I saw this page on Matzav. There is a nice video there that is worth watching.
Soldiers in Israel’s Navy who set sail last week on a mission to stop an alleged Iranian weapons shipment from reaching Gaza terrorists celebrated Shabbos together by singing Shalom Aleichem and then making Kiddush and having a seudah.
“As Shabbat began last week, these soldiers had already set sail to stop Iran’s weapons shipment from reaching Gaza terrorists. In the middle of the sea, they all sang ‘Shalom Aleichem’ – a Shabbat song meaning ‘peace be upon you,’” the IDF said. “Days later, their successful mission brought peace upon the entire nation of Israel.”
The members of elite naval commando unit Shayetet 13 gathered below deck to sing together. The soldiers, who mostly wore yarmulkas, put their arms around each other’s shoulders and swayed back and forth as they prayed. After the song was over, one soldier stepped forward and made Kiddush.
Days later, the unit successfully intercepted the arms shipment in the Red Sea. The boat, named KLOSC, was headed to Sudan, 1,500 miles from Israel.
One of the weapons captured, the M-302 missile, is made in Syria and is based on Iranian technology, Israel’s Walla reported. IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, oversaw the operation and gave the order to Major General Ram Rothberg, head of the Israeli Navy, to seize the KLOSC, the IDF said earlier this week.
What upset me were the comments section. The various commentators bemoaned the possibility that the video was taken on Shabbos, the last comment though captured how I felt. I didn’t even remotely think for one minute that it was taken on Shabbos. It looked pretty light to me, and it was entirely possible one person hadn’t been mekabel shabbos and took the video because he was so proud of the scene.
While these guys put their lives on the line, the bobbins who aren’t allowed to read the internet can only see darkness and sin. Their eyes are dim, they cannot see let alone imagine light. If they think that for one minute these guys are working on the basis of
כוחי ועוצם ידי עשה לי את החיל הזה
then this video is an Open Psak that they are wrong, wronger, and wrongest, but all they feel is that they are wronged. Even הכרת הטוב doesn’t enter their vernacular.
1. Comment from Shabbos?
Time March 9, 2014 at 11:45 AMWasn’t this video likely taken by a Yid on Shabbos?
2. Comment from anonymous
Time March 9, 2014 at 12:51 PMwho took the picture on shabbos???? nice
3. Comment from shayla
Time March 9, 2014 at 1:04 PMThey videoed on Shabbos?!
Are you allowed to watch something that came through Chillul Shabbos?!4. Comment from shvigger
Time March 9, 2014 at 1:06 PMThis video makes me so sad.
5. Comment from Shomer Sha-bbos
Time March 9, 2014 at 1:09 PMWhy do you publicize a video made with chilul Shabb-os?
6. Comment from Radzhiner Chassid
Time March 9, 2014 at 1:28 PMA video created on Shabboss is Maaseh Shabbos & shouldn’t be shown on a Frum Site! Also am I seeing things? Is the MeKadesh Hashabbos really NOT wearing a yarmulke?
7. Comment from mussar mensch
Time March 9, 2014 at 1:34 PMWhat a kavod L’shamayim!
8. Comment from WOW
Time March 9, 2014 at 1:35 PMI agree with all above (going on shabbos for pikuach nefesh etc), except for the guy doing the videoing!
9. Comment from niceguy
Time March 9, 2014 at 2:06 PMwas chilul Shabbos involved in taking this video?
10. Comment from omg
Time March 9, 2014 at 2:22 PMInteresting…and heartwarming. Not too often do you get to see Shabbos videos!
11. Comment from Really!!
Time March 9, 2014 at 3:31 PMJust a bit puzzled!
Who took the footage?
Are we enjoying something that came about through chilul shabbos?12. Comment from joe
Time March 9, 2014 at 3:39 PMbeautiful. Who took the video?
13. Comment from Pintala yid
Time March 9, 2014 at 3:53 PMWe are an amazing people!
14. Comment from ChaimA
Time March 9, 2014 at 4:00 PMThe story is beautiful.
The video, however, may represent chillul Shabbos. Why would I want to watch it?15. Comment from Observer
Time March 9, 2014 at 4:07 PMTakeh, very nice. The Shaile is, who took the video on Shabbos?
