Difference between revisions of "Torat Hamelekh"
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| + | '''Torat HaMelech''' (Hebrew: '''תורת המלך''', ''[[The King's Torah]]'' or ''The Law of the King'') is a controversial 2009 halakhic (Jewish legal) book written by Rabbi [[Yitzhak Shapira]], head of the [[Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva]] in the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, and co-authored by Rabbi [[Yosef Elitzur]].<ref name="HaaretzTorat">Haaretz, [https://www.haaretz.com/2010-07-26/ty-article/rabbi-arrested-over-book-that-permits-killing-non-jews/0000017f-e116-d568-ad7f-f37f52d90000 Rabbi arrested over book that permits killing non-Jews] ''haaretz.com'', 26 July 2010.</ref> The book discusses Jewish law regarding the permissibility of killing non-Jews in wartime or when they are perceived as a threat to Jews, including rulings on civilians, children, and the distinction between Jewish and gentile blood.<ref name="ToratHamelekh">Wikipedia, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torat_Hamelekh Torat Hamelekh] ''en.wikipedia.org'', accessed February 26, 2026.</ref> | ||
| − | + | The book was published privately by the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva and quickly became one of the most controversial rabbinic texts in modern Israeli history, drawing widespread condemnation from mainstream Jewish leaders, Israeli politicians, and human rights groups for what many described as incitement to racism and violence.<ref name="JPostTorat">The Jerusalem Post, [https://www.jpost.com/national-news/a-g-torat-hamelech-authors-will-not-be-indicted/article-271729 A-G: 'Torat Hamelekh' authors will not be indicted] ''jpost.com'', 28 May 2012.</ref> | |
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| − | The book was published privately by the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva and quickly became one of the most controversial rabbinic texts in modern Israeli history, drawing widespread condemnation from mainstream Jewish leaders, Israeli politicians, and human rights groups for what many described as incitement to racism and violence.<ref name="JPostTorat">The Jerusalem Post, [https://www.jpost.com/ | ||
== Content and key rulings == | == Content and key rulings == | ||
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* On the distinction between Jewish and gentile blood: The book argues that in certain wartime contexts, Jewish blood has greater sanctity, and the rules governing the killing of non-Jews differ fundamentally from those governing Jews.<ref name="JewishCurrents">Jewish Currents, [https://jewishcurrents.org/the-kings-torah-preemptive-murder-of-non-jews The King's Torah: Preemptive Murder of Non-Jews] ''jewishcurrents.org'', 25 July 2017.</ref> | * On the distinction between Jewish and gentile blood: The book argues that in certain wartime contexts, Jewish blood has greater sanctity, and the rules governing the killing of non-Jews differ fundamentally from those governing Jews.<ref name="JewishCurrents">Jewish Currents, [https://jewishcurrents.org/the-kings-torah-preemptive-murder-of-non-jews The King's Torah: Preemptive Murder of Non-Jews] ''jewishcurrents.org'', 25 July 2017.</ref> | ||
| − | The authors repeatedly stress that these rulings apply only in situations of actual or potential war, but critics argue the language is broad enough to justify violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories.<ref name="972magTorat">+972 Magazine, [https://www.972mag.com/ | + | The authors repeatedly stress that these rulings apply only in situations of actual or potential war, but critics argue the language is broad enough to justify violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories.<ref name="972magTorat">+972 Magazine, [https://www.972mag.com/yitzhar-hilltop-settler-violence/ How one hilltop became an incubator for Israeli settler violence] ''972mag.com'', 2020.</ref> |
== Controversy and legal proceedings == | == Controversy and legal proceedings == | ||
| − | The book sparked immediate outrage upon publication in 2009. Israeli Attorney General [[Yehuda Weinstein]] opened an investigation into incitement to racism and violence. In July 2010, Rabbi [[Yitzhak Shapira]] was arrested and questioned for several hours.<ref name="Ynet2010">Ynet, [https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3925115,00.html Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira suspected of incitement against non-Jews] ''ynetnews.com'', 26 July 2010.</ref> The investigation was eventually closed in May 2012 without indictment due to insufficient evidence of criminal intent.<ref name=" | + | The book ''Torat HaMelech'' (''The King's Torah'') sparked immediate outrage upon publication in 2009. Israeli Attorney General [[Yehuda Weinstein]] opened an investigation into incitement to racism and violence. In July 2010, Rabbi [[Yitzhak Shapira]] was arrested and questioned for several hours.<ref name="Ynet2010">Ynet, [https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3925115,00.html Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira suspected of incitement against non-Jews] ''ynetnews.com'', 26 July 2010.</ref> The investigation was eventually closed in May 2012 without indictment due to insufficient evidence of criminal intent.<ref name="JPostTorat"/> |
