Eidah Hachareidis Rabbinical Court Condemns So-called Religious Newspapers

 

Eidah Hachareidis Rabbinical Court Condemns So-called Religious Newspapers

December 19, 2023

Statement in Response to the Religious Newspapers, and Temple Mount Visitors

By the Beth Din Tzedek of the Eidah HaChareidis of Jerusalem

Sunday evening, 6^th of Teves 5784 (December 17, 2023)

Everyone has long been aware of the damage done by newspapers that claim to be chareidi, when in fact they spread ideas that are far from the Torah. This is especially evident now, as the spirit of nationalism makes inroads into our camp, with many influenced by the falsifications of the Torah published by writers who are far from adhering to authentic Jewish belief. Some of them are even encouraging boys and girls to enlist in the Israeli army, which our rabbis never dreamed of permitting. These newspapers are tearing down our community’s fortified walls.

This problem is not new; the greatest rabbis of the prior generation already denounced newspapers like these. We are simply reiterating their call to every Jew not to read these newspapers. No one should buy them, and if they are distributed for free, no one should bring them into the house.

Every Jew should instead teach his household the holy Jewish tradition: to have faith and trust in G-d, not in human power. “As the old proverb goes, wickedness comes from the wicked.”  (I Samuel 24:13) We must pray continuously for the safety of every Jew and the redemption of our people as a whole.

At this time, we cannot remain silent in the face of the damaging influence of the spirit of nationalism, spread by the newspapers and other means, which is arousing the hatred of the non-Jews, making it seem as if Jews in religious garb are provoking the non-Jews, as if those who keep Torah and mitzvos are somehow involved in the Israeli-Arab conflict, G-d forbid.

And especially, everyone must speak out against those who encourage the public to visit the Temple Mount, a sin carrying a severe Divine punishment, as rabbis have ruled in the past. Besides, as long as the Jewish people is in exile, we have no power, nor do we even desire, to take away anything from the control of other nations.

May Hashem Yisborach have mercy on us and bring an end to our suffering, and may the messiah come soon.

Source: Torah Jews