16. Comment from Anonymous
Time March 9, 2014 at 4:28 PMI’d like to point out this video was taken on Shabbos!
17. Comment from Mama
Time March 9, 2014 at 4:37 PMI’m glad they sang Shalom Aleichem, but did they have to be michalel Shabbos by filming it?
18. Comment from Yakov
Time March 9, 2014 at 5:48 PMso beautiful
19. Comment from mig
Time March 9, 2014 at 7:10 PMto commenters 1 to 4:
Even though they filmed it, they are still considered tinokim venishba and their effort to recognize Shabbos gave Hashem tremendous nochas. In addition, no matter what anyone thinks about the IDF, they are holy people because they are putting their lives on the line to keep EY safe from our enemies with G-d’s help.
20. Comment from The Glass is Half Full
Time March 9, 2014 at 7:32 PMYasher Koach to Commentors no 1 & 5 who see the beauty in other Jews and ignoring the chisronos; 2-4 have what to work on; we all have warts and pimples!!!.. . I daven for the day that the Jewish world will be filled with more people like 1 & 5..
21. Comment from Ezra
Time March 9, 2014 at 7:47 PMMaybe it was a Druze soldier who took video.
22. Comment from michali
Time March 9, 2014 at 10:26 PMTo all you cynics, take a chill pill. Instead of knocking them, see the good in their actions. Try to emulate the Berditchever Rebbe who saw only the good in each Jewish neshoma.
May the IDF continue to watch over Eretz HaKodesh with strength.
pitputim 
I think asking if it was filmed on Shabbes is a legitimate question as I wondered about it myself, after all this is about halacha and Shabbes. Why jump to the conclusion that wondering about this means one has a pessimistic view and does not see the light? That is a harsh judgment to make on a person for just for asking something so obvious and yes,so very important too. It is nice to have an inspiring video of our brave IDF, but is it necessary to have it? Not really. And if it was filmed on Shabbes, is it ok to be mahcallel Shabbes in order to get that inspiration? That is certainly a worthy discussion to have and not to be dismissed and it is unfair to make a negative judgment against those who ask it
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The thought didn’t even ENTER my mind. I was sure it was ok
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It brings to mind the Rebbe Rayatz’s response to similar criticism in light of the requirement of ‘Hochi’ach tochi’ach’ – the requirement to rebuke and tell off those that err.
He pointed out that the halacha (of Hochi’ach tochi’ach) is in the last section of the 4 sections of Shulchan Aruch and at the end of that section of Choshen Mishpat.
Being that a person finds himself in a situation to fulfil this halacha he better be able to fulfil 2 conditions first.
1. He better know the halacha properly and that implies having learnt through the rest of Shulchan Aruch first.
2. His motives are pure and holy in chastising another Yid. (He has nothing to gain)
If either of these conditions is not met, forget about trying to tell another Jew off. Better try and ‘bring him close with thick ropes of love.’ (Tanya ch32.) What’s the worst that can result?
So the other person doesn’t listen and continues on his errant path, you are still only ‘guilty’ of practicing ‘Ahavas Yisroel’!
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I am surprised at you Isaac, I thought from reading your blog you thrive on engaging in halachik discussions. I put this is the same category as discussing whether we can invite someone for Shabbes if we know they are driving. These are important halachik discussions to have in today’s technological world. How does asking them automatically translate into rebuke? And couldn’t it be argued that your bog post blog in fact rebuking those who raised these questions?
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There is no chiyuv to assume people are doing aveyros if there is a plausible reason to assume there was no chilul shabbos. Some align with the Berditchever. That’s how I was taught. Others always assume the worst.
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As to inviting someone on Shabbos there are ways to do that al pi R Shlomo Zalman Auerbach no less
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Isaacm Asking questions is not the same as assuming they are doing aveiras. I can ask the question while assuming the person filming may not know the halachas or it is possible it was filmed by a non-Jew. Aren’t you rebuking those who do not have the same reaction to this as you do?
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The tone and tenor of the comments were almost void of praise, and focussed on possible sin. As far as I know, the person who filmed wanted to make sure the world saw this Kiddush Hashem and wasn’t yet Mekabel Shabbos.
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