| − | Co-author Rabbi [[Yosef Elitzur]] was later convicted on separate incitement charges related to other writings.<ref name=" | + | Co-author Rabbi [[Yosef Elitzur]] was later convicted on separate incitement charges related to other writings<ref>https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-02-03/ty-article/.premium/rabbi-from-israeli-settlement-convicted-of-inciting-to-violence-and-encouraging-hate/0000017f-e0a8-d804-ad7f-f1fa4cf80000</ref> |
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| + | The book was condemned by a few Zionist organisations. The [[Anti-Defamation League]] called for rabbis and Orthodox leaders to condemn the book as a "blueprint for killing non-Jews" in a January 2010 press release, stating: "The book is a blueprint for killing non-Jews. It is a shocking and dangerous document that has no place in Jewish tradition."<ref name="ADL2010">Anti-Defamation League, [https://web.archive.org/web/20250130171942/https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-urges-rabbis-orthodox-leaders-condemn-blueprint-killing-non-jews ADL Urges Rabbis, Orthodox Leaders To Condemn "Blueprint For Killing Non-Jews"] ''adl.org'', 27 January 2010.</ref> | ||
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| + | Many more refused to condemn it.<ref>https://imemc.org/article/59356/</ref> | ||
=== Chabad and Torat HaMelech === | === Chabad and Torat HaMelech === | ||
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Chabad.org and official Chabad spokespeople have not issued a formal institutional condemnation. | Chabad.org and official Chabad spokespeople have not issued a formal institutional condemnation. | ||
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Rabbi [[Yitzhak Shapira]] is a disciple of Rabbi [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]], a prominent Chabad-affiliated rabbi based in Kfar Chabad whose mystical teachings form the ideological foundation of much of the book. Ginsburgh publicly defended ''Torat HaMelech'' and wrote a glowing approbation for it.<ref name="PowerbaseShapira" /> However, Shapira is not an official Chabad emissary (shaliach) and does not run an official Chabad institution. Mainstream Chabad organisations have not issued an official institutional condemnation of the book, but individual Chabad rabbis and publications have criticised its extremism. | Rabbi [[Yitzhak Shapira]] is a disciple of Rabbi [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]], a prominent Chabad-affiliated rabbi based in Kfar Chabad whose mystical teachings form the ideological foundation of much of the book. Ginsburgh publicly defended ''Torat HaMelech'' and wrote a glowing approbation for it.<ref name="PowerbaseShapira" /> However, Shapira is not an official Chabad emissary (shaliach) and does not run an official Chabad institution. Mainstream Chabad organisations have not issued an official institutional condemnation of the book, but individual Chabad rabbis and publications have criticised its extremism. | ||
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[[Yitzhak Shapira]] | [[Yitzhak Shapira]] | ||
[[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]] | [[Yitzchak Ginsburgh]] | ||
| − | [[Od Yosef Chai | + | [[Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva]] |
[[Hilltop Youth]] | [[Hilltop Youth]] | ||
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== External links == | == External links == | ||
Latest revision as of 10:00, 14 June 2026
Controversial 2009 halakhic book by rabbis Yitzhak Shapira and Yosef Elitzur
Torat HaMelech (Hebrew: תורת המלך, The King's Torah or The Law of the King) is a controversial 2009 halakhic (Jewish legal) book written by Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira, head of the Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva in the West Bank settlement of Yitzhar, and co-authored by Rabbi Yosef Elitzur.[1] The book discusses Jewish law regarding the permissibility of killing non-Jews in wartime or when they are perceived as a threat to Jews, including rulings on civilians, children, and the distinction between Jewish and gentile blood.[2]
The book was published privately by the Od Yosef Chai yeshiva and quickly became one of the most controversial rabbinic texts in modern Israeli history, drawing widespread condemnation from mainstream Jewish leaders, Israeli politicians, and human rights groups for what many described as incitement to racism and violence.[3]
Content and key rulings
Torat HaMelech is structured as a halakhic analysis of wartime ethics according to Jewish law, drawing heavily on interpretations of the Torah, Talmud, and later rabbinic authorities, particularly the teachings of Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, whom Shapira regards as his spiritual mentor.[4]
Key passages include:
