After recent Sefardic Chief Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef ruled to release terrorists in exchange for the hostages, Lubavitch author and Shleimus Haaretz activist Rabbi Shalom Ber Volpo, issued a ruling decrying releasing murderers with blood on their hands and reminds everyone of his prediction 14 years ago.
By Anash.org reporter
Following the recent talks of a hostage deal, and the implication by Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef that one may free terrorists to get the hostages back, Rabbi Shalom Ber Volpo, a Lubavitcher talmid chochom and mechaber seforim who has been active in Shleimus Haaretz, wrote a public letter attacking it.
In the letter, sent to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and other ministers, he states unequivocally that any deal that releases murderers with blood on their hands, as well as the withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor which puts Jewish lives at risk, is forbidden. Rabbi Volpo references his warning on the eve of the Shalit deal in which Sinwar was released from prison and led to the Simchas Torah massacre RL.
The recent hostage deal on the table demanded an obscene amount of terrorist prisoners per hostage. Moreover, the deal does not specifically clarify the living status of the hostages being released and includes bodies.
The second most important demand Hamas is asking for is full control of the Philadelphi Corridor, which is the border between Gaza and Egypt and has been the main source of weapon supplies for Hamas for the past many years.
The families of hostages who are under tremendous duress for almost a year now, knowing that their loved ones are suffering horribly in the hands of cruel savages, are pressuring the government to do everything in their power to release the hostages, no matter the price. The organizations supporting the hostage families have put together massive protests to demand an immediate cease-fire deal and return of the hostages.
In support, former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, has come out with a halachic ruling that although releasing terrorist prisoners endangers Yidden in the future- as was seen on a macro scale with Hamas leader Yahwa Sinwar who planned and executed the barbaric Simchas Torah attacks- it is still incumbent upon the Israeli political leaders to immediately agree to a hostage deal, no matter what, because it is an urgent and current issue of pikuach nefesh.
“This is a current life-saving imperative, it’s Pikuach Nefesh,” he said. “If you don’t release them, Hamas will kill the hostages now. If you release terrorists with blood on their hands, they might go and kill us in the future- but that’s not immediate. The hostages are immediate; there are negotiations.”
Following this response, Rabbi Volpo released his own halachic ruling stating that accepting the current deal on the table would be blatantly against halacha, that any deal that would endanger Yidden and allow for more murders in the near future, is absolutely not allowed, for how can we say that the life of a hostage is more important than the life of another Yid?
“There is no wiser teacher than experience, and experience has shown, without any doubt, that every time terrorists are released, all those released have returned to murdering Yidden. So, how can one claim that the blood of the Yid freed in the deal is redder than the blood of those who will be murdered in the future as a result of this release?!” he protests.
He adds that every minister in the Knesset who supports a deal that involves the release of captives will have to account for the murders that result from this deal. He included a copy of the telegram he sent to Rabbi Yosef’s father, Sephardi Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef AH, decrying the Shalit deal in 5770.
Completely agree! Exchanging hundreds of live murderers for probably a majority of murdered hostages is total madness!
Can more Rabbonim please pasken like HaRav Volpo? It has koach. And especially for Moshiach now. In terms of hostages being healthy and released/rescued: The Rebbe reminds us: Simple yidden can make a huge difference with Torah, tefilla, tzeddukah, teshuva outreach, chassidus TEHILLIM, acts of goodness and kindness… even small things make a big difference.
The reason is clear. Although you can do ruchniyus things, that only is to help peulos gashmiois. They cannot be used as a way replace actual pikuach nefesh now. It’s a chutzpah he attacks the chief rabbi, without actually responding to the main point. Pikuach nefesh now is different then a FUTURE such matzav, and you can’t just be someich Al haneis
Having the title chief Rabbi, doesn’t mean that no other Rov could disagree with him. Especially if he could be Paskening to allow a very dangerous deal, based on political pressure. Though maybe Rabbi Volpo should respond more specifically with the future vs. present discussion.
It’s not a chutzpah, this is a legitimate and very important Halachic debate.
They are not the first to discuss it. Rabbi Volpo is great Talmid Chochom and has been involved in this topic for many decades. He wrote a sefer about it.
