A RESPONSE FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE TABLE GAME CLUB OF THE CITY OF ARAD TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHASSIDEI GUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAWS OF THE TORAH

In Arad (Israel), as elsewhere, they like chess; many consider this game to fit the Jewish spirit. The city fathers, however, pay zero attention to chess and consider it not a sport, but rather something like dominoes or cards. Many years ago, chess players were expelled from the city Table Game Club and found themselves virtually on the street, having to play in the open, under street lamps, just about on bare ground. On more than one occasion, chess players appealed to the City Council asking for a place to play and hold competitions, at least a canopy over some tables and benches. The City Council repeatedly adopted positive resolutions to that effect at its meetings - as reflected, for example, in the minutes of its meeting of 13 November 2001, and other meetings – but all promises remained on paper only. It never bothered the authorities that failure to act on their own resolutions is contrary to the basic principles of a democracy. Such [indifferent] attitude was condoned by the mayor, the state comptroller and, in particular, by the deputy mayor for finance rabbi Kaminer, a virtual voice for the Chassidei Gur community - during his 20 years in the City Hall, he built quite a number of synagogues. During his run for the mayor’s office in Arad, rabbi Kaminer would boast in mass media that he had raised millions of dollars from different countries (as proof of that, we could present a copy of one such interview – miraculously preserved – in which he mentioned those millions). We have mentioned this fact for the sole reason of illustrating it for the Orthodox community that to carry out the City Hall resolutions on chess would be a mere trifle financially, in light of the many millions that rabbi Kaminer mentioned in that interview. This self-righteous advocate of the Orthodox … [1]

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE G-D DEFYING MEMBERS OF THE CHASSIDEI GUR COMMUNITY OF ARAD, AND ELSEWHERE, FROM TABLE GAME PLAYERS OF THE CITY OF ARAD

For many years, seniors who enjoyed playing chess and other table games in their well-deserved retirement, have experienced considerable inconvenience due to the lack of appropriate conditions. Finally, they were in luck. Eddie Beckford, a US citizen and great chess aficionado, came to reside in Arad. Having learned of the players’ problem, Mr. Beckford suggested that a city pavilion should be built for the purpose, and along with other players brought his proposal to the attention of the City Council. The proposal was to be realized with the help of friends from the USA, and with the participation of the City Council. The City Council quickly jumped on the bandwagon, but their promises never came to fruition. Then Eddie and his friends raised money on their own, rented a place and bought chess clocks, tables and chairs necessary for the purpose. Chess players sighed with relief, good life finally started for them with the launching of Eddie’s private table game club. No one in the history of Arad has done more for the amateur table game players than Eddie and his wife Laura. The response to that from the Orthodox community [openly published in the media] was outright libelous: [It was implied that] the seniors were without a clue and would be susceptible to conversion to Christianity at their tea and coffee parties. The results of that publication, however, were quite unexpected: to the Orthodox community’s horror the number of such “lost souls” almost doubled. Having lost initially, the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy reacted with aggression. On numerous occasions, Orthodox hooligans would break into Eddie’s club, damage the premises and the furniture, splash paint on the walls and doors, break windows, glue up the keyhole, trample upon sacred books, including Torah, or slash tires of Eddie’s car – in a word, wreaked total havoc. The pogrom methods employed by the members of the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy were truly criminal and provocative. On one occasion, upon breaking into the premises, an Orthodox initiated a fight in order to provoke defensive action on Eddie’s part. He started hitting Eddie, who had to respond in self-defense – which was the bandit’s intention all along. The police arrived, and they were not inclined to look into who was the instigator and the victims of the pogrom, or who started the fight and who had to defend himself. They expressed no interest whatsoever in the true nature of the matter and only looked for the signs of bodily damage asserted by the attacker. They did, in fact, find such signs and wrote up an incident report [blaming Eddie] who was [subsequently] placed under house arrest. The attacker was not charged.

