Rabbis Rule: Harvesting Arab Olives Without Permission is Forbidden
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein has ruled that Jews are forbidden from harvesting olives from Arab-owned trees, calling the act "outright theft." This decision is supported by other prominent rabbis, including Rabbi David Bigman, who stated that such harvesting violates Jewish law. The rulings emphasize that the olives are not abandoned property and that unauthorized harvesting is forbidden, even when Arab owners are restricted from their land. The rabbis also noted that such actions by observant Jews can lead to a desecration of God's name.
The story in 4 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Yigal Levinstein ruled harvesting Arab olives without permission is forbidden theft.
- Other rabbis, including David Bigman, issued similar rulings against unauthorized olive harvesting.
- The rulings state olives are not abandoned property and unauthorized picking is forbidden.
- Rabbis noted such actions by Jews can lead to a desecration of God's name.
Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, head of the Eli pre-military academy, declared that it is forbidden for Jews to harvest olives from trees belonging to Arabs, especially when security restrictions prevent the Arab owners from accessing their land. He described the act as "outright theft."
This ruling aligns with similar halachic decisions made in the past month. Rabbi David Bigman, president of the Ma'ale Gilboa Yeshiva, issued a comparable ruling, stating that harvesting olives without the owner's permission is prohibited by Jewish law. Rabbi Bigman's decision referenced opinions from rabbis in Gush Etzion, who affirmed that even if Arab landowners cannot reach their groves, it does not permit others to harvest the olives.
The rabbis emphasized that the olives should not be considered abandoned property and that harvesting them without consent constitutes theft. They further clarified that when such actions are performed by observant Jews, they also constitute a desecration of God's name.
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