Sunday, October 21, 2007

UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE'RE DYSFUNCTIONAL


Last week something happened that only underscores the fractious nature of Israeli politics. The proposed Israeli budget for 2008 contains dramatic budget cuts for Torah study in Yeshivoth and Kolellim{advanced institutions of Torah study leading to ordination }. Whether this is necessary or not is not what is interesting, how Torah political parties reacted.

The newspaper affiliated with Degel HaTorah depicted Shas as a willing partner with the secular parties in the coalition in making these cuts which ostensibly targets Degel HaTorah supporters drowning them in poverty. Shas the Sephardim Torah party denounced the cartoon as an ethnic slur by European Jews to Jews of Middle Eastern and North African origin.

The cartoon is not ethnic but political, however unlike the US, political affiliation elsewhere is ideological and includes youth groups social benefits etc. The ideological diversity in Israel’s society made parliamentary representation based on party affiliation through the population seem like a good idea to protect the points of view representing a cross-section of the country.

Maybe the system worked as long as there was an overall agreement to the State’s survival and security. Instead, the breakdown of nationalism in favor of individualism has lead each party and its Keenest Members in particular. Instead of being part of a national body with specific interests, advancing its interests to the exclusion of others’ is the guiding principle. How to serve the nation is replaced by how to retain power as well as how to keep the prestige and privilege that come with being in office.

Budgets then become nothing more than gathering of vultures fighting over a carcass. Therefore, taking money from the UTJ sphere when it is perceived that Shas has kindred values is seen as betrayal.

One of the Chassidic greats pointed out when holding even a small coin against one’s eye so that is all one can see it can even blot out the Sun . . . .

If the nation needs to come together to survive it must start with those who lives revolve around Torah and its values unite under Torah and fraternal love [Ahavas Yisrael

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

Be True to Yourself

FM Livni made some excellent points when speaking before the UN.
However, is there a real partner for peace with the stature to fulfill the obligations outlined in an agreement or treaty? Why are Jews who chose to do so are prohibited from living in and under a PA government yet Israel will not require a similar treatment of Arabs/Gentiles living within Israeli territory?

The late Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries saw Zionism as a secular Messianism. The return to Zion, the reclaiming of the land, the emergence of a full Jewish society as a participant among the community of nations as equals. The call still echos for Jews to leave the Exile and return to their Homeland, Eretz Yisrael. Eretz Yisrael is an undivided Jerusalem. Eretz Yisrael is Bethlehem and where Mother Rachel waits for her children to return, as is Hevron , Sechem, Zefat, Teveria, Beit EL,Efrat, Tel Aviv, Petach Tikva,Sederot, Bersheva, Lod, or Bene Brak etc. . . .

The present proposal made between two weak leaders forced together by a lame duck administration retreats from more than territory, it abandons core values. Instead of a Messianic fulfillment if Olmert, Abbas, Bush/Rice have their way the Jewish State becomes nothing more than a new Pale of Settlement. May a D-vine spark kindle the yearning for Zion and have the people of Israel proclaim "The Land of Israel is Jewry's and Judaism's natural habitat, accept no substitutes!!!
Anything else means to live a lie denying who the Jews are and their legacy as well as their destiny