The players had no other recourse, but to write a letter (copy attached) to the Religious Council of Arad. The religious authorities of the city, however, remained impervious to our letter. How is that for a position? The very fact that Chassidei Gur eshibotniks[2] may be on the loose unbeknownst to their chief rabbi is totally incomprehensible. Why doesn’t the rabbi reign in the pogromist thuggery of his subordinates? We sincerely hope that there are people [out there] who take G-d closely to heart and who will demand that the chief Chassidei Gur rabbi, Mordechai Volkovich, explain why he has taken no action and ignored our letter. We hereby request that the entire righteous Jewish world demand that [the rabbi] unambiguously account for it.

“Whoever can forbid his household [to commit a sin] but does not, is seized for [the sins of] his household; [if he can forbid] his fellow citizens, he is seized for [the sins of] his fellow citizens…” (Babylonian Talmud, Sabbath 54b)[3]. Never forget that “all Jews are responsible for each other” (Babylonian Talmud, Shevuot 39a)[4]. It is really horrible that Chassidei Gur hooligans claim to be instigating their pogroms in the name of G-d - they thus defy the Torah! If a Jew uses Judaism as an excuse for his inappropriate behavior, he is thus making G-d an accomplice in his crimes. Such behavior is known as Hillul Hashem, defying the name of G-d. This sin may not be forgiven. It is also a violation of the commandment not to “… use the name of Jehovah your G-d irreverently …” (Exodus, 20:7).[5]

Some time later, the table game club was set on fire, and almost all the books there burnt to ashes; there were a particularly large number of Judaica books among them. It aches our souls to even look at the burnt remnants of the holy Torah that has barely survived the fire. They never caught the arsonist, but the Chassidei Gur is definitely suspect. Their pogrom making was caught on camera and video, for everyone to see; this proof is available at [our] website, at www. …… [6]

What did all those pogroms lead to? Now the residents ask themselves: Is there such a thing as Bandit Judaism? How can a pious person have hoodlum hands? It’s a shame that after such incidents Jewish hearts – especially young Jewish hearts – may turn away from G-d. It is for everyone to see that through their pogrom making and banditry the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy came to resemble anti-Semitic goyim who have spilled a lot of Jewish blood. This Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy thus plays straight into the hands of anti-Semites.

The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy claims that the seniors playing [at the club] are in danger of having their souls molested by Eddie and converted to Christianity. This absurdity is a figment of a narrow-minded, pathological imagination based on incurable suspiciousness; those eshibotniks have blindly memorized the “guard thy soul” maxim but would not really know what to apply it to. Eddie came to Arad with a do-good mission and helped – is in fact still helping – many of the local needy. We, the members of the table game club, are sincerely grateful to Eddie for everything he has done for the club and for us. Eddie is indeed following the word of the scriptures, both Jewish and Christian. “Charity is equivalent to all the other religious precepts combined…” (Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 9a)[7]. The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy clearly fails to recognize a simple fact that people of different religions can in fact live as equals in the same country and help each other in their struggle for peace and against anti-Semitism. Do the rank and file of the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy even know that their rabbis, both senior and mid-level ones, including Chassidei Gur rabbis, accept messianic donations to support the yeshivas?

“The purpose of the laws of Torah … is to promote compassion, love, welfare and peace” (Mishnah Torah, Laws of Sabbath, 2:3). The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy is full of fear though: next to chess and Judaica books on the shelves of our club, there are Christian books too – all of which, by the way, are freely available in stores. G-d forbid a senior reads a Christian book, the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy feels, he would [immediately] discard his Jewishness and convert to Christianity. Does the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy even know that some [mixed] families include not only Jews and Arab Muslims, but Christians too? They all work, pay taxes, serve in the Israel Defense Forces. And if need be, they spill their blood and sacrifice their lives to protect us all from our mortal enemies. These people are fully entitled to pray their own way (religions are different, but G-d is One), celebrate their own holidays, read their own holy books … Therefore, the fact that Eddie Beckford makes Christian literature available does not violate Israel’s law. When will the eshibotniks finally grasp the essence of Judaism enough to realize that their relations with adherents of other religions should be based on civilized argument, and not on pogrom making and banditry? It wouldn’t hurt them to learn from the Talmud what vengeance may lead to. For example, Gittin 55b-56a provides a didactic example of how vengeance brought about the destruction of the Temple and the loss of the Jewish state. The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy and Chassidei Gur eshibotniks go against the Torah that teaches that peace among people is equal in importance to the creation of the Universe itself. “…the whole of the Law is also for the purpose of promoting peace …” (Babylonian Talmud, Gittin 59b).

