Lessons Learnt

After Gush Katif it became evident arguing, crying and hugging the soldiers would not stop expulsion. After Amona standing up to Yassamnikim et. al. Only earns one a bloody head and broken bones and the houses are still destroyed. More places are on the chopping block and on and on. Maybe the problem is limited to Olmert and Kadima but when the only difference between speakers at the Hertzaliya Conference was how much territory to cede. Where will the divide between the Government and Settlers go next? The direction things are heading is obvious and at the same time unthinkable. Now is the time to reflect and find a strategy that has a chance. OK , I would be in a better position to give advice writing in ModiÂ’im that Michigan but silence is not an option.

Yesterday, Shabbat we went to a neighbor who is a true Yireh Shamayim who was decrying the Hilul Hashem in Amona. However, his concern was for the soldiers who had rocks thrown at them or the soldier who allegedly knifed. The reports from Arutz Shevaradioo and TV froze in my mindÂ’s eye. How could any sane human being and especially a Jew committed to Torah and Mitzvot not be traumatized by those sounds and images, I lost it. Frankly writing about the incident frustrates me no end. Unfortunately my friend believes what The New York Times fits in as news it prints, discredited reporting standards and eyewitness testimony notwithstanding. The actions that should arouse outrage are media-spun to make prey in to predators.

In short, whatever has been done till now is not working. If anything it seems to play in to the present governmentÂ’s hands. If anyone has noticed Israel has some very serious domestic non-security issues to resolve, the gap between rich and poor as the economy transitions from a socialist model to a capitalistic one. The present Knesset has seen more corruption than any of its predecessors. Problems with growing incidents of crime and societal violence. The erosion of free speech or unequal protection under the law for points of view the ruling party disapproves. A sense of futility in the political or judicial system may give rise to a desperation with nowhere to go.

The syllabus for Despotism 101 includes at itÂ’s the cure for weak leadership to retain power in spite of serious domestic problems is to distract the populationÂ’s attention by creatibogeymangyman, a scapegoat. Imagine, the effect on the psyche of middle Israel by setting up the Orange Youth as lawless rebels going against the StateÂ’s institutions, the courts, army and police. Almost in contempt for the populationÂ’s intelligence the government has chosen conflict instead of resolution. The protestersÂ’ idealism is tainted by a rock throwing fringe but through the government manipulating the mediaÂ’s leftist lens individual misguided behavior morphs in to fanaticism and therefore a loose cannon that cannot be tolerated in a free democratic society.

General NavehÂ’s professed reluctance to carry out the Amona action with the degree of force used rings hollow. In the post Nuremburg era Commanders have the right if not the duty to refuse orders they deem immoral. Indeed who does the Military serve? The State or the People? Similarly in whose interest is Olmert acting? How is keeping the oranges in check and demolishing houses in Amona serve a greater national purpose?

Fortunately, the remaining viable vestige of democracy in Israel are elections. Maybe what has to be done relentlessly is blog, email, letter write, press candidates as to what their positions are on making state institutions instrumentalities that act in the interest of the electorate instead of protecting those elected. Judicial reform to limit the matters which arejusticablejusticable, standing be limited to actual parties in interest and not mere ideological advocates. Restore governmental and judicial integrity by guarantying equal protection under the law. How Jewish Identity expresses itself in public policy and communicated through educational frameworks. How can the common ground of Torah build a bridge between Daatim and Haraidim unite on common ground albeit informally to defeat the present regime and avoid a further deterioration in the country. Maybe the political role of Roshei Yeshiva in the National Religious camp could reach out to Haraidi ADMORIM, Roshei Yeshiva and Hachamim or other contacts to tap in to what can be agreed on. UTJ or Shas no longer have the luxury to care only about their own. To think there is no broad based threat to all Torah Jewry is naive.

Now before the elections is the time to change minds. without money change happenscadencee caidance that will not be stilled. Strike a blow with ballots and bring the state back to the all thUntille. Untill MASHIACH.

WHAT IS NEXT?

Ariel Sharon is still in a coma and is not likely to return to political life. To declare like Pat Robbionson Mr. Sharon's situation is some type of D-vine payback for giving up Gaza presumes too much. However to deny there is a D-vine hand in events is a fool. Sorry to speak so bluntly, but look at the succession of events. Sharon pulls out of Gaza, declares to the UN that others have legitimate claims to land of Israel, not just Jews, News elections are called, Sharon begins a new political party, the realigning of MK's and then wham the cedar of Kadima is felled. And amidst all this further expulsion of Jews by Jews, from Jewish land continues unabated. What next?

