Ruth Blau (Bloi) was the second wife of the formerly well - known head of Jerusalem's Neturei Karta, Rabbi Amram Blau. Most facts about the two are already known but now I got hold of Ruth's autobiography published in 1979 (in Hebrew). The French original version of the book is called "Les Guardiens de la Cite" and the Hebrew translation is named "Shomrei Ha'Ir - שומרי העיר".
This is the second part of me putting together the content of Ruth's book.
There are people in Mea Shearim who have never liked Ruth Blau:
“She should have been satisfied with the great Zaddik, Rabbi Amram Blau, marrying her and not ambitiously searched for her own fame. The only thing she was after was becoming famous”.
I was even told that Ruth Blau didn’t have a sign with her name on her door. Instead she had a kind of sticker saying “The woman who is not a Zionist”.
Still in France, once Ruth Blau was invited by a very religious family for Shabbat. Ruth herself writes about this family that they were extremely important within their community and very frum. It was August and Ruth realized that her she needed to wear long sleeves when she went to this family. At least a blouse with sleeves covering her elbows. In the end, she put on a woollen sweater. Ruth loved this particular Shabbat with its unique atmosphere and Torah teachings from her hosts. She admits that it was worth covering her elbows.
Ruth studied at a religious institution. My personal opinion is that she very much enjoyed getting to know important Jews (celebrities within their communities) as well as discussing Torah issues with Talmidim Chachamim. Apparently she was looking for a certain kind of people to associate with and those people were not necessarily “ordinary” people (simple Jews).
At the beginning, Ruth was extremely Zionist and said out loud that the State of Israel was the will of G – d. Once she found herself confronted with the opposite opinion; actually by a non – Jew: Where exactly she saw G – d’s “Hand” in the foundation of the State of Israel ? Israel would go to war against its enemies just like all the other nations. The government is secular just like a Gentile government.
At first, Ruth thought that this person was an anti – Semite but then she had to agree to the points he had made. Four years later she discovered the answer she was looking for in the Talmud (Ketubot ?). Why something being built / founded without G – d is eventually destined to fail. The Jews are not supposed to end their own Galut (Diaspora) but only G – d can do so. Here Ruth Blau brings a commentary from the “Etz Yosef” on Midrash Rabbah: G – d had promised the Jews to take them out of the Galut when their blood is being spilled like water (by their enemies) and when the Jews have suffered the worst tortures. In this respect, she also lists commentaries from the Maharal in “Netzach Israel” and the Rambam in “Iggeret Te’iman – The Epistle to Yemen”.
Considering all this, Ruth Blau started feeling sorry for the Palestinians (than called ARABS) because they had lost their land only because the Jews have broken their union with G – d. The Jews were supposed to wait until G – D is taking them out of the Diaspora and not cause everything themselves. However, the Jews (the Zionists) couldn’t wait and started to hasten their return to Israel. Not according to G – d’s will but according to their Zionist ideas. Thus, the Zionists totally ignored the present living conditions in Israel (then PALESTINE) and therefore caused a disaster. Ruth Blau came to the conclusion that G – d won’t help the Jews fighting the Arabs because the entire State of Israel is against His will.
Again, Ruth Blau was touring Israel and an Arab guide took her to Hebron. She, as a non – Muslim prayed at Kever Avraham. In those days it was almost impossible that anyone but an Arab was able to pray at the Maharat Hamachpela (where the forefathers, foremothers and Adam and Eve are buried). On their way back to Jerusalem, the Arab took Ruth to pray at Kever Rachel (outside Beit Lechem, Bethlehem). I am only mentioning this incident because today, the Arabs claim that Kever Rachel is Arab and not Jewish at all. However, in the 50ies or 60ies, the Arabs themselves still considered the place of Kever Rachel to be Jewish !
Furthermore, Ruth Blau describes how she met with a United Nations employee who took her to a Palestinian refugee camp in Jordan. In those days, many years before the Six – Day – War, the camp must have been near the Mount of Olives (then Jordan territory), as Ruth mentions the area where she met the employee. She writes that she felt ashamed when she saw the refugee camp: “It broke my heart. I was so ashamed, everything was grey … the earth, the tents …the people”.
She continues saying that she couldn’t fall asleep that night because she always saw the refugee camp in front of her eyes. For four days she walked around the Palestinian camp and felt sorry for them and the Jewish people. Ruth Blau considered it as a tragic history that Zionist Jews insisted on building a State of Israel and thus hasten the Ge’ulah (Redemption). According to the Passuk in Talmud Ketubot (110 – 111), they have no right to do so but only G – d will let them know when the Ge’ulah has come. Until then, other peoples have the right to live in Israel and call it their homeland. Thus, Ruth Blau came to the conclusion that the Zionists had thrown out the Palestinians but, on the other hand, she obviously overlooked the fact that the same Talmud Tractate also teaches the exact opposite. Namely, that when a Jew lives in Israel, he shouldn’t leave it until he has serious reasons. Those reasons are given in Talmud Ketubot: Such as the Jews needs Parnassah (an income) and is unable to earn it in Israel. Then a Jew living in Israel may have the permission moving abroad. But only for a limited period of time !
Furthermore, the Ramban (Nachmanides) commentates that it is a Mitzvah to live in Israel because only there, the Jews are able to fulfill more Mitzvot. And if I may make a personal comment: In my opinion, Ruth Blau followed what some Rabbis told her but never looked up any deeper or further sources. She seemed to have been a, what we today call “SHEEP”. You tell someone something and the person blindly follows it. I am, on the other hand, the exact opposite. When I learn something at a Shiur, I love to look up the given sources myself and even study more on the subject. This may be the reason why I could never become a member of a Chassidic group because I do express an opinion. There are moments while reading Ruth’s book when I just want to scream out: “Get educated, woman !”
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