Rabbi Ben-Nun Slams Distorted Torah Interpretations
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Rabbi Yoel Ben-Nun strongly condemned interpretations of Torah that he believes distort religious law, particularly those that disregard the State of Israel and harm bereaved families. He stated that offending bereaved parents violates a prohibition against verbal abuse. Ben-Nun argued that ignoring Israel's role in ingathering exiles and its establishment is a distortion of religious law. He also criticized the idea that Israel is solely secular, emphasizing its divine role in gathering exiles.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Yoel Ben-Nun condemned distorted Torah interpretations that harm bereaved families and disregard Israel's significance.
- He stated that offending bereaved parents violates the prohibition of "ona'at devarim" (verbal abuse).
- Ben-Nun argued that ignoring Israel's role in ingathering exiles and its establishment is a distortion of religious law.
- He criticized the notion that the State of Israel is merely secular, emphasizing its divine role in gathering exiles.
- Ben-Nun asserted that those who view Israel as a "secular heresy" should not accept state funds or participate politically.
Rabbi Yoel Ben-Nun has issued a sharp critique of what he terms distorted interpretations of the Torah, particularly those that disregard the significance of the State of Israel and harm bereaved families. He stated that anyone who offends bereaved parents violates the prohibition of "ona'at devarim" (verbal abuse), asserting that such actions and the disregard for "Israel's help in times of trouble," the ingathering of exiles, and the establishment of Israel itself constitute a distortion of religious law. Ben-Nun expressed disbelief that a "great Torah scholar" would utter such things, leading him to refuse to name individuals. However, he argued that omitting "Israel's help in times of trouble" as a "mitzvah war" from Maimonides' Laws of Kings is a perversion of Torah. He also contended that interpreting the Talmudic concept of "Torah as a shield and a savior" as a defense for others is a misrepresentation, citing Rashi's explanation that Torah study protects the learner from evil inclination. Ben-Nun further asserted that any claim that the State of Israel is merely the will of secular people, and not God's will, is a distorted view. He emphasized that Israel, as defined by its Declaration of Independence and the Law of Return, has been a state for the ingathering of exiles for 78 years, a miraculous process evident in explicit verses. He criticized the notion that only the Messiah will gather exiles, pointing to biblical passages and Talmudic discussions that describe this process occurring through divine intervention before the Messiah's arrival. Ben-Nun also referenced Maimonides, noting that while he linked the ingathering of exiles to the Messiah, he also stated that the exact timing is unknowable, thus precluding interpretations that contradict the established order of redemption. Finally, he declared that anyone unwilling to comprehend the destruction of exile during the Holocaust and in Europe, or who views the State of Israel as a "secular heresy," should not accept state funding or participate in its political institutions.