Torat Hamelekh

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. 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.

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.

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.

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."

• 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."

• 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.

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.

Controversy and legal proceedings

The book sparked immediate outrage upon publication. 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. The investigation was eventually closed in 2012 without indictment due to insufficient evidence of criminal intent.

Co-author Rabbi Yosef Elitzur was later convicted on separate incitement charges related to other writings.

The book was condemned by a wide range of Israeli figures, including:

• Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger
• Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar
• Many rabbis from the religious-Zionist camp
• The Anti-Defamation League and other international Jewish organisations

Mainstream Chabad leadership and spokespeople have distanced themselves from the book, noting that while Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh (a Chabad-affiliated rabbi and Shapira’s mentor) endorsed it, the content is not representative of mainstream Chabad teachings on Ahavat Yisrael (love for every Jew) and ethical conduct.

Connection to Chabad

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. 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

• Haaretz coverage of the arrest
• Jewish Currents analysis