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| Authentic Jewish Leadership for Israel |
The Jewish Leadership Weekly Newsletter
1 Iyar, 5767 (April 19) Issue 6728
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In this Issue |
- Stalled Halfway Up the Mountain?
- Shabtai Ben Dov on Independence Day
- Israel's (Broken Bleeding) Jewish Heart
- Back to Homesh!
- Join the Team
- Preserving the Integrity of the Land
- Torah Sparks: Tazria Metzora
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| Stalled Halfway Up the Mountain? |
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 Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day, which will be celebrated this year on Tuesday, Iyar 6 (April 24) leaves many Israelis feeling ambivalent. On the one hand, we are all genuinely thankful to G-d for the miraculous rebirth of the State of Israel. On the other hand though, pessimism and despair prevail; recent polls show that most Israelis do not believe that the State of Israel will exist in thirty years from now.
So should we be happy, or should we despair? To answer that question, we have to take an honest look at what the State of Israel means to us. Throughout the long years of exile, the Land of Israel was the dream destination of all Jews. But that dream had other components, as well. In essence, when the Jews fervently prayed, "Next Year in Jerusalem" they imagined a Jerusalem complete with the rebuilt holy Temple, the Mashiach, the Sanhedrin, Jewish values and joy, all basking in the glow of G-d's Divine Presence. That dream is still the dream of the Jewish People. It is the peak of the mountain that we collectively climb throughout the generations.
Upon arriving in the Holy Land, of course, we collided with reality. Jerusalem and most of the Land of Israel were desolate and a far cry from the dreams of the millennia. With G-d's miraculous help and with the determination of the Jewish People, the State of Israel was established. It was the fulfillment of a dream. But it was no more than an important step toward the fulfillment of Judaism's ultimate dream of redemption.
True, the State of Israel does afford Jews at least some measure of protection. It did provide a safe haven for the Holocaust survivors. On the other hand, though, it presents itself as the summit of the Jewish -- or rather the Israeli -- dream. No more Temple, no more Mashiach and no more Sanhedrin. The modern State of Israel poses as the ultimate substitute for Jewish destiny. For its secular leaders and ideologues, we have already reached the summit; there is nothing more to strive for. (Except for some sort of inaccessible and elusive "normalcy.") Even worse, those who still dare to dream the dream have become the enemy.
With no dream, there is no way to reach the top of the mountain. Not only that, but there is no way to remain mid-point in the grueling climb. If the mountain climber deludes himself that the steep side of the slope is actually the summit, he is doomed to fall.
So how can we celebrate the establishment of a State that has essentially created a roadblock on the way to the peak of the mountain? How can we celebrate when we see the police preventing Jews from praying on the Temple Mount? The black uniformed Expulsion squads? The corruption, immorality and cynicism?
My answer to those questions is very simple. When I celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut, I sincerely thank G-d for the miracles of the past. But more than that, I thank Him for the potential that the State of Israel holds for the future. For although in the present, the State of Israel has mutated into an obstacle to redemption, I believe with all my heart that it is the tool that the People of Israel will use to ultimately merit the Mashiach, the Temple, the Sanhedrin and the holy glow of G-d's Divine Presence throughout Israel and the entire world. In other words, we must measure the State of Israel with the yardstick of Israel's destiny -- not merely its existence. By the way, that is the only yardstick used by much of our youth.
Manhigut Yehudit has its sights set on the Jewish peak of the mountain. We are doing our utmost to make that dream a reality. May we all meet soon at the summit!
With blessings for a meaningful and optimistic
Yom Ha'atzmaut,
You can turn the State of Jews
into the Jewish State.
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| Shabtai Ben Dov on Independence Day |
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 The famous Jewish philosopher Shabtai Ben Dov lived the rebirth of Israel. He was born in Europe, orphaned, made aliyah to Israel during the British mandate, joined the underground Lechi organization, fought the British, spent six years in a prison camp in Africa, returned to Israel in 1948, and fought against the invading Arab armies, losing many friends in the process.
Shabtai Ben Dov did not experience the current despair; he was an integral part of the Zionist euphoria of renaissance. Nevertheless, his writings reflect the condition of the State of Israel and the way that we relate to Yom Ha'atzmaut today:
"Independence Day is a decisive day. Not because it renewed our nation's sovereign tools and not because it solved the need for a Jewish state. The State represents something far more important: It established a state of Jews just hundreds of meters from the Temple Mount. The hearts of at least some of those Jews are filled with courage, knowledge of Israel's destiny and the feeling of complete ownership of this Land, while the rest are nurtured at least partially by the fountains of longing for the liberation of Jerusalem.
The Nation, though, does not heed the fact that the newly born State of Israel is nothing more than a way station. It relates to it as the end goal. Thus, not only has Independence Day become a tool to divert the Nation from its imperative future, it also creates a barrier between it and its past, from which its future is born."
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| Israel's (Broken Bleeding) Jewish Heart: By Moshe Feiglin |
Translated from the Ma'ariv NRG website.
 The Prime Minister categorically denied the existence of any secret addendum to the agreement with the Hamas. But then again, nobody understood why supervisors from the Nature Society now mysteriously joined the security guards at the entrance to Israel's shops, restaurants and busses. One way or another, Israelis quickly got used to two inspections at the entrance to all public places: One by the security officer and the other by the nature supervisor. Shortly, another inspector joined the two already guarding Israel's doorways. It was a policewoman from the Sexual Assault Department. It seemed a bit strange at first, but in light of the frequent assaults on women -- the police officer quickly became part of the familiar scene. After all, what doesn't the State do to protect the security of its citizens?
