""11 years in solitary confinement, what does that mean? It means abuse in the name of the Shin Bet and the Mossad. Not only do I not meet people, my cell is also completely separate from the segregation wing. No one has approached me, I don't talk to people, and even when I go outside, no one walks around the yard, and they even close the window so that none of the other prisoners can see me."" [Mordechai Va'anunu, 'The Atomic Spy', in an interview with Hadashot 2].
""What they're doing to you, Yigal, is abuse like in the Arab countries, as your lawyer claims? There's no doubt about the system - the goal is to punish, but let them explicitly say that the goal is to punish Yigal Amir. There's revenge here. They're asking to extend the separation every six months. There's no such law, but they're asking... If they were afraid of my opinions, they'd send someone from the Shin Bet's Jewish department to check my opinions - I haven't seen them in 15 years. I want to be in a wing where I can pray in a synagogue, like any other prisoner."" [Yigael Amir, interview with Hadashot 2].
Reading these texts, as well as the intonation emanating from them, evokes ambivalent feelings regarding the two most famous prisoners in the State of Israel - Mordechai Vanunu and Yigal Amir.
On the one hand, it's hard not to feel the atmosphere of persecution by the system after the two people who made it laugh. On the other hand, anger and gnashing of teeth also appear, in the face of two people who shook the very essence of the Jewish state: exposed its most hidden secrets, and murdered its leader in cold blood.
But in both of these cases there is an important third element, which is glaringly absent - humanity. Human relations between two people. That slight advantage that is found in humans living in groups, and is not found among the animal world.
These two prisoners, Anunu and Amir, at least according to the publications that seem to be reliable - do not have the humane treatment that should be given to animals, which raises the question: Are we in a Western, modern, and generally Jewish country?
Put him to death, for God's sake.'
Yigal Amir murdered Prime Minister Rabin in cold blood. For this, according to Jewish law, he deserves the death penalty. By sword, if I'm not mistaken.
Why then is he not executed, even in a show trial? Where does this unimaginable abuse come from, in which a person is placed in a closed square room for 20 years, during which he is allowed to go out for an hour a day and walk around the yard alone?
Mordechai and his tormentors revealed grave secrets and endangered the lives of many Jews. Let's assume that death by hanging is a kind and appropriate punishment for him.
But how do humans allow themselves to place another human being in complete isolation and order the other prisoners' windows to be closed when he goes out on his daily rounds, so that God forbid his eyes meet the eyes of another life? How many of us would remain sane after spending 72 hours in a sealed square room, unable to talk or at least look into the eyes of other living beings?
[youtube url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRHaTYOf0Q" width="600" height="400" responsive="yes" autoplay="no"]
When a venomous insect or reptile enters an urban area, a professional snake catcher is called in and strives to locate and neutralize it. Even those who are not ardent fans of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will not be happy to hear that the snake catcher captured the snake and, for 15 years, let it die as punishment for the panic it caused among the residents.
Should the attitude toward humans, more developed organisms, be different?
Netanyahu the coward
Those in charge of the punishment powers in the State of Israel apparently lack the courage, as well as the compassion, to declare that Yigal Amir should be executed, or released under restrictive conditions.
The Prime Minister's cowardice leads him, like his predecessors, to constantly declare that Amir 'the despicable murderer will languish in prison until his last day.'.
Why? For what terrible act does a man deserve to suffer like this? Why don't they put him in front of a firing squad and put an end to his suffering?
It is not for nothing that Judaism abhors this senseless punishment called 'prison.' The Torah does not recognize this useless sanction called 'imprisonment.' Rabbi Tzuriel wrote beautifully in his article that the punishment of prolonged solitude, the time that passes slowly, is harsh and nerve-wracking. It is a cruel punishment "that is not written in this Torah." The preference of prisoners to choose life in prison over death, explains Rabbi Tzuriel, stems only from their lack of knowledge of the severe psychological consequences of being in prison - on them.
Where does the Torah refer to "imprisonment"? In the case of unintentional murderers, who are required to live in one of the cities of refuge until the death of the High Priest. Only in these bustling cities, righteous Levites live, who guide the residents, and not a regular jailer who takes the prisoner out for an hour a day into the deserted courtyard, in front of sealed windows.
Turn the other cheek.: If I hadn't been on my way to the doctor, I would have missed the news that was published in the margins of the news review: Students of Christian schools in Israel demonstrated today (Sunday) in front of the Prime Minister's Office, claiming that they suffer from discrimination in the budgets and services associated with their educational institutions.
Christian schools are in the status of 'unofficially recognized', due to religious classes, prayers, etc., and according to the sector, they suffer from budgetary neglect as a result.
Sound familiar? Apparently, Christians do too.
Their main argument is: "Compare our conditions to the ultra-Orthodox schools, we do not demand anything beyond that.".
Why haven't any of us heard of this protest? Are they really any different from the 'recognized, unofficial' Haredi Torah scholars?
It turns out that there are 33,000 students studying in these schools alone. A negligible amount compared to the hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox students. It turns out that such a small class has no representation in the Knesset, and hence no budgets.
We, the Haredim, fortunately, have Gafni, Litzman, and Deri, and this is another reminder to those who are considering not voting in the elections for the 'disgusting Haredi politicians.'.
Mitzvah, business? Dear Gabbai M.R. in your synagogue, D. bought the 'opening of the temple', with much bloodshed, and he has already approached the front of the synagogue to realize his victory. And behold, as he is walking towards the Ark of the Covenant, his long-time enemy rushes in and 'snatches' the mitzvah, and now there is chaos in the hall. And you wonder whether, apart from the quarrel and the debate, etc., it is right to close the Ark again, and honor D. by opening it or exempt him from payment?
And the great Posk Rabbi Elyashiv, who heard about the incident, expressed ambivalence: This man 'stole' his mitzvah, so what? Could it be that in any legal purchase, where the product was stolen by a crook, the buyer is exempt from paying? Your enemy took your rights from you, sue him in court. This is none of the business of the synagogue, which in this case serves as a 'vendor', to which you are obligated to pay your debt.
So why ambivalence?
Because a mitzvah is not a 'business' in the nominal sense of the word. Halacha does not find the mitzvah as an element in the capitalist market with which one can trade. Did I commit to paying the synagogue? Only in exchange for the special, mystical value that I absorbed for fulfilling the mitzvah. My enemy did not allow me to realize my religious values, my commitment - which operates in the religious field - is worthless.
A mitzvah as a legitimate economic force in the free market, or as a religious value confined to the religious realm, between man and his God.
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