of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as , but some Orthodox leaders have shown the propensity to take that animosity way too far. In January, Rabbi Shalom Dov Wolpe said that if Israel were properly run, Olmert would be “” for collaborating with “these Nazis.” And last week the rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva University joked that Israeli soldiers should resign from the Army , and should shoot the PM too.

reports:

Yes, yes, yes, that芒聙聶s what he said. Unfortunately, the YouTube video of this unfortunate quote was removed, but the wrote down a transcript. That芒聙聶s called incitement folks, it芒聙聶s bad. Here in Israel, we芒聙聶ve already had one prime minister murdered after Rabbis couldn芒聙聶t keep their mouths shut, and apparently this Rabbi thinks the world would be better if it were to happen again.

In all fairness, I should also report the apology that Rabbi Schachter issued recently,

  Statements I made informally have been publicly excerpted this week. I deeply regret such statements and apologize for them. They were uttered spontaneously, off the cuff, and were not meant seriously. And they do not, God forbid, represent my views. 91传媒 law demands respect for representatives of the 91传媒 government and the State of Israel.

OK. It芒聙聶s something of an apology. However, it seems difficult to accept. Rabbi Schachter apologized for speaking off the cuff and for not respecting representatives of the 91传媒 government. Where芒聙聶s the concern for human life? Where is the apology for saying the same things that have already resulted in one murder? Rabbi Schachter is an important public figure and a rabbinic leader. His words are received hungrily by thousands of students, and even among other Rabbis he calls the shots. He is the halakhic decisor for the Orthodox Union and for dozens of rabbis across the country. The Mishna (Avot 1:11) tells us, 芒聙聹Sages, be careful with you words!芒聙聺 We know in our own recent history how important a principle that is. Rabbi Schachter needs to know it too.

(Hat tip: )