The book of Isaiah provides a classic messianic picture [of how important it is] to have the world where “… all the nations will convert their weapons of war into implements of peace.” (Isaiah, 2:4). These are the words that anyone can now, 25 centuries later, read on the Wall of Isaiah, across the street from the UN building in New York City. “What is hateful to you, do not to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah … (Babylonian Talmud, Sabbath 31a). Gilel, the greatest classic of Judaism, declared that that he was willing to accept into Judaism any gentile who would accept the above principle. “…any man who murders shall be killed … “ (Genesis, 9:5,6).

The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy goes against many chapters of the Torah that instruct Jews to love the foreigner ([for example], Deuteronomy 6:5[8]).

Leviticus 19:33-34 says: “Do not take advantage of foreigners in your land, do not wrong them. They must be treated like any other citizen; love them as yourself, for remember that you too were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Jehovah your G-d.”

It is also said in Deuteronomy that G-d loves the foreigner. This law applies to foreigners living in Israel (or in dispersion) who want to live in peace with their Jewish friends; Eddie Beckford thus fully deserves Israeli citizenship, for all the good he has done, all his compassion and friendship towards the Israeli people. All of us members of the table game club, with no exceptions, stand ready to support Eddie’s application for Israeli citizenship. It is emphasized in the Torah that the commandment to love the foreigner contains true religion. Though the foreigner is not a member of the family, clan, religious community or the people, he needs to be protected for the simple reason that he is a human being. Many passages in Mishnah emphasize that a human being, created in the image of G-d and Adam, is as important as “an entire universe” (Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:5). If Adam died, the entire world would have died with him. Though Adam was not the first Jew (Abraham was), his life was precious, as any human life is, not just the life of a Jew.[9]

These words from Mishnah provide for a good remedy for racism. Indeed, if all people descended from one man (a gentile), than there may not be any superior or inferior races. G-d created all people different, and each of us created in G-d’s own image may be proud of his uniqueness. Everyone must understand (and especially Orthodox eshibotniks) that other people [around us] have also been created in G-d’s image, and thus their lives are utterly precious. The Chassidei Gur must know that their failure to respect other people (regardless of color, nationality or religion) contradicts the fact that each of us has been created in G-d’s own image; thus, disregard for others is not only sinful in the eyes of people, it is also sinful in the eyes of G-d (by others here we mean all the people whose hearts were disposed by G-d towards Israel).

It is unclear how members of the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy can truly believe in G-d if they are not fearful of G-d’s wrath for affronting such honest, decent folks as Eddie, Laura, and other benefactors like them. Thus, flyers distributed throughout [our] city actually name names. [In the flyers], last names of particular persons are printed with the following offensive warnings: Beware of him (her), he (she) is a missionary from the sect of Messianic Jews. G-d’s wrath is imminent for such insults. For the sake of the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy’s education, below we have provided some specific references to Judaic texts specifying [appropriate] punishments for such perpetrators: Shmuel (Samuel), 1:14; Midrash Breyshit, 24:7; Pirkei Avot, 3:1; Babylonian Talmud, Bava Metsia, 49a; Bava Metsia, 58b; Bava Batra, 164b, 165a; Gittin, 55b-56a. Will the members of the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy [ever] grasp [the meaning] of those commandments from the sacred Jewish texts? – That is the question! He who slanders another’s name, deserves death – that’s the gist of those commandments.