Certainly, Mr. Sharon should regain quality of life and be healed by the true Doctor. But the real questions that each Jew both in the diaspora and Israel must consider are;
How does the desire to dismantle the land continue?
How can supporters of a policy of disengagement say the state represents "The hope of Two Thousand years"?
How can those Jews who support the notion of historic Arab claims to Israel face their ancestors who faced Zionward three times daily in prayer and wept bitterly over exile not just on Tisha B'Av but nightly as G-D Himself mourns the destruction exile?
Maybe the deepest question is the one those who still hold fast to faith must ask--What is still missing? What is lacking in observance, study and devotion, why is Mashiach still not here?
What is next may not be clear, but where the end is a world of blessing and healing of perfection, a world of G-D ruledby MASHIACH.

A THOUGHT FOR THE FUTURE

Even though it has been coming for years PM Sharon’s declaration that Jewish historical ties and claims to the land are not exclusive and other peoples could have legitimate claims to the land as well, killed any viability to secular Zionism

The ceding. of Gush Katif and removal of its population underscores the depth of the present government’s lack of ideology, the rifts between secular and religious, Dati and Charadi became all too clear. Among the various personalities interviewed on Arutz Sheva one thing is clear, a sea change in attitude must take place.

A Jewish child in Eretz Yisrael who sees Avraham Avinu as George Washington and not his or her own Zayde/ Saba is unconscionable. While the population becoming fully Torah observant is desirable but there must be a way to convey our tradition to the entire Jewish community within the state. Every country is invested in teaching its youth about its history and values, how else is patriotism nurtured? How else is a nation going to stay on track and true to its character? Otherwise, the apparatus of government serves only those in power and no one else. Only an on going sense of purpose and enduring values can counteract the intoxicating effects of power and privilege.

Jewish pride must surge through the Jewish population of the state. Appreciate of the deep spiritual and historic concretion between the people and land, the values, insights and concepts which have held Jewry over the centuries should serve the contemporary Israeli as well. Now this cannot be some bland lifeless curriculum, but the living dynamic force that is Torah. The notion that Torah belongs only to those in between knitted kippot with designs and the knitted kapplech tied with a knot on top must be dispelled. Torah as "...Morasha Kehilat Yaakov" must be put in to practice not just as platitude.


As important the rule of the Supreme Court needs reform now. Limits on standing, justicability, ripeness of claims and restricting the scope of jurisdiction to cases and controversies similar to the restraints placed on the United States Supreme Court in Article Three of the U.S. Constitution as a curb to the present judicial tyranny. As the state has a system granting authority to Clergy and Religious courts as well the Supreme Court’s present jurisdiction over these faith communities clergy and courts’ sphere of authority would and has impaired these institutions integrity.

These are broad ideas but these are dependant not so much who wins but a loud voice coming a sea of black and orange. Maybe the future begins with religious Jewry connecting on the common ground of Talmud and halacha and only then to the agree to disagree arena of haskafa.

Zionism's Kaddish

How does one bury an idea? Beliefs and the values flowing from as practical expressions of those beliefs define those who subscribe to like minded beliefs and values. Beliefs and values give one context and validate the foundation upon which a life is crafted. Imagine the significance of a world leader associated with one's values and beliefs proclaiming the foundations of one's worldview are no longer possible?

Prime Minister Sharon speaking to the United Nations essentially said kaddish for secular Zionism.

To declare that Jewry' claim to the land does not exclude others' claims to the land. What your Zaydeh would think of this Mr. Sharon? What would Menachem Begin A'H think of this? What would each Jew think of this when declaring NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM?

Mr. Sharon to unilaterally declare your country's departure from the heritage which spanned nearly 2,000 years. Mr Sharon has disengaged the State of Israel not just from Gaza but from Jewry and Judaism.

In the coming year let the prayer and hope of Jewry be for world peace. Not a man made fabrication but G-D's true peace the rule of MASHIACH .

A lament, a call from the depths

As the unthinkable takes place it is hard to place one's emotions. It is doubtful the soldiers and police enjoy their duty as human beings they should not, as Jews each act in carrying out the expulsion should disgust them and I fear scar them.
As for those who live in Gaza imagine the sense of what can only go beyond abandonment when one area Rabbi observed I will have to continue paying a mortgage on a house that is destroyed.
Imagine those offered money for their Gush Katif home that cannot even purchase anything similar elsewhere in Israel where Real Estate is at a premium.
Whenever I visited Eretz Yisrael I always felt a sense of home and that Jewish life in the diaspora was surreal and now I see growing intolerance in America and in Israel a not welcome here sign.
The part that is too easy is to be angry. Rather it is time to realize how desperate the secular leadership is and to know the only thing left to offer any sanity in a Jew's life is the knowledge that no matter what Jewry will survive until the Messiah's arrival , may G-D send him now!!!!

