What is the problem with the religious public? Why did it take so long for a movement like Manhigut Yehudit to be established? And why is it that even after Manhigut Yehudit has been established, it still lacks the support of the entire religious public (or at least the entire "Religious Zionist" public)?

It seems that theory and practice do not always go hand in hand. The religious public has become accustomed to certain rituals. A religious Jew will literally sacrifice his life to fulfill the commandment to circumcise his son. After all, the punishment for non-observance of that particular commandment is eternal excommunication from the Jewish People. But he will completely ignore another commandment that carries the same punishment; the commandment to bring a sacrifice at the Temple on the holiday of Passover.

The fact that an Israeli policeman stands at the entrance to the Temple Mount and prevents Jews from bringing their Passover sacrifices to the Temple is very convenient for the religious public. Does anybody really want to push his way through a throng of people to reach the entrance to the Temple Mount, to slaughter a lamb and afterwards to celebrate the traditional Passover feast on a sidewalk in Jerusalem?

The State does not prevent Jews from observing commandments. It simply provides the religious public with an excuse to avoid them. Many Jews fulfill the commandments because they are used to them, or because it is the socially acceptable thing to do. G-d's will is not always in the equation.

The religious have not yet taken responsibility for the State. For some, the State is a negative reality that has been forced upon us. According to their thinking, we must separate ourselves from the State and just try to manage until it disintegrates and is replaced by the Mashiach. According to this approach, there is no reason to take responsibility and lead Israel.

The real questions begin, though, with those Jews who rightfully perceive the redemptive dimension so potently expressed by Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel. Why don't the Religious Zionists take responsibility to lead? Why don't they respond to the leadership imperative?

The answer is the same as the Passover sacrifice. The Religious Zionists also live the ritual more than the essence. We have gotten used to the Zionist/Secular leadership, we are comfortable with it, our institutions have learned how to manage with it, people make their livelihood from it, too many personal careers are built on it, and so on.

But there is something deeper than simple comfort and inertia. The religious public really does not want to lead. Years of sectoral self-perception have depressed the National Religious leadership consciousness. The desire to lead is considered arrogant and prideful. Shouldering responsibility is not considered courageous.

That is how the National Religious public can organize huge demonstrations, while desperately searching for non-observant speakers willing to honor it with their presence on the stage. That is also how a symposium on belief-based leadership held by Arutz 7 did not include any speakers from Manhigut Yehudit. This is a prime example of the fear-to-lead phenomenon. We understand that the National Religious camp must lead, we talk about belief-based leadership, but ultimately stay far away from the very people who are making it a reality.

Manhigut Yehudit is developing the will to lead. Thank G-d, the National Religious youth have thoroughly integrated the leadership message. We are progressing by leaps and bounds, and the consciousness in the National Religious and even the Ultra-Orthodox youth is wide open to leadership. Ultimately, with G-d's help, we will succeed!