On Israel Independence Day 1997 Rav Shagar addressed the students in his yeshiva Siah Yitzhak in Efrat on the West Bank. What is its relevance today in a post October 7 world?
Thank you as always for a post that gives one much to think about.
I wish I had something more profound to say other than that this topic (and especially the Rashi quote you mention early on) reminds me very much of Walter Benjamin’s “Critique of Violence” and I am curious whether his idea of Divine violence is something closer to the “misinterpretation” of Rashi you mentioned or the “alternative” view of Rashi offered by Shagar.
Thanks for this. I am always wondering whether I understand that essay by Benjamin. Its very slippery. I will say the idea that divine violence in Benjamin is that which intends to prevent human violence does resonate with Shagar in some way. I think it actually resonates more with Aaron Shmuel Tamares. Check out my shiurim on Spotify, especially the ones on Tamares' essay. "Herut" (1906) which is about the Exodis from Egypt and violence.
Hi Shaul,
Thank you as always for a post that gives one much to think about.
I wish I had something more profound to say other than that this topic (and especially the Rashi quote you mention early on) reminds me very much of Walter Benjamin’s “Critique of Violence” and I am curious whether his idea of Divine violence is something closer to the “misinterpretation” of Rashi you mentioned or the “alternative” view of Rashi offered by Shagar.
Thanks for this. I am always wondering whether I understand that essay by Benjamin. Its very slippery. I will say the idea that divine violence in Benjamin is that which intends to prevent human violence does resonate with Shagar in some way. I think it actually resonates more with Aaron Shmuel Tamares. Check out my shiurim on Spotify, especially the ones on Tamares' essay. "Herut" (1906) which is about the Exodis from Egypt and violence.