The Most Disappointing thing is

As the three week mourning period between the 17th of Tamuz and Tisha B'Av begins tragedy yet looms large on the Jewish horizon.

The proposed departure Israeli from GAZA is no longer popular. Daily, Israelis are increasingly opposed to what can only be called maddness. Oppossion is not just settlers or national religous or other right wingers. Daily as the reality that a Gaza given to the PA only provides a new home for terror bases that can strike in to the heart of Israel. People from Pevery segment of society are saying no.

But what is worse is how by legalizing the expulsion The Israel Supreme Court has declared that the interests of Jewry and that of the State are not bound up together.Think about it.

The Israeli Supreme Court rule today that disengagement is legal. According to the Arutz Sheva report the Court went as far as to declare YESHA as not part of Israel.

The only true Zionist I knew was my Savta A'H anything that hinted at natural splendor was similar to something she had seen in Eretz Yisrael. The land that Jewry yearned for was Beit Lechem,Chevron and of course the Temple Mount in Yerushalyim. The stories of Jewish history in the land takes place where the Justices claim is not Israel.

The bankrupt nature of The Court's and government's ideology is clear in how it has embraced definitions of Jewishness that are at variance with Jewish law. The result, an Oleh serving in the IDF while bearing allegiance to Nazism.

The thought of there becoming two nations Israelis and Jews should disturb all Jerry
maybe instead of a wedge a bridge needs to be in place instead.

Betrayal!!!!!

The emotions are still raw. To think someone as morally directed like the President to assert that anything past the 1949 armistice lines between Israel and Jordan needs Arab approval shocks the senses. To sweep away Jewish claims to the Old City of Jerusalem, the graves on the Mount of Olives, Rachel's Tomb and the Cave of the Machpaleh with a wave of the hand redefines callousness.

The failure to recognize that throughout the generations, nearly two millennia Jewry has looked to the Land of Israel. The emotionally charged worship on Yom Kippur and the Passover Seder is punctuated by the declaration NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM! For President Bush and by extension the American government to ignore this belies at best ignorance or worst an anti-Semitism worthy of Ambassador Kennedy.

To think there are no Jewish voices speaking in the President's hear is unlikely the support Mr. Bush enjoyed within the Orthodox community was nearly unanimous. Mr. Bush's loyalty to friends is the stuff of legend, what happened?

The change in Arab leadership? Could Abbas" suit and proper grooming pass for civility? Or an embrace of the Western attitude toward compromise? Unlikely.

The question the administration must answer why the animus to Judaism? Why does there HAVE to be a 23rd Arab state and the Jews cannot have even one full place on the globe to call their own?
What

APained Cry

As this is being written interesting things are going on. Prime Minister Sharon is in the US to speak before AIPAC but has no political meetings planned. The Arab leader Abbas is visiting the White House. Yet it is the subtle actions of the First Lady that gives me pause.Ms. Bush is visiting Israel and made it her business to visit but Jewish and Arab institutions. Additionally, the First Lady wished to honor Islam, Christianity and Judaism by visiting various holy sites in Jerusalem. To honor Islam Ms. Bush visited the Temple Mount /Al-Aksa mosque area. In effect this would have the effect of recognizing Muslim dominion over the Temple Mount's surface. Ms. Bush in her capacity as First Lady is arguably expressing the United States' policy that it rejects Jewish historical connection to the Temple Mount and accept Islamic claim to judging holiest site.To be sure it is a leap to assert someone as decent as Ms. Bush could be cast as Anti Semitic nor could that be said about the present American administration. It stands to reason that the First Lady's itinerary was approved by the Israelis and they were apparently insensitive to what amounts to a denial of judging belief in the return to the Temple Mount with the Third Temple and MASHIACH that is the unbearable shame. As Hillel taught " If I am not for myself who will act on my behalf? "

Which Way?

It has been awhile so here is a new point to ponder. There is considerable debate about the nature of the US Constitution. There are those who argue that the document is living and breathing and so would be subject to each generation's reexamination and interpretation. The thought that the document which serves as the law of the land would be subject to zeitgeist would render the constitutional authority meaningless. After all with no baseline of standards how would the system of government and laws contemplated by the framers retain authority?

On the other hand to claim the language of the document means what it says and the text adequately blies the framers' intent is equally misguided. As anyone who watches an old movie or television program can attest, words do not always retain their meaning. Nor do attitudes, certainly the framers of the Bill of Rights who denied women the vote and at the very least tolerated slavery at the rate of 3/5 a human per person. Changed their perspective in subsequent amendments.
The Constitution is not a D-vine law with an eternal quality nor is it a malleable mass without shape or contour.
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