WORDS OF THE RABBIS

Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik of Brisk

Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik of Brisk

Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik of Brisk (1853-1918), the founder of the "yeshiva approach to Talmudic study," was frequently quoted by his disciples as saying:

"The Zionists do not make Jews heretics in order to have a state, they want a state in order to make Jews into heretics!"

Or, as he once wrote:

"The Jewish people have suffered many (spiritual) plagues -- the Sadducees, Karaites, Hellenisers, Shabbatai Zvi, Enlightenment, Reform and many others. But the strongest of them all is Zionism."

This hideous strength was later explained by his son, the Brisker Rav, Rabbi Velvel Soloveichik (1886-1960) as being due to the Zionists having "attacked the center point of Judaism.

The following is a letter written by Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik, one of the greatest rabbis in Lithuania in the early part of the century:

Dear Rabbi Moshe Carpas:

I have also read your words in connection with the sect of the Zionists who are now powerfully banded together. I do not blush to admit that I do not know how to find paths to oppose them.

Seeing that these men are known as evil in their localities, and have already proclaimed their purpose, which is to uproot the fundamentals of our faith, and to take over all Jewish communities to aid them in their plan.

It is hardly credible that after the revelations of their arrogant hearts there should still be found right-minded men willing to ally themselves with them. It is greatly astonishing throughout the whole Jewish People that they should be given a place and a voice in public affairs, since it is known they are causing others to sin.

Let the people guard their souls lest they join them in the destruction of our religion and become an obstacle to the House of Israel.

Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk said:

"If you intend to give a coin to the Jewish National Fund, give it to another idolatry, but not to the Zionists, since this idolatry is worse then any other."