By COLlive reporter
Social media users are divided over a surveillance video captured at the Hiper Lipsker kosher grocery store in the central Israeli village of Kfar Chabad.
The clip, posted on a Facebook page, shows its Chassidic owner discovering that a youngster was intending to walk off with stolen goods.
During the interaction between the owner and the thief, whom viewers described as an Arab or even an employee, the owner twice slaps the youngster in the face.
Following that, the youngster escapes the store with the owner not even bothering to chase him.
“I once saw Arabs stealing snacks from a gas station,” wrote Facebook user Rut Avrahmi. “I told the owner, who was also an Arab, and he yelled at me: ‘What do you care?’ So do you allow thieves to steal?”
“Very good,” wrote Yoel Rot. “That’s how you teach thieves.” Another, Edit Shafit, wrote: “Excellent. A slap will enlighten him from his actions.”
But others were bothered how a man’s dignity might have been hurt. “There are people who steal because they don’t have…” wrote Tal Bitton. “To slap is pure violence and he (the owner) isn’t different from the thief.”
“Not justifying anyone, but it seems to me inappropriate to slap a human being this way…” wrote Halevi Kobi.
A few others questioned the owner’s Chassidic affiliation. “One thing is certain, this is not Chabad’s way,” wrote Avi Aizenback. Arie van Malek wrote: “I wonder what the Rebbe would say about this.”
A more pragmatic commentator named Avi Mehani, noted: “You are feeling bad for the thief?!!! Also he prefers to get 2 slaps over being arrested by police.”
VIDEO:
What is your opinion?
Did everyone just get detracted by the self defense and forget what thy just witnessed?
It doesn’t even say theft or robbery in the title!
if he got away with just a slap…..he will be back:))))
This applies to a fellow Jew.
Lo sichoneim…the passuk says clearly: do not lend a foothold in the Land of Israel to enemies. This includes potential enemies too. Please hire Jews at a better salary. Avoda Ivrit–the call of the hour.
“In a galaxy far far away called America, decades ago, a black teenager stole fruit from a Jewish owned fruit store. The owner ran after the teen and tackled him and told him stealing is wrong but if you want to work here, I’ll offer you a job. That kid took the offer, worked and learned yiddish and eventually became the Chief of Staff of the US Army . Yes, that was how Colin Powell got his break. ” And yet Powell still eventually turned against Bush and later claimed, that America should not have fought back against Saddam who… Read more »
Actually, yes. If a Jewish kid stole from a non-Jewish store on Kingston, I would not blame the owner for slapping him.
SLAP TODAY, ANOTHER ISIS/HAMAS RECRUIT TOMOROW
Below is a great story about another option. Let me just say first that in this case this was the correct response. 1. the slap was not out of anger but rather out of chinuch 2. it wasn’t too hard or too soft – it was to teach, not to damage 3. it was an important to stop future thefts from this Arab or others. In a galaxy far far away called America, decades ago, a black teenager stole fruit from a Jewish owned fruit store. The owner ran after the teen and tackled him and told him stealing is… Read more »
its not the first time he tried to steal from there. it looks like it was a deja vu for the owner. Maybe the first time the owner was kinder to him, maybe the second time he gave a warning and maybe this was the third time.
Aweful! should never slap anyone. Not a way to educate anyone!
Remember in some countries his hand would be amputated
I dont understand why we keep having to mix in to other peoples bussines if he shouldve slapped or not, why is that our concern?
while reading this article i noticed that most of the comments are sensible and on target. however a few of them reminded me of how the news reacts to Israel defending itself when the terrorists are hiding behind human shield. YES people are responsible for their actions, as Jews we believe in בחירה חפשית which means that just because someone may be needy he has the responsibility to make the decision to act properly.
to sum it up the backwards liberal thinking is seeping in. it may sound kinder but if you look past the surface, you’ll see the truth!
I was anti gun. No more. We own 3. Safely locked and no children in house. Agree with 26
So if a misguided Jewish kid shoplifted from a non-jewish store on Kingston, would you be OK with the slap?! He slaps him like an animal. So Jewish people who steal from the government and effectively cause my taxes to continue to rise, do they deserve a slap? Because I will be very busy slapping many people in CH.
in days gone by thieves would be branded and or have their hands removed. that might be more appropriate?