- On the permissibility of killing non-Jews in war: "In war, when our own troops are in danger, it is permissible to kill gentile civilians even if they are not directly threatening us, because their very existence supports the enemy."[5]
- On gentile children: "There is reason to harm children if it is clear that they will grow up to harm us… It is permissible to kill the Righteous among Nations even if they are not responsible for the threatening situation."[2]
- On the distinction between Jewish and gentile blood: The book argues that in certain wartime contexts, Jewish blood has greater sanctity, and the rules governing the killing of non-Jews differ fundamentally from those governing Jews.[6]
The authors repeatedly stress that these rulings apply only in situations of actual or potential war, but critics argue the language is broad enough to justify violence against Palestinians in the occupied territories.[7]
Controversy and legal proceedings
The book Torat HaMelech (The King's Torah) sparked immediate outrage upon publication in 2009. Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein opened an investigation into incitement to racism and violence. In July 2010, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira was arrested and questioned for several hours.[8] The investigation was eventually closed in May 2012 without indictment due to insufficient evidence of criminal intent.[3]
Co-author Rabbi Yosef Elitzur was later convicted on separate incitement charges related to other writings[9]
The book was condemned by a few Zionist organisations. The Anti-Defamation League called for rabbis and Orthodox leaders to condemn the book as a "blueprint for killing non-Jews" in a January 2010 press release, stating: "The book is a blueprint for killing non-Jews. It is a shocking and dangerous document that has no place in Jewish tradition."[10]
Many more refused to condemn it.[11]
Chabad and Torat HaMelech
Despite Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh's affiliation with Chabad-Lubavitch and his endorsement of Torat HaMelech, no official statement condemning or criticising the book has been issued by Chabad's central leadership or institutions, such as Chabad.org or Agudas Chassidei Chabad. Searches on Chabad platforms yield no results for the book or related controversies, suggesting the movement has chosen not to engage publicly with the issue. The absence of formal repudiation has led critics to argue that Chabad implicitly tolerates such views through its association with Ginsburgh.[12]
It appears that no mainstream Chabad leadership or spokesperson have distanced themselves from the book. While Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh (a Chabad-affiliated rabbi and Shapira’s mentor) endorsed it and wrote a glowing approbation.[10]
Chabad.org and official Chabad spokespeople have not issued a formal institutional condemnation.
Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira is a disciple of Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, a prominent Chabad-affiliated rabbi based in Kfar Chabad whose mystical teachings form the ideological foundation of much of the book. Ginsburgh publicly defended Torat HaMelech and wrote a glowing approbation for it.[4] However, Shapira is not an official Chabad emissary (shaliach) and does not run an official Chabad institution. Mainstream Chabad organisations have not issued an official institutional condemnation of the book, but individual Chabad rabbis and publications have criticised its extremism.
See also
Yitzhak Shapira Yitzchak Ginsburgh Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva Hilltop Youth
External links
Notes
- ↑ Haaretz, Rabbi arrested over book that permits killing non-Jews haaretz.com, 26 July 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Wikipedia, Torat Hamelekh en.wikipedia.org, accessed February 26, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The Jerusalem Post, A-G: 'Torat Hamelekh' authors will not be indicted jpost.com, 28 May 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Powerbase, Yitzhak Shapira powerbase.info, accessed February 26, 2026.
- ↑ Haaretz, excerpts from Torat HaMelech quoted in coverage, 2010.
- ↑ Jewish Currents, The King's Torah: Preemptive Murder of Non-Jews jewishcurrents.org, 25 July 2017.
- ↑ +972 Magazine, How one hilltop became an incubator for Israeli settler violence 972mag.com, 2020.
- ↑ Ynet, Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira suspected of incitement against non-Jews ynetnews.com, 26 July 2010.
- ↑ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2021-02-03/ty-article/.premium/rabbi-from-israeli-settlement-convicted-of-inciting-to-violence-and-encouraging-hate/0000017f-e0a8-d804-ad7f-f1fa4cf80000
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Anti-Defamation League, ADL Urges Rabbis, Orthodox Leaders To Condemn "Blueprint For Killing Non-Jews" adl.org, 27 January 2010.
- ↑ https://imemc.org/article/59356/
- ↑ Chabad.org search for "Torat HaMelech", yielding no results (404 error), accessed February 26, 2026.