In view of the above, we would like to take this opportunity to explain it to the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy who Messianic Jews really are. Here is what the Concise Jewish Encyclopedia[10] has to say about them on page 302 of Volume 5:

“Messianic movement in Jewish history has been inspired by the hope for the advent of Messiah (Moshiach) and redemption. Belief in Messiah and passionate desire to bring his coming closer form an integral part of the Jewish (as well as Christian) religion and an [entirely] necessary element of Judaism. Anticipation of retributions to precede the advent of the Messiah (Hivley-Moshiach) is one of the keystones of the Messianic Jewish faith. Members of the Messianic Jewish movement preach monotheism (G-d is One), similar to [mainstream] Judaism. M. Buber, a prominent Jewish religious thinker who would become the first President of the Israeli Academy of Sciences, is known for reconciling active Jewish participation in the modern revolutionary liberation movement with the messianic traditions of the Jewry (Incidentally, M. Buber was recognized as one of the spiritual leaders of his generation who had considerable influence on other thinkers, both Jewish and Christian). Zionist movement and the creation of the State of Israel were, to a large extent, secularized manifestations of messianism. It is messianism that largely explains both the origins and the success of the Zionist idea. Even secular Zionism, including the labor movement, displays long-time messianic features: striving for national liberation and social justice and [the belief] in the final victory of good over evil. David Ben-Gurion recognized that merging socialism with Zionism could provide a way to realize messianic ideals of the ancient prophets of Israel, and believed that such a realization would make the State of Israel a “guiding light for the peoples”. These features of the messianic movement are intrinsic to Zionism. Zionist religious settlement movement considers population of different regions of Israel [by Jews] a process directly targeted at the fulfillment of messianic hopes. [However], some of the Zionists, both religious and secular, consider this position a profanation of messianic ideals. Throughout the entire Jewish history, the messianic movement served as a powerful stimulus to the historical activity of the people, inspiring heroic deeds and self-sacrifice”.

It is clear that the pathological suspiciousness displayed by the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy towards any foreigner, even a charitable one, is incurable. Wet-nosed eshibotniks who demonstrate around chess players, eager to catch them converting to Christianity, make for a truly repugnant sight. The demonstrators display signs warning seniors of the [alleged] dangers awaiting them; some of the marchers scream out that the Christian faith is piercing the minds of seniors and is thus bringing about the end to everything. These healthy youngsters who have never earned a penny in their lives [feel that they could] teach us, life-weary elders who have had productive careers and brought up industrious children, how we should live. At the same time, these youngsters continue their hoodlum escapades, in complete disregard of the teachings of the Torah saying that not only can a cruel person not be a pious Jew, he cannot be a Jew at all. Torah also underscores the sacred right of any man to choose his own way of life and conduct: “Choose your own life …” (Dvarim (Deuteronomy), 30:15-19)[11]. A person must conduct himself in accordance with his beliefs. Rambam[12] wrote: “man himself, at his own free will, would gravitate towards the desired way. This principle is vitally important and forms the centerpiece of the Torah. All man’s actions are in the hands of man himself” (Rambam, Yesod haTorah, Chapter V).

It is underscored in the Talmud that freedom of consciousness is the primary human right. Contrary to this, the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy aims to deprive us of the right to think, argue, learn and explore [freely], and not according to their narrow, fanatical standards.

