2006-07-14-response to rabbi dosick

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Editor's Note: As a point of clarification, it should be stated that although Rabbi Wayne Dosick's column appeared in the issue of the San Diego Jewish Times that is dated for today, his article went to press before the flare up of the war between Israel and Lebanon.
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By Rabbi Yeruchem Eilfort

CARLSBAD, Calif.—It is absolutely astonishing to me that at a time when Israel is literally fighting for her life a Rabbi would sow the seeds of discontent and divisiveness within our community. Now is the time for the Jewish people to put our differences behind us and band
together like never before. Now is the time for increased prayer, Torah learning, and Tzedakah giving. But now is certainly not the time to try and further our own agendas and attack Jews who have different philosophies - particularly when those differences are misrepresented and are false!

G-d knows, we Jews have enough enemies out there who want to physically and spiritually destroy Judaism and the Jewish people (Heaven forefend). We should not help them by choosing such times to stir up internal controversies and discontent. In fact, such actions are counterproductive and profoundly weaken us! Now is not the time to worry about who is called "Rabbi" and who is not. Now is certainly not the time to call the Torah-true traditions of the Jewish people archaic.

I doubt that our fellow Jews hiding in their bomb shelters are focused on these things right now, and neither should we be. I doubt that families of the three kidnapped Israeli soldiers are focused on these things right now. I doubt that the poor, bereaved families of the dead Jewish soldiers or civilians are focused about these things right now. I doubt that the 150 casualties of the current war are focused about these issues right now. Do you imagine for one moment that our brave Israeli soldiers fighting in Gaza and Lebanon are worrying about these issues now?

Let us not lose our focus or strength at this critical time! Don't allow yourself to be fooled and to worry about these issues at a time when Israel needs all of us to do our part! Israel needs us right now! Israel needs us to focus upon positive endeavors for her survival. Don't fall prey to philosophical adventurism at this critical time!

Rabbi Eilfort is director of Chabad at La Costa, an agent on AskMoses.com, and host of the weekly radio program LeChaim to Life with Rabbi E. Rabbi Eilfort welcomes readers comments via e-mail to Chabad@La-Costa.org.