Jews & Israelis

With the fifth of Iyar behind us, and the 28th coming soon, we as Chabad Chassidim may find ourselves in a difficult position as to explain why we don’t commemorate Yom Ha’atzmaut (or why we did…), especially those who are Shluchim in communities where Zionism is innocently seen as a genuine expression of Judaism.

Of course, the basic problem with Zionism is that it replaced Torah and Mitzvos as the unifying factor of Jews with nationalism, making the “house of Israel like all the nations,” Rachmana Litzlan. But how do you explain this to someone who is not a Shomer Torah Umitzvos yet, but is a proud Jew who is active in Jewish endeavors?

B’hashgacha pratis, I came across an article in the Hebrew Sichat Hashavua by Rabbi Menachem Brod, which assists in explaining the matter, using an idea that any Jew — regardless of his observance level — who would care about Chabad’s approach to Zionism, would understand.

I hereby present to you portions of my “plagiarism,” freely translated:

Jews Helping Jews

“Attacks on Jews have unfortunately been a consistent part of Jewish history, at times perpetrated by individuals or groups and at times by Jew-hating governments.

“What did Jews do in such situations (in addition to prayer, of course)?

“They lobbied government officials, tried to bribe people of power and recruited friendly governments to assist their persecuted brethren. Sometimes it worked, and in too many cases the Jewish communities remained helpless.  But generally, the Jews had no power of their own to help them defend themselves against their tormentors.

“The establishment of the State of Israel changed things. Now there is a state committed to the welfare of the Jewish people in all its Diasporas. If Jews are persecuted anywhere in the world, the Jewish state exercises its power for them and mobilizes other countries to combat anti-Semitism. Throughout the seventy-one years of existence of the state, it has assisted Jews in distress many times. It is certainly worthy to thank Hashem for giving the nation of Israel a protective force at the state level.

An Outrageous Distinction

“Precisely for this reason, a worrying trend in recent decades must be condemned: a tendency to see Israel as an ordinary country with ordinary citizens like all others, instead of seeing it as a Jewish country which belong to every Jew.

“In the past, when tragedy struck anywhere in the world, the question asked in Israel was, ‘Are there Jews there?’ Today they ask: ‘Are there Israelis there?’

“The Israeli media’s reports of the shooting attack at the Chabad House in Poway, California were a telling example. They reported the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s announcement that they were checking whether any ‘Israelis’ were there.

“Do you get it? An anti-Semitic shooter enters a Jewish place, a shul, and opens fire at Jewish worshipers, and the media outlets of the Jewish state are concerned only whether ‘Israelis’ are there!

“The Israeli Consul in Los Angeles sounded the most ridiculous when he rushed to announce that ‘no Israelis were hurt.’ That’s it, people of Israel, you can breathe a sigh of relief…  In the morning it turned out that there were ‘Israelis’ among the wounded in this heinous attack. The outrageous and artificial separation between ‘Jews’ and ‘Israelis’ seemed as foolish as ever.”

Rabbi Brod goes on to identify certain forces that are responsible for this negative trend. I allow myself to add a few sentences:

Rabbi Brod addressed a symptom. This is the sad reality of Israel today and of segments of what they call “liberal” Jews in America who express it in other ways, like support of anti-Semites who disguise themselves as “anti-Israel”. But what caused it to happen?

The cause for this symptom is modern Zionism. Knowing the cause will help us heal the symptoms.

While the “first generation” of Zionism acted with care for Judaism and lots of Ahavas Yisrael, the omission of Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas HaTorah from the equation, is obviously what led to this sad outcome.

In the not so distant past there were people who observed that religion is a divisive factor in Jewish American life, while Israel – as a display of nationalism and peoplehood – is a uniting factor. That was true, but without serious commitment to Hashem and Torah, that is unfortunately changing.

It turns out that after all is said and done, good old Torah and mitzvahs is the best glue to keep us together with our brothers in Eretz Yisrael and throughout the rest of the world.

Perhaps this decline of secular Jewish leadership, being expressed by the leadership divesting itself of the “Jewish” part, is just clearing the way for the ultimate Jewish leadership, Moshiach. Like the Rebbe once told an Israeli reporter, Mr. Oded Benami from Kol Israel radio, who asked him who he thinks should lead the Israeli government, “I don’t get involved in politics, mainly because my hope is that very soon Moshiach Tzidkeinu will be the Prime Minister.”

71 years later, we can see the results of Ahavas Yisroel divorced from Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas HaTorah. I feel such vibes coming from our Holy Land and I wonder aloud: Are we the ones who need to do the explaining of why we feel the time to celebrate true Jewish independence has not yet arrived? I think those who do celebrate should explain why.

We’re not ignoring the remarkable accomplishments; we’re only wondering if someone who has undergone a much needed surgery which leaves him with a high risk of contracting infection, should be celebrating so soon. He should rejoice; he should be thankful; but before throwing a party he should direct all his energy to getting back on his feet healthy and strong.

When Israel will be a home for Jews and Judaism, we will indeed rejoice and celebrate. When the prime minister will be Moshiach Tzidkenu, and we will be truly independent from goyim, and mainly from goyishkeit, we will celebrate.  ■