In this regard, [allegedly] concerned about our souls, the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy launched its own ‘club” – to show off its “benevolence”, [but rather] to countermand Eddie’s club. We have put the word “club” here in quotation marks, since this “gift” from them to us is nothing more than an unkempt, abandoned basement with little ventilation, no windows – not even a bathroom! Mere entering this basement posed a problem for seniors. The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy has spent many months trying to convince us to come play our table games in this basement. Our refusal to come play our table games in this basement was countered by the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy in the following fashion: “Though you will be playing in unsuitable basement conditions, with no bathroom and no sufficient air, you will avoid a great sin, you will save your souls and avoid conversion to Christianity. It is now clear why not a single person has chosen to go play in this basement. [One may ask] where the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy was for the past 20 years, when its interests were represented in the City Hall by the First Deputy Mayor for Finance (who also enjoyed full authority in the Mayor’s absence). [This gentleman] headed all the main committees that had to do with funding; it largely depended upon him where to channel funds. It was with [Rabbi] Kaminer’s help that new yeshivas were built and new neighborhoods populated with the members of the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy. During his run for the Mayor’s office, Kaminer bragged in his campaign materials[13] that he had been raising 220 thousand shekels annually for the Arad Sports Society [alone] (not a single shekel went to chess though, that sport was boycotted). He would also list [other] amounts donated by Jewish communities from different countries: 4,400 thousand shekels here, 1,500 thousand there, 600 thousand yet again … According to Kaminer, all this money went to finance city needs. In a campaign interview given to Atsvi newspaper (No. 217), Kaminer stated the following: “I can announce that to date I have raised $25 thousand for the needs of the sports society in our city, and these funds will be transferred to its account one of these days”. Once again, the game of chess was ignored[14], even though funds required were relatively small. Incidentally, we have copies of both the abovementioned newspaper interview and the campaign materials in our possession as proof [that we can submit] to the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy that has condescendingly afforded us a measly basement while in possession of such substantial funds raised by Kaminer. On more than one occasion, the City Council resolved at its meetings to provide assistance to the chess players. As an example, we can refer the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy to the resolution of 13 November 2001, which once again approved financial assistance to the chess players; however, Kaminer as representative of the Chassidei Gur, and Kh. Dantsiger, chief of the sports section, [jointly] blocked the said resolution of the City Council from being carried out. At that time, it would pose no burden for Kaminer to insure that the binding resolution be carried out. What kind of a City Council resolution is it anyway, that stays on paper? Now let us consider the blatant lie told by pious Rabbi Kaminer the day before the mayoral election, namely, that the chess players could collect 10 thousand shekels appropriated to them from the said Mr. Dantsiger at the City Hall. The day after the election (Kaminer lost his mayoral bid) I. Slepoy, Chairman of the Community Council of the chess club, showed up to collect the said funds, but Mr. Dantsiger claimed that [Kaminer’s statements] had been a scam and not a shekel had in fact been appropriated to the chess players. Isn’t it time that this rabbi who represented the Chassidei Gur back then, learned something that children learn in day care: An unjust person is worse than a beast (Jewish Law)?

There are witnesses who can corroborate this incident. We are describing all this for the attention of the Chassidei Gur that claims to have a conscience. It is time [for them] to learn that all the teachings of the Torah are permeated with the spirit of the following commandment: “Justice must prevail” (Dvarim (Deuteronomy), 16:20).[15] It is time for the entire Chassidei Gur to appreciate the following warning: “Know what is above you: an eye that sees and an ear that hears…” (Pirkei Avos, 2:1)[16]. It is unclear why a virtual army of Chassidei Gur members sit idle, rather than promote the Jewish scriptures, clarify and strengthen the basics of faith and Judaism among the people. Instead, they run scared of just one person, Eddie, a person of honor and compassion – for the purpose of which religion and nationality are immaterial.

The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy knows it all too well that the seniors are just playing their table games, the word “religion’ is hardly ever mentioned among them. However, the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy is in awe: the table game players may learn that Eddie is a kind person, and spread the news of his compassion among the population and the needy. [Or worse yet,] that Christians are full of humanism – that’s what the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy sees as a grave danger! They would never appreciate it that the people of Israel, and prominent Orthodox rabbis among them, have gratefully accepted messianic charity from the people of other countries – and preserved their worldview and their faith intact. The Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy just wouldn’t abandon [the absurd notion] that messianic help leads to the loss of soul. What about their own souls? The Chassidei Gur community of Arad means absolutely nothing in the life [of the city], they produce neither material nor spiritual goods, they live at taxpayer expense, at our joint expense that is, and thus [only] place a burden on the society and the state. By the way, though unwilling to recognize the state, the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy nonetheless [gladly] accepts its keep from it. [Just imagine] what the Arabs would do with the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy if not for the state! “…the law of the State is law” (Babylonian Talmud, Baba Kamma, 113a)[17].

