[Avodah] Love of Israel

[Marty Bluke]

On 3/29/07, Chana Luntz <chana at kolsassoon.org.uk> wrote:
> Actually, I think there were two different aspects of malchus and kavod
> under discussion.  The first was whether there was a requirement to give
> kavod in circumstances where the melech was not from beis David, and
> even if you take the Satmer Rebbe's point of view, it would still seem
> that so long as the person is righteous, he would agree that the
> technical requirements of being a melech from beis David are not
> required.  I agree that the second aspect - ie are you required to give
> kavod to a king who is a rasha, cannot be proven from Achav if Achav is
> considered to be a tzadik at the time that Eliyahu haNavi honoured him.
> How does the Satmer Rebbe deal with with the issues raised above (ie the
> gemora regarding teshuva of an idolator and the Mishna regarding Achav's
> portion in the world to come)?
>
As I mentioned, this is not the Satmar Rebbe's chiddush, he is quoting
earlier sources, I believe the Ralbag. I don't know if Achav would be
considered a tzaddik, it may be that he was just not considered a
Rasha.

You are right that the Satmar Rebbe would agree that someone not from
Beis David who is a tzaddik would get kavod, but none of the leaders
of the Israeli government qualify as tzadikim lkulei alma.

He points out that this is the only time that we see that Eliyahu gave
Achav kavod which would seem to support his position.

I am away already for Pesach and don't have my sefarim etc. so it will
be hard for me to look up the exact sources of the Satmar Rebbe's
position