DEAR EDITOR: I am a Jew. I belong to Temple Beth Israel. As a Jew, am I allowed to publicly criticize, rebuke, reprove other Jews? For answers, I turn to sacred Hebrew Scriptures. For what Jewish behavior do I seek guidance? Gaza and what is called the West Bank are not part of Zionism. Those lands are the property of Arabs, the descendants of Esau (son of Abraham) and Lot (nephew of Abraham). There are Jews with political power wanting to annex those lands into the State of Israel.
So, as a Jew, can I rebuke other Jews? Deuteronomy begins “These are the words which Moses spoke …” Moses goes on to accuse the Jews of transgressing God’s will. From our Midrash Sifrei Devarim comes the meaning “What, then, is the intent of ‘These are the words’? We are hereby taught that they were words of rebuke.” From Leviticus 19:17 we are given the commandment, “Reprove your kin but incur no guilt on their account.” The Jewish philosopher/commentator Nachmanides (1194-1270) interprets this commandment as “to teach him ethical reproofs.” And “and you shall not carry sin for him” is that there will be guilt upon you if he sins and you had not reproved him.”
For what sin do I rebuke some of my fellow Jews? The theft of West Bank land and plans for Gaza. All humanity is given the negative instructive commandment not to move property lines without compensation. Deuteronomy 19:14: “You shall not move your neighbor’s boundary stones.”
Again, this behavior is repeated as a curse. Deuteronomy 27:17: “Cursed be he who moves his neighbor’s boundary stones.” I rebuke and curse settlers on West Bank and the intention to rebuild settlements in Gaza. The settlements must go! I will not be tainted by settler’s sins of theft.
Stephen J. Cahill
Peru