From: GSilver400@aol.com Date sent: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 01:32:26 EDT Subject: SUPPORT FROM AN ORTHODOX JEW To: info@gush-shalom.org Friday, Erev Shabbat, 15th day of Elul, 5762 August 23 2002 B"H Dear Gush Shalom: I write to you to support of your efforts for for the Torah based tenets of Peace and Justice in Eretz Yisroel. I am the Orthodox Jewish member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Peace Fellowship. I am the grandson of Harav Eliezer Silver, zt"l, former member of the Presidiums of the Orthodox Organizations, Agudas Yisroel, and Agudas Harabonim of the United States and Canada, and a founder of the Vaad Hatzalah rescue organization during the Holocaust. I learned from his teachings that: (1) A torah True Jew is prohibited from becoming like his/ her oppressors, and is prohibited from becoming an oppressor. (2) While he was a supporter of Eretz Yisroel, and the establishment of the State of Israel, he spoke out about his concerns that the gun and violence would replace belief in G-d and Torah Judaism. (3) He spoke out against the establishment of a separate Chief Rabbi for the Israel Defense Forces, because it created a conflict of the Torah requirement of the independence on making Torah decisions being influenced by pressure from Generals and politicians.. He noted that when Rav Goren became Chief Rabbi of the IDF, he changed from a great sage, to someone who did not even understand his own, (Rav Goren's), great Torah writings. (4) He also taught that when a Sanhedrin, the High Rabbinical Court of ancient Israel, executed one person in a 100 year period, Hashem/ G-d viewed this Court as a " bloody and murderous" court. (5) He taught that to be a Torah True Jew, one must follow always the practices of Peace, Justice, and observance of all of the other of Hashem's/ G-d's Commandments. (6) He taught that Hashem/ G-d does not give us more than we can handle, but G- requires we ask Hashem/ G-d for help in times of trouble and despair. **FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RAV ELIEZER SILVER, zt"l, see: -"The Encyclopaedia Judaica" -The Book "The Silver Era...." by Rakeffet, Published by Feldheim Publishers and Ktav Press. -The chapter in the autobiography of famous Nazi Hunter Simon Wiesenthal, book title, "The Murderers Among Us....", chapter name: 'The Other Side of the Moon' . Gush Shalom must continue to push for the Torah True tenets of Peace and Justice. Sincerely, Gershon L. Silver Email Address: Gsilver400@aol.com USA