Faust
10-06-09, 02:51
Moshe Aryeh Friedman, Chief rabbi of Vienna
Moshe Aryeh Friedman (Hebrew: משה אריה פרידמאן; born 1972 in Brooklyn, NY, USA) of Vienna, Austria is a former anti-Zionist political activist.[1] He is best known for his participation in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust held in 2006 in Tehran, Iran. While often called by the title of "Rabbi" in the media[2][3][4], his status as a rabbi has been challenged by Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel.[5] Officials of the Jewish Community of Austria say that he has not proven that he has completed the rabbinical studies required to earn the title.[6][7]
Anti-Zionism
[edit] Opposition to the Existence of Israel
Friedman is retrospectively opposed to the creation of the State of Israel, which he believes should not have occurred and should be reversed. While at the Teheran conference, Friedman presented a plan under which Israel would be dissolved and all Jews, and their families, would be returned to their places of birth.[8] His views are somewhat similar to those of Neturei Karta, though he is not affiliated with them. He grew up in the Satmar community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.[9] Satmar leaders have condemned the participation in the Iranian conference.[9] Friedman has since been expelled by the board of the Vienna Jewish community.[10] Friedman is aligned with the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria.[11] In May 2006, Friedman met with Atef Adwan of Hamas and an acting Palestinian Cabinet Minister in Stockholm, Sweden, where Friedman announced his goals of building a "joint coalition" between Hamas and anti-Zionist Jews, and plans to send humanitarian aid to the West Bank.[12]
[edit] Participation in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust
On December 11, 2006, Friedman participated in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust a two-day symposium held in Tehran and sponsored by Iran's Foreign Ministry Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) for the purpose of subjecting the Holocaust to scholarly review. Friedman spoke at a forum hosted by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss the Holocaust, where Friedman kissed Ahmadinejad.[8][9] Following the conference in Tehran, Friedman delayed his return to Austria reportedly due to his fears that he could be prosecuted by Austrian authorities for Holocaust denial. [6][13] Upon his return Austrian authorities did not indict, investigate or prosecute him and Friedman expressed no concerns regarding any legal matters.
The board of the Vienna Jewish community voted to excommunicate him, and has accused him of desecrating the Sabbath by participating in demonstrations.[14] His children have been expelled from the Vienna Talmud-Torah school. The school has claimed in court that they are owed 20,000 Euro in tuition fees, a claim Friedman has denied stating all tuition has been paid.[15] Friedman successfully challenged the schools expulsion in court resulting in accumulating fines assessed against the school until they allow his children to return.[16] The board threatened to sue Friedman for the cost of his sons Bar Mitzvah celebration in Vienna. Friedman emphatically denied the allegation and stated that the board's suit was in retaliation for losing his case against them for expelling his children from school. [17]
On March 11, 2007, while on a visit to Poland, three members of the Israeli Jewish-Orthodox organization ZAKA assaulted Friedman. Their leader, Yehuda Meshi Zahav, saw Friedman in a crowd and physically attacked him, because he was angered at his participation in the Tehran conference, leaving Friedman bruised.[18] Friedman did not press charges against Zahav or the other assailants.
[edit] Views on the Holocaust
Friedman acknowledges the Holocaust, but indicated that he believes the widely-accepted figure of six million Jewish victims of the Nazis to be "a Zionist fabrication", and that recent research suggested that the figure is closer to one million murdered. Friedman has stated that Zionists are responsible for perpetrating crimes during the holocaust.[4][6][19]
Friedman has also stated that "Throughout this period, in which Hollywood succeeded in influencing global public opinion and creating the myth of the Holocaust, which they interpreted to their advantage, the Islamic Republic of Iran was steadfast, and exerted efforts in the struggle against the global myth of the Holocaust, to the benefit of all the peoples of the world. We are very grateful for this. May God protect you. We are grateful for your support." Friedman has also stated that "It was the Zionists who drove the Third Reich in Germany to publicly use pressure and oppression against the Jews. It should be pointed out that it was the Zionists who promoted this policy, and who led Germany down that path." [20]
[edit] Interview on Iranian TV
In an interview on Channel 2, Iranian TV, on September 30, 2007, Friedman stated that "The existence of the Zionist regime is based upon the belief that they have to destroy the belief in God throughout the world. Another one of their goals is to destroy the other peoples, both physically and economically" and that "Every believer throughout the world should fight Zionism."
