Richard Silverstein

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  Richard commented on the article | about 3 years ago

  Museum of Tolerance - or Provocation?

  Jacob Amir is spouting the same apologist propaganda mouthed by Rabbi Hier.  First, the issue shouldn't be whether the Palestinians have already declared the cemetery free for development.  The issue should be do we as Jews want to tell the world that this is the way we treat cemeteries belonging to other religions?  Then why should a Czech insurance company not build its headquarters in Prague & dig up Jewish graves in the process?  Why should anyone respect any Jewish cemetery anywhere?
  
  Second, relying on the Grand Mufti is a credible religious source is laughable since he sided with Hitler during WWII.  Is this really who Hier & his apologists want to present as their evidence?
  
  Third, there is a Jewish concept called pinui kever which forbids the disturbance of a grave, even a non-Jewish grave.  How does Rabbi Hier get himself out of that little problem?  He can argue that the halacha doesn't apply to non-Jews, but then he gets himself into a thicket by noting that he supports a view of Judaism which posits that only Jewish graves are holy, while non Jewish graves may be ransacked with impunity.