Peace in Israel: A Jewish Perspective

Peace in Israel is possible, but ultimately not through the force of arms.

The State of Israel may be 58 years old, but we are still fighting for our existence. We do not need the experts to tell us that this ceasefire is merely a respite; experience has taught us that lasting peace in the Middle East is a chimera.

The Declaration of Independence in 1948 defines the State of Israel as a Jewish country. No other country on earth is defined in terms of its religion. There are many countries where the majority of the population is Moslem or Christian, but a Christian has no right of return to England or France or the United States, nor will Egypt or Iran accept every Moslem. Every Jew, however, has the right of return and can become an Israeli citizen on demand. Why? Because Israel is the Jewish homeland and a place of refuge for world Jewry.

This is an inspiring concept, but it presents the Jewish people with an extremely challenging issue; how to define a Jew. It is absurd to call yourself a Jewish country if you have no clear idea of what being Jewish means, and yet that is precisely our situation.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

To appreciate the problem from a Torah standpoint, we need some historical perspective.

At the time of the Exodus over 3,000 years ago, the world Jewish population stood at well over a million. All things being equal, the Jewish population today should be roughly equivalent to the Chinese; yet there are only 14 million Jews worldwide.

No doubt this enormous discrepancy is partially attributable to our blood drenched history, but most of the attrition in our numbers is the result of fallout. It took a lot of self-sacrifice to be Jewish throughout most of recorded history, and many Jews elected to drop out under compulsion or when the opportunity presented itself.

For example, in 1492 when the Jews of Spain were faced with the choice of conversion or expulsion, two thirds elected to convert rather than face exile. As the creation of the Inquisition attests, this conversion was no more than lip service, but over the course of generations these Jews disappeared entirely. Five hundred years down the road it is impossible to distinguish between the descendants of these conversos and ordinary Spaniards.

We owe the survival of the Jewish people to the Jews who chose to pay the cost of being Jewish in a hostile world.

We owe the survival of the Jewish people and therefore by extension, the existence of the modern Jewish state, to the Jews who elected to remain in the fold throughout the ages and pay the cost of being Jewish in a hostile world. The most recent evidence of the enormous cost of being Jewish is the Holocaust, an unprecedented phenomenon in human history. Not that genocide is rare, but systematic genocide on such an enormous scale when there is no territorial dispute between the contending racial groups to trigger the violence has no historic parallel.

The Holocaust in particular has a special connection with the establishment of the modern State of Israel. The collective guilt and horror of the nations of the world at the immensity of the atrocity perpetrated against the Jewish people was the major factor behind the recognition granted by the international community to the nascent Jewish state. For a brief moment, the peoples of the world recognized the necessity of a Jewish refuge. The State of Israel was paid for with Jewish blood -- the blood of the six million victims of the Holocaust as well as all the Jewish blood spilled over the last 2,000 years.

MODERN ISRAEL

The majority of Israelis are secular and perceive themselves as members of the developed world; the aspirations of the modern Israeli are more or less the same as the aspirations of Western Europeans or Americans. Walking around Haifa or Tel Aviv feels little different than walking around Manhattan, Los Angeles or Toronto. The cars and buildings are not as big, but the people look and feel the same except that the language is Hebrew instead of English.

We have a long, long way to go before reaching end of Jewish history.

Is this what all the bloodshed, suffering and self-sacrifice of the past 2,000 years were about? Is this an appropriate culmination of the mighty heritage of the Jewish people? Did the heroic Jews of history surrender their lives to preserve their faith and stubbornly cling to their unique Sinaic covenant so that their descendants could enjoy the "good life" in the Holy Land and recreate a Hebrew speaking version of New York?

Modern Israel is not the culmination of Jewish history. It may be a step toward the fulfillment of our destiny, but given the fact that there is nothing particularly Jewish about happily pursuing the "good life" sheltered and protected by the might of the Israeli army, it is clear that we have a long, long way to go before reaching end of Jewish history.

THE DIVINE RESPONSE

The Almighty has made a covenant and He will not allow Jewish destiny to slip into oblivion. If the present situation in Israel fails to justify the existence of a Jewish state, Divine Providence will by necessity react with a tailor-made response designed to deliver the clear message that the Jewish nation requires. Israel will not be allowed to simply live peacefully here in the Holy Land when a wake up call is in order.