All the sages of the Torah underscored the necessity to combine the studies of the Torah with productive work and thus demonstrate the holiness and greatness of this eternal Book of ours. A great sage and classic of Judaism[18] [once] wrote: “ … good is Torah study together with a worldly occupation, for the exertion in both makes one forget sin”. He continued further: “All Torah study without work will result in waste and will cause sinfulness” (Pirkei Avos, 2:2)[19].

Rambam, a prominent classic of Judaism, wrote in his Mishnah Torah: “He who undertakes the studies of Torah at the expense of work, and lives by alms, will thereby desecrate the name of G-d, shame the Torah, dim the light of the religion, harm himself and deprive himself of future life, since it is forbidden to derive worldly goods from the words of the Torah”. And then further: “Torah may not be a profession. The very idea that Torah is a trade spells ignorance”. According to [the teachings of] Judaism, those parents are wrong who only teach Torah to their children, and do not prepare them for an adult life with its necessity to earn one’s daily bread. It is said in the Talmud: “It is the father’s duty to teach a trade or a profession to his son or daughter, otherwise they will be learning thievery since in the future they will have to make their living in an unlawful manner” (Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 29a)[20].

Orthodox eshibotniks from the Chassidei Gur community in Arad fail to observe those commandments of Judaism, and they also distort the commandment to love Israel – since you cannot love Israel and refuse to defend it [at the same time]. In this way, they defy the teachings of Torah scholars and bring upon themselves the contempt on the part of millions of Israeli citizens.

“There are three people who the Holy One hates: One who speaks one way with his mouth and another with his heart” (Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim, 113b)[21].

If the Chassidei Gur Orthodoxy ever comes to contemplate the reasons why the Second Temple has been destroyed, they will surely realize the necessity of maintaining good relations between people of different religions and nationalities and of putting a stop to groundless enmity and hatred.

While discussing relations between Jews and Christians, we cannot emphasize the past, when the Christian Church was spilling Jewish blood. These days the attitude of the Church towards Jews radically changed, aggression and intolerance having been replaced with affection and understanding. Christian anti-Semitism is increasingly considered sinful. With this in mind, we should really look into the future, not the past. When kind people do you good, it would be very stupid to say, “Hey, remember how much wrong your ancestors did by us?” A similar idea is expressed in Mishnah, in Baba Metsia, 4:10.

Good must be reciprocated, not countered with rebukes, we should not concentrate on what has separated us in the past, but rather on what unites us [today]. Both Jews and Christians share common roots and boundlessly rich spiritual heritage that must unite Jews and Christians. In the Christian tradition, Eretz-Israel is also known as the Holy Land. Dialog based on trust must be encouraged, since it is the only way to reach a coordinated interpretation of controversial historical questions. [To that end], mutual respect is crucial, and efforts must be directed at the joint promotion of peace among the peoples, struggle against anti-Semitism and for the sanctity of life. At that, no adherent of a particular religion shall denigrate and insult the faith of others. Many Christians in the world sympathize with Jews and understand their plight. Today, the movement of Christian Zionism operates in over 100 countries. They call themselves Biblical Christians, and many of them are in permanent contact with the Christian embassy established in Israel. Many of those Christian communities donate large amounts [to Israel], in particular, those located in the USA, Canada, South Africa, Japan, Australia and other countries. Special distribution centers have been created in Israel for that purpose, Christian Friends of Israel, and Bridges for Peace. In the USA, a civic organization called Christian Coalition often holds rallies in support of Israel. In addition to Christians who [merely] like Jews, there are some 10 million Christian Zionists in the world, and many of those stand ready to serve in the Israeli Army. For over 20 years, Christian Zionists have been coming to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot and to pray for the integrity of Israel and Jerusalem and for Jewish victory. In Israel itself, there are over 142 thousand Christian residents today, some of them Arab and Armenian. Over 20% of those Israeli Christians are members of Jewish families. Many Christians support Jews and stand ready to defend them.

