AN UNANSWERED CRY

Now, of all times, as we face criticism from all directions regarding the path of Chabad in bringing all Jews closer to the Torah, or alternatively, the criticism thrown our way because we joined the ultra-Orthodox protests against drafting Torah scholars, we should be quite happy with our standing. We have a Rebbe who leads us according to the principles of Torah and the command of Alm-ghty G-d, not by passing trends and truths that change according to the shifting winds of coalition politics.

Translated by Michoel Leib Dobry

1.

What exactly did we have here? Another round of “peace” talks with the heads of the terrorist organizations, those who currently represent the “Palestinian leadership.” The truth is that there is no such nation as the “Palestinians” – it is pure fiction. Once there was a sovereign entity called “Palestine,” a.k.a. Eretz Yisroel. The Arabs living there have decided to define themselves as a people, despite the fact that there has never been a “Palestinian people.” The Arabs are the same Arabs, and the sea they want to drive us into is the same sea.

Among the Jewish People, however, there are those who are determined to negotiate with the leaders of this fictitious body. They stubbornly seek to recognize that there is such a nation – and if it does exist, it is also entitled to its own country and acceptance as a sovereign state. Thus, they made yet another marathon round of talks. Do you remember that there had previously been an Israeli foreign minister who said she was afraid to enter the room when they are talking about the division of Yerushalayim? This is the same government minister who today is responsible for these negotiations. This time, she has entered the room where they are discussing the division of Yerushalayim. And this time she carries a list of far-reaching concessions.

Something has happened. During the intervening time, terrorists who murdered Jews or who were involved in their murders have been released, construction projects in Yerushalayim, Yehuda, and Shomron have been frozen, and we have lost another degree of legitimacy to our claim on the Holy Land. As Dr. Michael Ben-Ari has said, anyone who conducts negotiations on Eretz Yisroel is comparable to someone who negotiates the handover of his son to a band of robbers. While his son might not be given over to them, he’s lost his legitimacy as a father.

2.

It’s impossible to ignore the fact that there was someone who foresaw it all – G-d’s chosen prophet, the Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach. Today, everyone understands that faith in the Tanach is the only truly rightful basis for our presence in Eretz Yisroel, and therefore, politicians who have lost their hold on the Tanach have also lost their hold on the land itself. To this day, many good people have followed this path. Virtually all politicians who have previously led the way along the ideological path of the Greater Land of Israel – including the incumbent prime minister – have crossed over to the other side. They haven’t decided yet whether this ideology was good at the time and now we have to play a little politics, or whether the situation has changed and this ideology no longer stands up to the test. So it is when you have a flexible barometer for truth, subject to fluctuation according to the passing trend.

However, there’s also been a tremendous return of sanity and soundness to the national conscience. People today understand that the only way to maintain “the avenue of leadership” is through one eternal truth – the truth that comes from leadership rooted in the traditions of our holy forefathers – Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, with a firm connection to Jewish history and faith in the One G-d. 

On numerous occasions the Rebbe has noted that we must strengthen the sense of Jewish awareness among Israel’s politicians, enabling them to stand firm on the territorial integrity of Eretz Yisroel. The Rebbe also explained to Mr. Arik Sharon that he had to put on t’fillin in order to really be as strong as a lion. This begs the question: What is the connection between putting on t’fillin and standing firm on Eretz Yisroel? The answer has been revealed today to anyone who considers the long line of politicians who have joined “the other side” because their hearts and minds remain untouched by the G-dly truth. 

The Rebbe has linked faith in G-d and His Torah with a firm stance on our rights to the Land of Israel. There can be no separating the two. Today, everyone sees how accurate that really is. Those who tried to develop the hybrid concoction known as “secular nationalists” were forced to abandon this wild delusion. We eventually came to the tragic destruction of the Jewish communities of Gush Katif, proving that there is only one means of guaranteeing our presence in Eretz Yisroel – the Jewish “deed of ownership,” the Tanach. This is also what can explain to the young people of Tel Aviv, why we have to be here – not just in Elon Moreh, but in Tel Aviv as well.

3.

Once there was an ideological argument between the Gush Emunim movement and Chabad Chassidim. They were certain that the mandated course of action for bringing the Redemption was to settle the Land of the Tanach. The old slogan was “another dunam, another goat.” Chabad Chassidim had a different approach: winning the hearts of their fellow Jews, investing all their efforts in Chabad evenings on kibbutzim and igniting the Jewish souls in Tel Aviv coffee shops.