World Jewry and in particular Israeli Jews will be forced to confront the issue of their Jewishness and to reflect on the significance of living in a Jewish country. We are compelled to face these issues existentially when we are forced to pay a price for being Jewish in a Jewish country.

Jews are an extraordinary people. When I encounter non-Jews, I always attempt to enquire if they have any idea how many Jews there are in the world. The general response is hundreds of millions. This makes sense to me. Who could really believe that a people who are less than one percent of the world population could accomplish so much? Jews have won 30 percent of the Nobel prizes in science since they were awarded. Much of the intellectual progress made in the 20th century was fueled by the ideas of three Jewish thinkers: Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud and Karl Marx.

Jews are an appreciable percentage of the intelligentsia of the developed world; they are doctors, lawyers, professors, writers etc. out of all proportion to their numbers. In prestigious universities they are a large percentage of the student body. Jews are at the forefront of all movements for social justice, and despite their relatively tiny numbers are responsible for a lot of the philanthropy in the Western world. They have managed to rebuild the Jewish state after a 2,000 year hiatus and to revive a dead language, both unprecedented accomplishments in the annals of human history.

Jews themselves are the only people in the world who do not realize how special they are. The desire to fit in and be like everyone else prevents them from focusing on the significance of their Jewishness and reaching clarity about what being a Jew means. There is little urgency in defining a Jew if Jews are identical to other people anyway. They need to be reminded that they have a unique historic mission which sets them apart, and it is essential to their security and well being to understand this mission and define it clearly. Divine Providence will present them with thought-provoking stimuli whenever they show signs of ignoring their Jewishness and abandoning their mission.

CONFRONTAION

There is no question that a terrorist is fully accountable for his evil acts. It goes without saying that anyone who commits indiscriminate horrors in God's name will ultimately suffer due retribution. In addition to this fact, let us touch on the behind-the-scenes workings of Divine Providence that transcend the willing agents of destruction.

God will not let us ignore the question.

The suicide bomber who blows up a bus and the Hezbollah terrorist who aims his Katyusha rockets at innocent people with the declared intent of killing as many Jews as possible are powerful spiritual stimuli. They force Israelis to confront the existential issue of their Judaism. Why us? Why is it our fate to suffer bloodshed no matter how reasonable we try to be and no matter how many withdrawals we make? Why is it necessary in today's world, where civil rights have finally become entrenched in all developed countries, to maintain a Jewish enclave in the Middle East at such great cost? If we are really no different than other people, why is it worth sacrificing our children's lives to maintain a Jewish State? Perhaps we would be better off in the U.S. or Europe?

God will not let us ignore the question. The Jewish people signed a solemn agreement with God to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation". This undertaking is our social contract; it defines our place in the world as God's representatives. And this is especially true about the Land of Israel. The Almighty's promise to Abraham to deliver the land to his children is clearly conditional on their observance of their covenant with God. For I have loved him, because he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of God, doing charity and justice, in order that God might then bring upon Abraham that which he had spoken about (Genesis 18,19).

Peace in Israel is possible, but ultimately not through the force of arms. Our forefathers who were driven out of Israel twice knew this well, and Divine Providence treated them with greater severity than it treats us. Instead of sending them a wake-up call, Divine Providence banished them altogether.

In contrast, the typical modern Israeli is ignorant of the need to hold on to the Covenant of Abraham in order to hold on to his country. Providence will not banish him; it will provide him with stimuli to prompt a series of soul-searching questions that if taken to heart, could provoke genuine change.

This is no doubt painful, but the thrust is entirely benevolent. In Jewish thought ignorance is never bliss and the acquisition of knowledge is always painful. But through the workings of Providence, the Jewish people are learning. When the lesson is fully internalized there will be lasting peace.

Related Articles:

About the Author

While studying at the famed yeshivas of Chaim Berlin, Lakewood and the Mir in Jerusalem, Rabbi Noson Weisz also received a degree in Microbiology from the University of Toronto, MA in Political Science at the New School for Social Research and his LLB from the University of Toronto. Rabbi Weisz is currently a senior lecturer at Yeshiva Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem.

