Rabbi Haim Druckman says he convinced Safed chief rabbi to sign onto opinion permitting religious Jews to rent homes to Arab Israelis.
By JPOST.COM STAFFbeersheba real estate 311(photo credit: Courtesy)
Or Etzion's Rabbi Haim Druckman on Thursday morning explained the reasoning behind the rabbinic opinion issued by him and signed by other rabbis, including Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliahu - whose halachic ruling encouraging city residents not to rent or sell homes to non-Jews provoked much controversy in recent days.Druckman spoke in particular about how he convinced Rabbi Eliahu to sign the new letter, saying "I related to him the importance of not giving a hand to our enemies [to use against us] to push us from our homes and cities." He continued, however, "If you have no fear due to security reasons, there is no problem [renting homes to Arabs]."RELATED:Conversion bill passes first hurdleOpinion: A disturbing desecration of Jewish valuesRabbi Druckman also elaborated on his position regarding the IDF conversions bill working its way through the Knesset.The IDF converts "are reals Jews," acknowledged Druckman. The problem, he stated, was that the State must not have two separate conversion processes.Druckman emphasized that he made clear his position on the issue to the prime minister and the government's ministers during this past Sunday's cabinet meeting.
