Q&A: Punish H. K.?
Punish H. K.?
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Should the Rabbi’s view be that the state ought to punish Haim K. for the disaster he brought upon a large part of the world’s inhabitants?
With blessings, Benjamin Goralin, who seeks justice
Answer
At first I thought of deleting this question too. But on second thought, I figured there is a real question here (even if the motivation for asking it is quite obvious).
This is a legal question. In principle, there is an offense here under state law (rebellion or incitement), and as such he can be put on trial. What punishment can be given for that? I don’t know. It depends on the circumstances (what he knew at the time, although on the legal level ignorance of the law does not exempt one from punishment, and besides, it seems that he did know, since his grandson told him that the state was ordering the yeshivas and the cheders to close).
In any case, he did not bring disaster upon a large part of the world’s inhabitants. That is tendentious nonsense. If there is any punishment, it would be for rebellion, not for the disaster itself.
Discussion on Answer
Benjamin, they set it up perfectly for you. Now you need to go to the police and file a complaint!!!
It is a real shame that Rabbi Michi does not protest the disgrace to Torah being done here by Benjamin Goralin in the way he refers to the greatest rabbi known to us today. I protest—both Benjamin’s way of referring to him and Rabbi Michi’s silence. Maybe Rabbi Michi does not see this as disgraceful, but every ordinary decent person sees it as disgraceful.