Lol, you guys publish the dumbest articles
I had never yet seen someone with such deep feeling for an Arab Thief, What Can I Tel You, IY”H BY YOU On Simchois…
According to common law and lehavdil Halacha, you are allowed to use physical force to protect your property!
What does anyone think, that a person will just allow a thief to steal and not react?! It is expected. In Gemara there’s an expression
אדם בהול על ממונו
Losely translated: a person will make quick decisions in protection of his possessions.
the thief should be grateful he only got 2 slaps and got away with stealing, he should really be arrested!
Store owner is my first cousin, there is a long history with that fellow, owner of store is the sweetest & kindest most loved in his community!
too bad he didn’t have a gun
Someone decided to defend self and property. This is the only language criminals understand. We have become wSy too timid which is why the local thugs always feel they can victimize the community. If it wS a meek little kid and he could have scared him off with talk, the shopkeeper probably would have done that.
According to ‘The 7 Noahide Laws’ a non-Jew who steals is ‘chaiv misa.’ (Strict interpretation).
All the critics of the store owner: Will you replace the stolen items?
If it was my store, I would hesitate to slap an Arab, because i might get a more severe punishment than the Arab, knowing the govt/Israeli mentality, law and aggressive ‘lefties’ Jews and non-Jews.
The case brought in the shulcan aruch is when there’s a chashas of pikuach nefesh (like giving away land to the arabs ym”s) not a shop lifter…
BH
He should have grabbed some metal stick and broke his legs. And the thief would tell his friends its not worthwhile stealing. BTW the thief is an Arab at least it seems from the video. But regardless they are usually not afraid of police but are very afraid of enraged owner who will hit them back.
whatt a waste of time, the rat was stealing.
Don’t mess with Jews. We’re not pushovers!
I don’t know all the details, I don’t need to judge and form opinions right away.
Listen the guys is steeling he should expect that something may go wrong and he is taking a risk in the act he is doing.So who cares the ower gave him to slaps he has the right too.stop feeling bad for the robber.I fwel the ower was brave and did a good job. And to those who feel bad for the robber your just as sick as the robber
should learn from their actions but not in voilent way.
@3 you were making a good point about a slap being much, much better than calling the police but then the wheels came off of your clue wagon as you went on…
The slaps didnt even stop him from stealing. And the owner looks pretty relaxed. What’s the point of the slaps then?
not sure
but the rebbe used to quote the shulchan aruch on hilchois shabbos
that even if they came to steal straw you are allowed to be mechalel shabbos and defend yourself
so i guess a slap and mechalel shabbos ???
but a video does not properly show what happened .. the owner should have been interviewed and had the option to explain what happened
That halacha doesn’t apply to the Arab
We should all be so brave and not let people steal from right under our noses.
If we would have more of this chutzpa the Jews would be better off as apposed to cowering in a corner and letting everyone take what’s ours
Now if we can give a slap or two to Hamas that would be great
The guy was caught stealing and deserved to be slapped he isnt a little child he knew better and still tried stealing
In Israel the police will not come for such a case, definitely the store owner needs to take the law to his hands. l the police are occupied with other violence/Arab problems
He let him off easy, the thief is used to getting Petsch (and/or worse)
He’s lucky he got away with only two slaps… thief!
He should be tried for attempted murder and his family compensated for the inhumane suffering he must have endured even if he does not know it. Seriously, is this even a question for anyone that its ok? lets stop focusing on the perpetrator “feelings”.
For Such A Complicated Question, You Need A Full Beis Din of 71…
Next time, don’t slap the thief. Call the cops and have him arrested for shoplifting. I’m sure that will do more for his education and his dignity.
I’m not sure what happened there, it wasn’t clear to me in the film. They seemed to be taking it lightly, but much better a slap or two than to be arrested. In America if police are called in such an incident and there’s resistance there could be bloodshed and I’m not anti- police!
Pinchas?
That the thief deserves to be treated honorably? There is one religion that teaches it’s followers to ‘turn the other cheek’. But it’s not ours. If you do nothing to deter theft, it will keep happening till you have nothing left. Yes the thief might be doing it out of desperation, but that does not obligate the store owner to sit back, and let it happen. If the guy would come to the store owner asking for help, then he would be obligated to treat him humanely. But if he chooses to act like a common, criminal, then the store… Read more »