Selected Responsa

14. See the responsa cited in Pitchey Teshuvah, Yoreh Deah 252,# 4. 15. In Torah She-be’al Peh 19(1977), 9-39.

16. See, in general, Journal of Reform Judaism 36(Winter, 1989), 53-65, and the sources cited there. R. Yosef may have the better argument on this point, yet given the long-standing dispute over the issue, it is a shaky halakhic foundation upon which to advocate that Israel cave in to extortionate ransom demands.

17. R. Ezekiel Katzenellenbogen, Resp. Kenesset Yechezkel,# 38.

18. And, contrary to popular impression, Israel has never adhered to a“no negotiations--ever” policy with respect to hostages. Its recent willingness to deal for the release of Western captives in Beirut and(thus far unsuccessfully) for its pilot Ron Arad, held by the Hezbollah in Lebanon , are cases in point.

19. This is essentially the position taken by a number of contemporary authorities. See R. Shaul Yisraeli in Torah She-be’al Peh 17(1975), pp. 69-76, R. Yehudah Gershuni in Ha-Darom(1971), pp. 27-37, and our colleague R. Moshe Zemer in Ha'Aretz, December 13, 1983.

Mark Washovsky

(not previously published)