Visitor Comments: 39

(39)
Anonymous,
August 28, 2006 12:00 AM

This is so true, though I certainly encounter Jews in Israel who might not consider themselves religious as such but nevertheless are partially observant and/or proud of our heritage. I believe that we need to learn to be far less divisive though also sensitive to our differences, remembering that the many who hate us do not differentiate between those of us who are observant and those who are non-observant. All that matters is that we are Jews. People do not normally become more observant when treated disrespectfully, but are more likely to respond with kindness, acceptance and a genuine attempt to be understanding of where someone is at.

I truly believe that Hashem is bringing His people home, home to orthodox Judaism and home to the country of Israel, with many baal teshuvas and also people not halachically Jewish but with Jewish neshamas who are converting in larger numbers than for many centuries.

With regard to those treading the difficult path of a ger, all dayanim need to be aware that a genuine convert does not in reality "choose" his or her path any more than a born Jew - if the Jewish spark that Hashem gave you at birth has woken up and is sufficiently strong, you have to come home whatever it takes and can no longer truly live a life worthy of the name until you reach the mikvah. Unnecessary bureaucracy and lengthy delays in some places sometimes of up to several years, injustice and even downright cruelty from a few need to be replaced with fair, honest, just and sensitive scrutiny from all rabbis with a depth of spiritual understanding, integrity and wisdom, and a concern not to add any more suffering than is truly necessary to the immense trauma, confusion and pain that is already inherent in the genuine conversion experience.

Beyond the criticism, because we are all human and can all make mistakes and sometimes be less than noble in our personal motivations, ultimately, I believe we need to be aware that the true protection for Israel comes from Hashem. It seems that sometimes what we perceive as bad at the time, difficult and unjust suffering, actually opens up the possibility of transformation and growth in ways that would otherwise not develop. And it is when we have tried our best and everything seems impossibly difficult that we need to trust Hashem and His protection which He has promised the Jewish people all the more, because that is when Divine Providence can step in, in unexpected and awesome ways. The same infinite G-d who opened a way through the Red Sea and sustained our ancestors with miracles in the Desert has not changed and has the same infinite power as before. And the covenants made with Avraham and with Moshe are just as binding today as when our people were at Sinai. If the Creator of the entire Universe chooses not to use His power or to reveal it in ways that we ask Him to do, it is not because He cannot do so but rather He has chosen not to at that time. But when He does, it can be totally beyond our wildest expectations.

(38)
Corena,
August 27, 2006 12:00 AM

An education I needed

This is truly freedom of speech.

(37)
R.Wise(FFB),
August 27, 2006 12:00 AM

Rabbi Weisz, First of all, kol hakovod to you and others in the kiruv movement who are dedicated to bringing Torah to the uneducated. Your article seems to be focused on the typical modern Israeli who is "ignorant of the need to hold on to the Covenant of Abraham in order to hold on to his country." The key word that I picked up in your statement was "ignorant." And one who is ignorant of Torah or lacks an education is often referred to as a "tinok shenishbah." So if he is a "tinok shenishbah", he requires a role model to envelop him with love and to teach him.

Who are the role models if not for the educated within the Orthodox community? But the role models are not necessarily demonstrating exemplary character traits. Perhaps the soul-searching questions should be asked by the role models. I wonder -- are they in fact modeling the 13 attributes of Hashem toward one another and toward the tinok shenishboh?

(36)
Miriam Grossman,
August 26, 2006 12:00 AM

from a BT

Rabbi Weisz, It is very inspiring to see large observant families in cities like Toronto, Baltimore, Brooklyn, Denver, Dallas and Los Angeles. Israeli streets are filled with the young and the old who are steeped in Torah. In addition, we are living to see more and more Jews coming back to traditional Judaism. We are blessed that you and your colleagues are in the kiruv movement and that you dedicate yourselves to teaching thousands of Jews how to live more Jewishly. Just think of all that Aish HaTorah and other such organizations have done to repair the damage done by secularism. Those Jews who are less observant have fewer children and the non Orthodox Jewish movements are beginning to fail. It is very sad to see so many of our people losing their Jewish identities, but I believe that we are also seeing a rebirth of traditional Judaism. Please keep these positive thoughts in your heart. You touch many people with your wisdom. I cannot thank you enough.May Hashem bless Am Yisroel with a life of Torah and peace.

