In Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Some Religious Jews Show the World Misleading Picture of Judaism

NEW YORK, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Israeli and Palestinian leaders sit down for another round of peace talks, the world sees once again that religious elements in the Israeli government are an obstacle to achieving that peace.  These parties declare that they are against the extension of the current building freeze in West Bank settlements  - which Palestinian negotiators have made a precondition to further talks.  

"Torah-true Jews are concerned that the stance of these parties may give the impression that the Torah plays some role in this political conflict," said Rabbi Lepold Klein, a spokesman for True Torah Jews. "In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. In the morning prayers, every religious Jew recites the verse from Psalms (147:2), 'G-d builds Jerusalem, He gathers the dispersed of Israel.' It is only G-d who can build Jerusalem and gather in the Jewish people - not us on our own. We have no claim to sovereignty over Jerusalem, or any part of the Holy Land. We are simply waiting for Heavenly redemption, when there will peace for all of humanity.

"The religious Zionist parties and their rabbis tailor the Torah and use it to further their political goals. Instead of serving G-d as a Jew is expected to do, they use G-d for political gain. But true religious Jews don't use the Torah. They follow it - whether it is convenient for them or not.

"We hope that the world will recognize the distinction between Judaism and Zionism and that Zionists cannot claim to represent Jews."

For more information, visit www.truetorahjews.org

SOURCE True Torah Jews

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