Top Hareidi Rabbi Bans Arab Labor Following Merkaz HaRav Attack

by Ezra HaLevi

(IsraelNN.com) Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, considered a top Torah sage of the generation in the Hareidi-Religious community, issued a Jewish legal decision banning the employment of Arab workers by Jews according to the Yom Chadash daily.

The rabbi issued the decision at a meeting with several administrators of yeshivas in B’nei Brak. The administrators told the rabbi that they had under they employ an older Arab man who they do not suspect of any involvement in terrorism. The administrators decided, nonetheless to seek halachic (Jewish legal) guidance following reports that the terrorist who carried out the massacre at Jerusalem’s Merkaz HaRav Yeshiva had been hired as a driver on occasion.

“According to Jewish law, it is completely forbidden to hire Arabs, especially in yeshivas,” Rabbi Kanievsky said. “There is a concern of endangering lives.”

The rabbi continued, explaining, “After all, we are at war with them…and are there not Jews that can work and make a living?”

Asked later on if his words should be publicized, Rabbi Kanievsky said: “Certainly,” according to News First Class, investigative journalist Yoav Yitzchak's news site.

Rabbi Kanievsky went even further, saying that Jews should refrain from employing any non-Jews, not just Muslim Arabs, and instead grant livelihood to Jews, unless there exists a huge disparity between the costs of the labor.

The rabbi's family told Arutz-7 that the Yom Chadash report is 100% accurate and explained that "although there can be financial justification for hiring foreign workers, G-d forbid should we hire Arabs. We are at war with them."

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I agree (not with the other foreign worker part though)

I'm voting ג!

If you don't mind me asking why?

In my Yeshiva we never had any Arabs, chas v'ashalom as they are always a security threat

And therein lies the problem. Of course there's going to be a huge disparity between costs of labor.

I don't agree 100% as Russians and Ethiopians(not saying this is a bad way) work in a lot of Yeshiva's, do you think they would really hire them if they that much more expensive but Arab labour is cheaper most of the time or at least on that large a scale

What? I should vote for Shas again?

btw, there was a statement from R'Kanievsky's son (in JP) that not all things that are "signed" by him are real. not saying this one isn't real, just mentioning it.

*You* voted for Shas?!?!?!?!
*You* are voting for gimmel?!?!?!?!?!
I was pretty sure you were voting for Mafdal...
Anyway, *anything* that's not Shas is better, and I mean anything.

*You* obviously mis-judged who I am, probably based on foolish stereotypes.

Does that mean I cant shop in the arab shuk anymore?

9

True, but I would never be choshed you of voting for Shas...

Please tell you were joking...

No one frum (ETA: or "right wing") votes for Mafdal....

I was not joking. I indeed voted Shas. (And I had my reasons which I do not care to share.)

Does anyone think this might help new unemployed olim get positions with yeshivot?

When we first made aliyah, my husband was interested in working in one of the yeshivas in the kitchen, but our friends said most yeshivas hire arabs for that kind of work. Well, my husband was just laid off, and he's looking for ANYTHING right now. Do you think the yeshivas will take this Rabbi's statement to heart?

Seriously, if anyone has any protekzia with yeshivot in Jerusalem or Bnei Brak (we live in Modiin, so either's good), then please let me know!!

Malynnda