The Gedolim On Selling Houses To Non-Jews

The past week has seen a heated discussion about whether one can or cannot rent/sell a house in Israel to non-Jews.

These rabbis signed against, the others signed/spoke against them, everyone else praised or criticized this group or the other.

The "Big 3" Haredi rabbonim - Rav Shteinman, Rav Kanievsky and Rav Elyashiv - were asked there opinion on the matter.

Rav Shteinman said that such a letter and statement with a nationalist bent is an unnecessary provocation, is not the Haredi way, and is forbidden. This despite the fact that Rav Shteinman himself signed a letter a number off years ago saying it is prohibited to sell property in Eretz Yisrael to non-Jews. That has some people up in arms, asking why he changed his opinion on the matter. In truth though, at least if the quote of his in Ynet is accurate, he is not going back on his previous opposition. he is not saying now that it is allowed. All he is saying is that getting together in such a manner and making such bold announcements is wrong. Things like this, according to the haredi way, have to be done differently, quietly, and therefore the methods used here were inappropriate.

In what seems like a moment of inconsistency, while saying that one cannot publicize such a psak and therefore opposing the whole thing, Rav Shteinman did add that at least in haredi neighborhoods one cannot. It is inappropriate, he says, to do so in a haredi neighborhood, like what is happening in Bnei Braq with the Sudanese refugees, and for a haredi neighborhood one could issue such a blanket psak. It is ok for us to do, but the rest of the rabbis around the country who are concerned about the same thing are not allowed to.

Rav Elyashiv opposed the letter and refused to sign. he criticized them for using halacha for political purposes. Funny that that should be a complaint in todays world, as if this is the first time. And Rav Elyashiv too, even though he criticized them and the way they went about it, he did not say it is allowed. he did say that even though it is not allowed, that is not going to stop anybody from selling or buying. If they were going to, they still will, and anyone who is not sure what to do will ask his rav a question. This is not a situation in which it is appropriate to give a blanket psak halacha. And publicizing such a blanket psak will endanger Jews around the world, as people will retaliate in other countries and make it illegal to sell to Jews or other forms of racist discrimination.

Rav Kanievsky did not oppose it. In fact he said it is not even a question - it is prohibited to sell property to non-jews in Eretz Yisrael. But only selling is a problem. Renting would be allowed.

So while everyone thinks that the Haredi gedolim refused to sign and therefore disagree with the psak, it is inaccurate. if you look at their words (assuming their words were accurately relayed, which, as always, is not something one can be sure about), you will see they really agree that it is prohibited but they have other reasons they use to prefer to not publicize the psak.