Today, the argument no longer exists. The orange forces came out in large numbers before the Gaza “disengagement” on a massive “face-to-face” public relations offensive, only to discover that the people simply were not with them. We must face the facts: In spite of all the tears and anguish, the people supported the disengagement. They supported the plan and saw Sharon as the man who would liberate the settlers from the threat of mortar attacks. However, the people were cut off from reality, not due to a lack of familiarity with Gush Katif, but a lack of familiarity with the Torah. The orange forces quickly realized that you can destroy an entire street of homes in fifteen minutes. If the people are not with the Torah, the flourishing tourism and majestic coastal views of Gush Katif will do no good. Now, everyone is suddenly a Chabadnik. 

The Rebbe’s clarion call to work unceasingly in spreading the light of Yiddishkait took a sharp turn eight years ago, when the next generation of what had once been Gush Emunim became spreaders of traditional Judaism at intersections and t’fillin stands all over the country. They realized that there was no such thing as nationalism without Torah. While there is no political right-wing without compromise, there is Judaism without compromise. For without belief in the Tanach, t’fillin in the morning, and recognition of the Creator, the path becomes totally one-sided. This is the path that many politicians have taken to the left side of the political map.

4.

It appears that the wars of Melech HaMoshiach are reaching their final stages. Slowly but surely, everyone realizes that there is only one way to live in Eretz Yisroel – as Jews. The first step was the painful acknowledgment – as a result of the Gush Katif tragedy – that there is no one on the Arab side with whom to speak. Indeed, they again tried another rounds of talks, and again the talks broke down. They again released terrorists, they again held the usual ceremonies, and again the results were another useless exercise. The negotiations were at a dead end and we achieved no tangible benefits by our misguided generosity. They say, “There is no partner,” when in fact they really understand that there will never be a partner. There is no partner because it’s impossible to live in Eretz Yisroel with peace and security – except in the path of Torah.

In the past, every meeting with the chairman of the “Palestinian Authority” received considerable media coverage. Today, no one really pins much hope on the talks – maybe four percent of the population. Everyone now understands that there is no reason to chase after a peace of terror, for there will only be real peace in accordance with the path of Torah – from a position of strength and fortitude.

The second step unites a much wider cross-section of the religious and ultra-Orthodox community around the Rebbe’s leadership. Without even noticing it, they have all turned into shluchim. Furthermore, they aren’t embarrassed to say it in a clear voice: We are following in the path of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, and we operate according to his vision. What the Rebbe began with a shlichus program of a few dozen lonely Chassidim has been transformed into an institution encompassing an entire generation. The Rebbe educated this generation to look inward to the Jewish People. Not just at Chabad Chassidim, but everyone. They call it “distributions” and they too establish “Jewish homes.” But in the final analysis, it’s the same activity, and above all, it’s guided by the same vision: preparing the world to greet the Redeemer and bring Moshiach Tzidkeinu in actual deed. 

However, it’s also true that there remains one unanswered cry. We still confront a very problematic state of affairs regarding the deterioration of our firm stance on our rights to Eretz Yisroel, the result of weakness on the part of the country’s political leaders. It’s true that things aren’t so simple in Eretz Yisroel today, as we are at the height of one of the most serious struggles we have ever faced over the Jewish identity of Israeli society. The national debate revolves around the question whether this is a Jewish society or ch”v an Israeli society that also happens to be Jewish. However, the seeds planted by the leader of the generation are growing in every direction. The Rebbe’s activities have today created the greatest sense of public awareness in decades, including on the leadership level and the realization that we have only one right to Eretz Yisroel – the Jewish right. As a result, more and more people have reached the understanding that we must strengthen our recognition of this Jewish right as a means of strengthening our Jewish identity. 

5.

Chabad Chassidim have a vital role at this hour on the eve of the True and Complete Redemption. We are standing on guard, protecting our holy Torah and Eretz Yisroel, the only ones hoisting all the banners without one harming another: the Torah of Israel, the People of Israel, and the Land of Israel. We have been given the task of uniting all these banners into one flag of eternal truth. 

Now, of all times, as we face criticism from all directions regarding the path of Chabad in bringing all Jews closer to the Torah, or alternatively, the criticism thrown our way because we joined the ultra-Orthodox protests against drafting Torah scholars, we should be quite happy with our standing. We have a Rebbe who leads us according to the principles of Torah and the command of Alm-ghty G-d, not by passing trends and truths that change according to the shifting winds of coalition politics.

This is the time to give a gift to the Rebbe and become full partners in the Rebbe’s great vision of bringing Moshiach Tzidkeinu in actual deed with joy and gladness of heart.