Torah Stories

Congratulating the British Nation

After the Balfour Declaration was passed in 1917, the Jewish leaders held a huge, celebratory banquet in London, to which they invited lords, dignitaries, and members of Parliament. Speech after speech by Jewish communal and Zionist leaders thanked the British for their historic act. When Rav Kook was given the honor of speaking, he said:

"I have come not only to thank the British nation, but to congratulate it for being privileged to make this declaration. The Jewish people is the 'scholar' among the nations, the people of the book, a nation of prophets; and it is a great honor for any nation to aid it. I bless the British nation for having extended such honorable aid to the people of the Torah, to return to its land and assist it in renewing its homeland."

Courtesy of: http://www.geocities.com/m_yericho/ravkook/YOM_ATZMAUT_66.htm