Friedman concluded the interview by stating that "The Zionist regime will come to an end sooner than most people think. Let me say again that the Iranian people will establish justice and freedom worldwide."[20]
[edit] Renunciation of Anti-Zionism
[edit] Interview with Zev Brenner
On January 25, 2009, Friedman renounced his anti-Zionist activities on Zev Brenner's radio program, stating "I'm ready to renounce the title for me as the anti-Zionist chief rabbi." He further commented that "there is no such thing as Jews against Zionists." [1] During the interview, he called claims that there are hundreds of thousands of anti-Zionist Jews "complete nonsense." When asked if there are, in reality, only a handful of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews, Friedman said, "yes, that's absolutely the case."[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Aryeh_Friedman
Moshe Aryeh Friedman (Hebrew: משה אריה פרידמאן; born 1972 in Brooklyn, NY, USA) of Vienna, Austria is a former anti-Zionist political activist.[1] He is best known for his participation in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust held in 2006 in Tehran, Iran. While often called by the title of "Rabbi" in the media[2][3][4], his status as a rabbi has been challenged by Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of the State of Israel.[5] Officials of the Jewish Community of Austria say that he has not proven that he has completed the rabbinical studies required to earn the title.[6][7]
Anti-Zionism
[edit] Opposition to the Existence of Israel
Friedman is retrospectively opposed to the creation of the State of Israel, which he believes should not have occurred and should be reversed. While at the Teheran conference, Friedman presented a plan under which Israel would be dissolved and all Jews, and their families, would be returned to their places of birth.[8] His views are somewhat similar to those of Neturei Karta, though he is not affiliated with them. He grew up in the Satmar community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.[9] Satmar leaders have condemned the participation in the Iranian conference.[9] Friedman has since been expelled by the board of the Vienna Jewish community.[10] Friedman is aligned with the right-wing Freedom Party of Austria.[11] In May 2006, Friedman met with Atef Adwan of Hamas and an acting Palestinian Cabinet Minister in Stockholm, Sweden, where Friedman announced his goals of building a "joint coalition" between Hamas and anti-Zionist Jews, and plans to send humanitarian aid to the West Bank.[12]
[edit] Participation in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust
On December 11, 2006, Friedman participated in the International Conference to Review the Global Vision of the Holocaust a two-day symposium held in Tehran and sponsored by Iran's Foreign Ministry Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) for the purpose of subjecting the Holocaust to scholarly review. Friedman spoke at a forum hosted by the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to discuss the Holocaust, where Friedman kissed Ahmadinejad.[8][9] Following the conference in Tehran, Friedman delayed his return to Austria reportedly due to his fears that he could be prosecuted by Austrian authorities for Holocaust denial. [6][13] Upon his return Austrian authorities did not indict, investigate or prosecute him and Friedman expressed no concerns regarding any legal matters.
The board of the Vienna Jewish community voted to excommunicate him, and has accused him of desecrating the Sabbath by participating in demonstrations.[14] His children have been expelled from the Vienna Talmud-Torah school. The school has claimed in court that they are owed 20,000 Euro in tuition fees, a claim Friedman has denied stating all tuition has been paid.[15] Friedman successfully challenged the schools expulsion in court resulting in accumulating fines assessed against the school until they allow his children to return.[16] The board threatened to sue Friedman for the cost of his sons Bar Mitzvah celebration in Vienna. Friedman emphatically denied the allegation and stated that the board's suit was in retaliation for losing his case against them for expelling his children from school. [17]
On March 11, 2007, while on a visit to Poland, three members of the Israeli Jewish-Orthodox organization ZAKA assaulted Friedman. Their leader, Yehuda Meshi Zahav, saw Friedman in a crowd and physically attacked him, because he was angered at his participation in the Tehran conference, leaving Friedman bruised.[18] Friedman did not press charges against Zahav or the other assailants.
[edit] Views on the Holocaust
Friedman acknowledges the Holocaust, but indicated that he believes the widely-accepted figure of six million Jewish victims of the Nazis to be "a Zionist fabrication", and that recent research suggested that the figure is closer to one million murdered. Friedman has stated that Zionists are responsible for perpetrating crimes during the holocaust.[4][6][19]
Friedman has also stated that "Throughout this period, in which Hollywood succeeded in influencing global public opinion and creating the myth of the Holocaust, which they interpreted to their advantage, the Islamic Republic of Iran was steadfast, and exerted efforts in the struggle against the global myth of the Holocaust, to the benefit of all the peoples of the world. We are very grateful for this. May God protect you. We are grateful for your support." Friedman has also stated that "It was the Zionists who drove the Third Reich in Germany to publicly use pressure and oppression against the Jews. It should be pointed out that it was the Zionists who promoted this policy, and who led Germany down that path." [20]
[edit] Interview on Iranian TV
In an interview on Channel 2, Iranian TV, on September 30, 2007, Friedman stated that "The existence of the Zionist regime is based upon the belief that they have to destroy the belief in God throughout the world. Another one of their goals is to destroy the other peoples, both physically and economically" and that "Every believer throughout the world should fight Zionism."
Friedman concluded the interview by stating that "The Zionist regime will come to an end sooner than most people think. Let me say again that the Iranian people will establish justice and freedom worldwide."[20]
[edit] Renunciation of Anti-Zionism
[edit] Interview with Zev Brenner
On January 25, 2009, Friedman renounced his anti-Zionist activities on Zev Brenner's radio program, stating "I'm ready to renounce the title for me as the anti-Zionist chief rabbi." He further commented that "there is no such thing as Jews against Zionists." [1] During the interview, he called claims that there are hundreds of thousands of anti-Zionist Jews "complete nonsense." When asked if there are, in reality, only a handful of anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews, Friedman said, "yes, that's absolutely the case."[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Aryeh_Friedman