inflict damage and casualties upon our people our country and our nation with relative impunity.
The PM must direct the IDF to put down the rain of terror coming from Gaza. Brutally if need be. If we are living in peace, they will be living in peace and then maybe, there will be room for negotiations because the road to peace will have been cleared of the obstacles. Then the moderates will have been strengthened and given power. Then the killing on both sides will stop.
This PM has got to go. However a word of caution. The man most likely to replace him if elections were called is the man who began the process of weakening the IDF by removing needed shekels which in turn took away money from training which weakened the
6 | Daniel Tarlow, Monday May 07, 2007
Unfortunately you are white washing Ehud Olmert. The difference between a democracy and a military run government is that the PM and Defense minister are briefed by the army and then give orders based on their on 'moral, ethical' (political) ideology. All PM's know that they may be called upon to make such decisions concerning acts of war. In fact, this has been going on for years during the second intifada, Olmert has done this many times already. Sometimes he accepts the army's opinion, other times he instructs them to find other ways to achieve their goal. We see this even today with the army's response to kassam missiles from Gaza. So to say that he should not be held responsible for making the decisions he made is nonsense. Furthermore, when the government and nation followed him to war it was based on the presumption that he knew what he was doing, had a good plan to follow and would win. However it turned out that we were wrong and in this area he acted irresponsibly , a trait we see from him now as well by the fact that he has yet to resign. the PM is expected to know the way he wishes to lead the people, Ehud Olmert has lost his compass!!! And if you are excussing these grave and dangerous failings then so Rabbi Ravitz have you.
7 | Nathan Mayer, Monday May 07, 2007
Mr. Ravitz why don't you admit that your defence of Prime Minister Olmert is due to your selfish political interests (to do with a special bill in favour of your schools) and nothing else. Like many of the members of the Knesset yuor thoughts are only for your personal party benefits and not whats good for the country. Your arguements in favour of Mr. Olmert can hardly hold water. Instead of trying to achieve by democratic means equality for your schools you compromise by political gamesplay what you know is detrimental to Israel's security. According to you no one can be held responsible for the mismanagement of the second Lebanon war. Supporting a war which turns out to be a complete disaster does not mean that the goverment with its Prime Minister cannot be held responsible. The Winograd report makes it quite clear where the responsibility lies. It is not the Army that failed but those who led it in the wrong manner and that means the government and the Chief of Staff. You know the truth but stick to your selfish desires -- never mind whether Israel pays the price.
8 | Zalmi, Monday May 07, 2007
Is there nothing your party won't do for money?
9 | Evan, Monday May 07, 2007
I am rather impressed, Ravitz is a rather profound commentator. I had previously only known that he does back-room bargaining for the yeshiva world, but the man seems to be a serious thinker too.
10 | simple jew, Tuesday May 08, 2007
Rav Ravitz,
The only idea that makes sense to me in your view here is the last line "with the hope
..."
When you ran and won the role of public servant you accepted the responsibility of being a voice for the public, so I don't understand how you can say you don't see the need to speak out and your put-down of people who have the courage to publicly speak out is insulting. Democracy means being allowed to speak out, it is not a demonstration to fan hatred but to cry out in pain and for change!
I am sure people who voted for Olmert (not me, I voted for Bibi), voted for him expecting he understood how to run a government and understood war management, it seems incredibly naïve to expect otherwise.
Mr. Olmert might look good in a superman outfit, he's in pretty good shape, probably spends more time at the gym than worrying about me and you.
11 | Alan Taylor, Tuesday May 08, 2007
I hope it is not true what I hear that the Rav is making a deal with Olmert. If so you have lost credibility in my eyes and my vote. Distance yourself from the corrupt Kadima. Consult the Chachamin and follow their advice.
12 | Shmarya, Sunday May 13, 2007
While R Ravitz is correct that the exploitation of grief of the bereved is shameful. Most of it would not be happening had the Lebanon war been conducted by competant leaders.
The failure to equip, train, and lead the IDF lead to needless casualities.
I would remind everyone here that the greatest enemy of the jewish people is Sinat Hinam, (Ambient Hatred) so let us all make our best efforts to judge others (e.g R Ravitz's) motivations favorably.
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About this blog
Ravitz's Quiet Revolution
UTJ MK Rabbi Avraham Ravitz offers a glimpse of the arena from his own perspective.
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Recent Comments
Velvel silver spring:
Dear Rabbi, I recently read of rumors that you may join Olmert's government due to political concessions he would make regarding organ transplants, as well as a "gift" of additional millions of shekels for your Torah institutions, a gift which really amounts to a bribe, don't you think? I just want you to know, that regardless of what your smiling nodding Chareidi drones accept or don't accept from you, I am a Torah observant Jew and if you do that, you are selling out Israel and selling out Jews all over the world by taking this bribe. Hashem is supposed to provide our sustenance.
Adam:
You better learn to teach other Charedim to stand opposed soon because one day there won't be enough secular and traditional Israelis to aid the religious Zionists in the IDF to protect the lazy free-riding Jews in the Kollels. They may be broke, but at least they have Torah!
So now we have tons of impovrished Jews supported by donations and government money. Money which can go to better places to aid Klal Yisroel like kiruv, medical research and a LIVABLE WAGE for the small percentage of Jews who would be an asset for Yisroel to learn for a living.
Just as society benefits from the best and brightest teaching in universities and sharing their knowledge, Jewish society derives a similar benefit from the best and brightest learning in Yeshivas. Unfortunately, those that are actually that bright make up a tiny proportion of those who learn full time. It is a selfish act if one does not excel in learning Torah yet does so for a living. Those selfish Jews can be of better use to themselves, their families and Klal Yisroel with a job and to learn part time and build more Nahal Charedis.
Ravitz, you should be ashamed of yourself to suggest bringing the bane of Eretz Yisroel's existence even closer. They brought this on themselves and you want to bring them on us. I guess its easy for you to say something so suicidal as the majority of your supporters have no idea what it is like to pick up a gun and protect Jews.
Dan Friedman:
They say war is too important to be left to the generals. How much more so rabbis?
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