It is indeed not black and white and involved many Halachic concepts. Much of it rides on the current circumstances and what it will lead to as well.
From the Rebbe’s Sichos we know his view on this Halachic issue and Rabbi Volpo is aligning with the Rebbe’s Halachic view on this.
ONE THING IS CERTAIN:
Both sides of the Halachic issue are focused on Pikuach Nefesh and saving lives.
In this case: There’s the immediate pikuach nefesh of the hostages and then there’s the close to certain (unfortunately) pikuach nefesh of countless other Jews and the entire country (Hashem Yerachem).
The facts are clear to all: Many of the key terrorists who orchestrated Oct 7th were RELEASED in the Shalit deal. 1,000 terrorists for one soldier. That led to the murder of more than a thousand yidden and putting the entire Israel in existential danger, r”l.
This is an objective fact seen by anyone with eyes.
The Rebbe was against holding on to our enemies instead of killing them immediately!
True. We listen to the Rebbe and the more Rabbis do, and all of us do, the better. There were so many farbrengens on shleimus ha aretz. If Rabbonim would listen there would be no way to it would have been allowed to expel the Jewish communities from Gush Katif in Gaza which was cruel and against the Torah for the yiddish and left a vacuum for and embolden the current situation. Rav Wolpo rules as per the Rebbe’s ruling. The Rebbe taught us that the paskening has power and the ruchnius of everyone, we little people, has much more power than political reasoning even by a chief Rabbi of a secular entity. We appreciate everyone and pray for everyone to have clarity, including leaders in secular entities whether or not they’re Rabbis. “True Peace” is a book that elucidates the right path according the the Rebbe in may terms and Rabbi Volpo and others can forward what will truly save from a Rabbinical perspective. There are plenty of IDF members who said if they are ever captured they do not accept being freed by peace deal. It’s terribly painful all of it. But the only way to salvation is through Torah that does not allow negotiations.
Tell the Lubavitcher Rabbi – “WHAT BUSSINESS DO YOU HAVE AL DAAS TORAH TO OVER RULE ANOTHER RABBI – LEARN HA’CHALTU THIS IS ALEPH BAIS “SINAS CHINAM””
G-D ALMIGHTY – WHAT THE HECK
PROTECT THE LIVES OF JEWS AT ALL COST!!!!!!
FORGET ABOUT YOUR “NEVUOS” – PREDICTING TRAVISTY BY YIDDEN!!!
MOSHIACH IS READY TO COME JUST ADD IN MORE KINDNESS AND GOOD!!
HOW IS YOUR COMING OUT AGAINST GOOD IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM!!
HASHEM YIRACHEM!!!
FREE EVERY JEW NO MATTER HOW MANY LOSERS WE NEED TO RELEASE!!
THEY LIVE A GOOD LIFE IN PRISON BY US FREE THEM BACK TO THE DUMPS THEY COME FROM
Respectfully, you are mistaken. As a great Talmid Chochom and expert in the topic he has the obligation to speak up and share the other point of view in Halacha. Of course it is all about Pikuach Nefesh and Ahavas Yisrael. There are Halachos on this. Gilad Shalit deal to save on soldier cost over a thousand killed Jews, a massive war that’s still ongoing and putting Israel in existenal danger, ch”v. Rabbi Volpo has a holy duty to speak up and share the other side of the Halachic viewpoint!
It seems like you know so much.
How can you claim to make calculations for Hashem.
Do you have children, loved ones captured?
Do you know what it feels like?
Did you hear of the Baal Shem Tov and his Talmididm?
Did you hear about their involvment in Pidyon Shivuim?
Yet you still stand behind what you said?
If a Non-Jewish slave was sold to non jews from a Jew.
It is a Halacha that you need to pay up to ten times the amount, because he will have difficulty doing Torah and Mitzvos.
How much more so for a Jew, unless you think that Hamas is letting them keep Torah and Mitzvos.
Then by all means I stand behind your statement.
On this it says, speaking is worth a “Mone” silence in your case is worth “2 Mone”
Please don’t ever misrepresent Halachah.
Please don’t eve make calculations for Hashem.
Saving one Jew you save the whole world.
The Torah, and the world were created for One JEW.
If you need anymore information SEE “CHITAS/ RAMABAM”