When the Israeli POWs finally returned to their overjoyed families, a wave of happiness engulfed the country. Time and again, the pictures of the families embracing their loved ones were broadcast on Israeli television and the entire nation collectively shed tears of relief and joy. Even the Prime Minister's popularity began to show signs of resuscitation.
But then it was time to release the terrorists. Nobody was surprised by the familiar sight of the rows of new busses carrying the "Palestinian freedom fighters" to their homes, brandishing the V for victory sign from the bus windows. The Arab Knesset members that insisted on photo ops with the murderous heroes didn't surprise anyone either. "Just as I claimed in the past," said MK Bashara upon his return from his shuttle between Bin Laden and Nasrallah, "the Hizbollah won, and for the first time since 1967 we have experienced the taste of victory." (A true quote from Bashara's speech in sovereign Israel's Um El Fahm, on June, 5, 2000).
The Israelis get used to everything. Nothing can surprise them anymore. Just like their ancestors who got used to Pharaoh and Chmelnitzki and attempted to get used to Hitler, they got used to the current blow.
But the last bus in the row managed to break through even the most impervious walls of Israeli apathy. It wasn't exactly a bus. It was an armored truck. The driver looked nervous, the guards seemed frightened and even the Arab MKs didn't run to be photographed with the newly liberated heroes. And then, out of the armored truck, the lions, just now freed from the Safari Zoo in Ramat Gan, descended. "We insisted on eliminating any signs of occupation," the Hamas spokesman explained. "The Israelis must understand that they cannot imprison entire populations behind bars and then expect us to release their captives."
"What could we do?" the government spokesman groaned as he rolled his eyes toward heaven. "The commandment to free captives outweighs all other commandments."
"I don't remember why, the spokesman added, "but they demanded that we also release him, so we did".
"Who???" the reporters clamored.
"Him!" the spokesman answered and pointed at (convicted serial rapist) Benny Selah, broadly smiling at a frightened camerawoman as he descended from a Prison Service vehicle. "But don't worry; preventative professional forces are already in place throughout the country. Today we have proven that we have a true, Jewish heart."
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| Back to Homesh! |
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 On Tuesday, Yom Ha'atzmaut, thousands of lovers of the Land of Israel will once again make the climb to Homesh, one of the settlements destroyed in the Expulsion. Although returning to Homesh alone does not deal with the root of Israel's problems, it is an important expression of the brave new Jewish spirit of faithfulness sweeping through our country, and our youth, in particular. So get out your backpacks, your hiking boots and your faith in the G-d and People of Israel. The meeting place is at Shavei Shomron on Tuesday morning. Manhigut Yehudit will be there. The first Manhigut Yehudit group will set out from the back gate of Shavei Shomron at 8:45 a.m. and will visit the ruins of Sebastia and ancient Shomron on the way to Homesh. The second Manhigut Yehudit group will set out from the back gate of Shavei Shomron at 10:30 a.m., under the guidance of Shaul Cohen. For those coming later, meet near the Homesh water tower. The main Homesh event will take place at 4 p.m. Looking forward to seeing you!
Keep up to date with the latest articles and audio updates.
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Joining Manhigut Yehudit International is much more than just a donation. Now you're part of the team! And you don't need to be living in Israel to join. Join the team today! Click here to learn more!
Let's spread the message! If you are interested in arranging a lecture or meeting in your community with Moshe Feiglin or Shmuel Sackett, either in Israel or in the USA, please contact Dovid Shirel at shir@manhigut.org, or call: 02-996-1123 (Israel), or 516-620-2475 (USA). |
Shmitah: Preserving the Integrity of the Land of Israel |
The Shmitah (seventh sabbatical year in which the Torah prohibits the working of the ground in the Land of Israel) is approaching and with it the challenges of observing the laws of Shmitah in today's complex agricultural and economic reality. Manhigut Yehudit is not a rabbinical authority on Jewish law. Clearly, though, the solutions that have been implemented in previous Shmitah years, i.e.: selling the Land of Israel to a non-Jew for the year or buying produce from the Arab farmers of Gaza instead of from Jews is a most negative outcome of the desire to observe the Shmitah.
 Thank G-d, a solution is being created. In the upcoming Shmitah year, the Machon Hatorah V'Ha'aretz (originally of Kfar Darom in Gaza) will be establishing a Shmitah alternative that will provide Jewish-grown produce to consumers in the manner that the Shmitah was meant to be observed, while enabling Jewish farmers to make a living. This initiative is encouraged by Israel's top rabbinical authorities on Jewish law. Manhigut Yehudit highly recommends this true, Jewish alternative. For information and registration: otzarhaaretz@gmail.com.
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Torah Sparks: Tazria - Metzora |
A person to whom shall occur in the skin of his flesh the plague of tzaraat
(Leviticus 13:2)
The plague of tzaraat comes only as punishment for lashon harah (evil talk).
(Midrash Rabbah; Talmud; Rashi)
 Evil talk is like an arrow. A person who unsheathes a sword can regret his intention and return it to its sheath. But the arrow cannot be retrieved.
(Midrash Tehillim)
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| Manhigut Yehudit
The Jewish Leadership Movement
Tel: 02-996-1123 (Israel); 516-295-3222 (USA) |
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Our Aim:To perfect the world in the Kingdom of the Almighty
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