Judaic classics, such as Rambam, Yehuda HaLevy and others, expressed the following opinion on Christianity: “Christians who recognize the divine nature of the Bible, serve as agents of Providence whose purpose it is to gradually bring gentiles closer to the true religion”. Christianity and Judaism have always shared a certain mutual interest towards each other. Prominent [Jewish] religious thinkers, such as Rambam, Ibn Gabriel, and in modern times Martin Buber, have exerted a profound influence on Christian theologians and Bible scholars; at the same time, Christianity had an effect on Judaism, both direct and indirect. At the present time, [many] leading Christian clergymen admit that the Jewish people are [quite] close to the Christian faith, Jewish and Christian laws in the scriptures are alike and, as set forth by both Jewish and Christian prophets, the Ten Commandments of Moses are to be observed by both Jews and Christians. It is the Christians who want to live in peace and harmony with the Jews, so there must be no misunderstanding, hate or enmity between us. This is how Christian leaders explain the change of attitude towards Jews on the part of the Church: Not only may a true Christian not be an anti-Semite, he may not oppose Zionism either. True Christians shall not only appreciate the existence of Jewish roots in their religion, but they shall also recognize the manifestation of the Jewish heritage in it. This shall include not only the acceptance of the Jewishness of Christ, but also the recognition of the original Church.

While dealing with different religions, everyone must adopt an [active] civic position to the effect that the preservation of inner piece and harmony requires a freedom of conscience. [We] must not forget that the humanity has had a sad experience with religious wars, “holy wars” (inquisition, etc.) that tried to enforce the truthfulness of a faith through coercion. The historic evidence on such attempts is unambiguous: violence is powerless here. Rivers of blood spilled [over the issue] have only led – finally! - to the formulation of the following principle: no one can be coerced into a faith, any [religious] community must be a strictly voluntary association of the faithful, and any acts of worship must be contained within the community. In this respect, adherents of any religion or none at all shall enjoy the same right to public expression of their beliefs, and no single group may infringe on the rights of others. Judaism is guided by one and only law, law of the freedom of conscience.

In a modern society, with its close interaction between representatives of different worldviews and traditions, tolerance for the opinions and beliefs of others must become the only universal moral law.

Judaism postulates that any monotheist religion that bears no ill will towards Israel, in particular Christianity, shall enjoy a normal dialog with Judaism, dialog based on mutual respect and good faith. This is how the [truly] faithful of any monotheist religion shall conduct themselves. This would also be humane [in a general sense], all the more so since Israel appreciates the good being done by the Christians. Evangelical Christians and adherents of other confessions pray for Israel and support it financially.

What concerns the Chassidei Gur community of Arad, they must primarily look to themselves in order to rectify the situation; it is always easier to do harm than to develop normal relations. A few good words said to each other would go a long way here. It is kindness that should be the reality of our world, and the appreciation of the fact that people around us are all different, and one should be affable and amicable with them.

To further the discussion of the Chassidei Gur community in Arad, they should really do a great mitzvah and repent as the Jewish scriptures prescribe: “Perform an ablution, purify yourself, cast those evil deeds of yours away from my Eyes, stop doing Evil! Learn to do good, seek the truth … “(Shemot-Exodus)[22]. Nor [should they] ever forget that the Lord has chosen the Jews to play a unique role in the history of the world and to serve as a guiding light for all other nations. The intention is not to make the entire world Jewish, but rather to help the people of the Earth, regardless of their nationality and beliefs, accept the One G-d and the basic values given by the Creator, in order to bestow [His] blessing upon “the entire world” (Breyshit – Genesis, 12:3).

All of that will become clear when the entire world becomes perfect in the power of the Lord, and the entire humanity calls upon His name, as we do so in our Aleinu prayer. Do not forget that all of the 613 precepts may be distilled down to one: “Let the righteous live according to their own faith” (Babylonian Talmud, Makkot, 23b-24a)[23]

This letter is hereby addressed to all the people who are faithful to our One G-d, and to messianic organizations that spread the goodwill and the will of G-d as it applies to charity, so that as many decent folks as possible could read this letter [and make] the Chassidei Gur repent their great sins in the eyes of the Creator. We are also addressing this letter to the people of authority who may be in a position to exert influence on the Chassidei Gur community in Arad, and on the police, so that all the ignominy in Arad described above would stop.

