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Jan 4, 2015
why Avrum Burg desecrated the Shabbos
So Avrum Burg, former MK, former Speaker of the Knesset and former head of the Jewish Agency, has announced that he went to the party convention of Hadash, a communist party, and became a member. Not all that interesting, in my opinion, considering the way Burg has moved in the past 10 years or so.
Further, the party convention Burg went to was held on Shabbos and required him to desecrate the Shabbos to participate.
Technically Burg is religious, or at least considers himself so, and wears a kipa on his head.
Avrum Burg's chilul shabbos also does not interest me.
What is more interesting is that Avrum Burg explained his decision to participate in the conference despite the chilul shabbos it required because, as he called it, pikuach nefesh, saving lives, takes precedence over shabbos observance.
I would like to know - what was the pikuach nefesh that made Avrum Burg join Hadash on Shabbos, that was so urgent that he couldn't wait until Sunday? I would like to understand Avrum Burg's excuse, once he offered it.
Also, I would like to understand why Avrum Burg felt he needed to offer an excuse, considering who he is and that he has already said publicly, years ago, that he does not believe in God. Does he think anybody really cares that he desecrated the Shabbos he does not believe must be kept sanctified?
Another point - Kikar quotes an anonymous "haredi educator" who says that this is a disgrace to the entire Religious Zionism sector.. I would say that it does not. Burg, despite continuing to wear a kipa, has very publicly disassociated himself from the Religious Zionism sector many times, many years ago.
Further, the party convention Burg went to was held on Shabbos and required him to desecrate the Shabbos to participate.
Technically Burg is religious, or at least considers himself so, and wears a kipa on his head.
Avrum Burg's chilul shabbos also does not interest me.
What is more interesting is that Avrum Burg explained his decision to participate in the conference despite the chilul shabbos it required because, as he called it, pikuach nefesh, saving lives, takes precedence over shabbos observance.
I would like to know - what was the pikuach nefesh that made Avrum Burg join Hadash on Shabbos, that was so urgent that he couldn't wait until Sunday? I would like to understand Avrum Burg's excuse, once he offered it.
Also, I would like to understand why Avrum Burg felt he needed to offer an excuse, considering who he is and that he has already said publicly, years ago, that he does not believe in God. Does he think anybody really cares that he desecrated the Shabbos he does not believe must be kept sanctified?
Another point - Kikar quotes an anonymous "haredi educator" who says that this is a disgrace to the entire Religious Zionism sector.. I would say that it does not. Burg, despite continuing to wear a kipa, has very publicly disassociated himself from the Religious Zionism sector many times, many years ago.
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I have yet to see a source explicitly stating that he violated Shabbat. Going to a political rally on Shabbat is not an avera, all the political parties seem to have Shabbat getaways.
ReplyDeletei dont know what he did or didnt do, but since he felt the need to justify his chilul shabbos, I'll assume he did something. maybe he drove there, maybe he wrote, I have no idea what, but he is the one who said he desecrated shabbos
DeleteA certain MK from Bayit Yehudi used the same excuse recently to justify a phone call on Shabbat. Would you say that one is a disgrace to the sector?
ReplyDeleteThat phone call was justified a matter of imminent Pikuah Nefesh. Not sure if Pikuah Nefesh means something distant like elections.
DeleteI am not familiar with what you are referring to or the circumstances, so I cant answer your question. Joe Lieberman used the excuse sometimes when he had to go into the office for an important vote or meeting on Shabbos. I am sure there are times where it is justified.
ReplyDeletesorry. I should not call it an excuse. when it is pikuach nefesh it is allowed, and even incumbent on the person to do what is necessary. it is not an excuse. when it is not pikuach nefesh then it is being used as an excuse
ReplyDeleteOf course it's sometimes necessary, the problem starts when you decide for yourself in a not necessarily objective way. I don't want to give details of the BY case for fear of lashon hara but it would seem to fall into that category - I'm sure the MK did truly believe it was pikuach nefesh, but an objective third party might not agree.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, an objective third party might agree that it WAS pikuach nefesh. But since SB declines to give any details, we're just left with a lingering impression of negativity.
ReplyDelete"SB" from Beit Shemesh is referring to MK Orit Struk who made a phone call on Shabbos the day after our 3 boys were kidnapped. The purpose of the phone call was to contact the politicians and ensure that all efforts were being made to save our boys. The receiver of the phone call indicated that it was a very helpful phone call. I am confident that it was a fully justified action due to pikuach nefashos, and it was not criticized by even a single major Rav of any community. I am only revealing this as I am confident that it is not Lashon Harah. Everyone who knows MK Orit Struk knows that she is very sincere and very religious in every sense of the word, and she is a follower of Rav Dov Lior. Even if she didn't ask her Rav before she made the phone call, there is no absolute halachic obligation for a person to ask a Rav before they proceed in such a situation. And neither her Rav nor any other Rav said any criticism.
ReplyDeleteAvi
thanks. I remember that, but only vaguely. I remember that it went away fairly quickly because it was not actually a story, as you described
DeleteIn matters of pikuah nefesh, if you go ask a rav, then you might be an accomplice to the pikuah nefesh by making it worse. If I recall correctly, the justification for the phone call was a strategic one and not a tactical one, so not sure if it really was imminently important. i guess she thought it was.
DeleteThank you Josh, that is exactly my point
Deleteand every time someone with a stomach ache calls hatzoloh on shabbos and 13 guys grab their beepers, cellphones and motorcycles to check out the situation do you also critisize them for not going to their rav first?
Deleteobviously she thought it may have been a matter of pikuach nefesh (i was in the middle of a war remember) and sh called.
as far as i remember there is a halacha or a meimra that says that one who goes and asks his rav if to be mechalel shabbos in a situation that appears to be pikuach nefesh is considered a murderer (הרי זה שופך דמים)
Deleteof course if you think there is pikuach nefesh, you ask first and then figure it out.
my question is what the pikuach nefesh was in joining a political party. what life did he try to save on shabbos?
What's the big surprise. He was always strange, because he is a radical leftist and that makes him an oxymoron (with the kippa on his head). He epitomizes the true erev rav neshama. Just by saying he does not believe in H', makes him automatically 'not' relgious'.
ReplyDelete