We have no doubt that the Lord will give Eddie and his wife Laura their due, as well as to all the other people of benevolence. G-d bless them all!

As instructed by, and on behalf of all table game players [attending] the club [maintained] by Eddie Beckford, a citizen of the USA.

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE G-D DEFYING MEMBERS OF THE CHASSIDEI GUR COMMUNITY OF ARAD, AND ELSEWHERE, FROM TABLE GAME PLAYERS OF THE CITY OF ARAD

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[1] The above appears to be an alternative first page of the original letter that is not a part of the subsequent narrative – Translator’s Note.

[2] Yeshiva students – Translator’s Note.

[3] Translation of this quote has been adopted from Soncino Babylonian Talmud Translated Into English With Notes, Glossary And Indices Under The Editorship Of Rabbi Dr. I. EPSTEIN B.A., Ph.D., D. Lit.

and is available at http://www.come-and-hear.com/shabbath/shabbath_54.html#PARTb - Translator’s Note.

[4] Translation of this quote could not be verified through existing sources available online and has thus been made by the translator himself – Translator’s Note.

[5] Translation of this and all other quotes from the Old Testament have been adopted from The Living Bible Paraphrased, A Thought-for-Thought Translation, Compact Edition, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, April, 1985 – Translator’s Note.

[6] The web address is missing in the original – Translator’s Note.

[7] Translation of this and other quotes from Babylonian Talmud and parts thereof, unless specified otherwise, have been adopted from BABYLONIAN TALMUD, Book 1 (Vols. I and II), 1903, translated by MICHAEL L. RODKINSON, available at http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/t01 – Translator’s Note.

[8] Deuteronomy 6:5 actually dwells upon the necessity to love the Lord your G-d, not the foreigner. – Translator’s Note.

[9] Placement of quotation marks and source references in this paragraph has been changed from the original in order to correctly reflect the text of Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5 – Translator’s Note.

[10] The original does not provide an exact reference to this source – Translator’s Note.

[11] The verbatim reading of this source would be “…I have set before you life and death …”, and the text referred to can only be loosely interpreted as supportive of the concept of free will – Translator’s Note.

[12] Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, aka Maimonides – Translator’s Note.

[13] The original literally says “campaign sheet” – Translator’s Note.

[14] The original literally says “boycotted” – Translator’s Note.

[15] The verbatim translation of this quote in the original would be as follows: “Seek the truth, fight for the truth. Seek the truth, the truth” – Translator’s Note.

[16] Translation of this quote was adopted from www.torah.org and may be found at http://www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter2-1a.html - Translator’s Note.

[17] Translation of this quote was adopted from BABA KAMMA, TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH
WITH NOTES, GLOSSARY AND INDICES, BY E. W. KIRZNER, M.A., Ph.D., M.Sc.

UNDER THE EDITORSHIP OF RABBI Dr. I. EPSTEIN, B.A., Ph.D., D. Lit., available at http://www.come-and-hear.com/babakamma/babakamma_113.html - Translator’s Note.

[18] Rabban Gamliel the son of Rabbi Yehuda the Prince – Translator’s Note.

[19] Translation of this quote was adopted from www.torah.org and may be found at http://www.torah.org/learning/pirkei-avos/chapter2-2a.html - Translator’s Note.

[20] Translation of the quotes in the above paragraph could not be verified through available online sources and have thus been provided by the translator himself – Translator’s Note.

[21] Translation of this quote was adopted from www.hilel.org and may be found at http://www.hillel.org/jewish/textstudies/emulate/anger.htm - Translator’s Note.

[22] Translation of this quote could not be verified due to the lack of proper reference in the original and has thus been performed by the translator himself – Translator’s Note.

[23] Translation of this quote could not be verified through publicly available online sources and has thus been performed by the translator himself – Translator’s Note.