(35)
jeanne stern,
August 25, 2006 12:00 AM

excellent short biography

Unhappily my daughter has no idea of the history of our people. She thinks we are taking the land from the Arabs. I'm horrified at her ignorance. Thank you for your help.

(34)
Natan,
August 25, 2006 12:00 AM

We are not prophets

Great article, BUT:Although I agree that we need to adhere to Torah law, we are NOT prophets - we can not know with certainty why G-d has caused the recent war (or any of them). It may be a reward in the long term (we don't know how it will play out). Basically, we can't blame a particular segment of Jews for any particular problem. Maybe G-d caused the war because the observant Jews (I am observant) who should be doing better (because they know better) are failing in thier responsibilities.Also, you state:"Providence will not banish him; it will provide him with stimuli to prompt a series of soul-searching questions that if taken to heart, could provoke genuine change."There is no reason to assume that G-d will not banish Jews from Israel between now and Mashiach - it is a possibility.

(33)
rpd,
August 25, 2006 12:00 AM

When the lesson is fully internalized there will be lasting peace?

So, wasn't the moshiach supposed to be the one to bring genuine peace

(32)
yaakov,
August 24, 2006 12:00 AM

Of course it's not all or nothing

The point Moishe makes below is true -- we need to show the beauty of Judaism and the depth of its wisdom to interest non-religious Jews. Aish HaTorah is exceptional at doing this, and from what I've seen and heard, goes out of its way to point out that "it's not all or nothing." Just read the Bacon article that's on Aish.com this week -- that's the whole point of the piece!That said, all this needs to be balanced with the occassional dose of Truth, and Rabbi Weisz is making a number of essential points that very few seems to be saying. Intelligent Jews -- relgious and not relgious -- can handle it.

(31)
ray,
August 24, 2006 12:00 AM

from R.Aharon Leib Shteinman

I read from Rabbi Shteinman that the problems today are due to selfishness: "The foundation and the root of all the troubles today is due to bad midos (character traits). Everyone looks only at himself and his situation. The whole world is burning and he's focused only on his own self."

(30)
Jack Harris,
August 24, 2006 12:00 AM

Finally, the truth.

It is my desire to further propagate the truth that you have presented so well. Jack Harris

(29)
Anonymous,
August 23, 2006 12:00 AM

God bless Israel

my prayers and concerns are for Israel i do not understand these other countries that are so full of hate, hate from satan himself,,God will protect Israel, God gave that land to Israel, God will NOT let the land of Israel go to anyone else no matter what they do.

(28)
RICHARD WALD,
August 23, 2006 12:00 AM

RABBI WEISZ HITSTHE NAIL ON THE HEAD

RABBI WEISZ HAS POINTED OUT WHAT IS REQUIRED FROM US BY HASHEM. SADLY THERE AREJEWSWHO ARE SO FAR FROM YIDDISHKEIT NOT BY CHOICE BUT BY NEVER BEING SHOWN THE TRUTH THAT IT WILL BE A SLOW PROCESS TO OPEN THEIR EYES AND HEARTS. BORUCH HASHEM, SLOWLY BUT SURELY, THEIR IS A RETURN. AS IT SAYS IN NOVI (THE PROPHETS) THERE WILL COME A TIME OF HUNGER- NOT FOR BREAD OR FOR WATER BUT FOR THE WORD OF HASHEM. THAT TIME HAS COME. WHEN ENOUGH JEWS JOIN IN THE HUNGER, MASCHIACH WILL ARRIVE. HASHEM WILLING IT WILL BE SOON, IN OUR TIME.

(27)
moishe,
August 23, 2006 12:00 AM

correction and suggestion

it is terrible to say that "the acquisition of knowledge is always painful"...and it is incorrect. and, if you really want to reach the Jews who don't know and aren't interested in their traditions, you're going to have to communicate in a way that brings them closer. one of the main problems religious people have in relating to the non-religious is the idea that you have to do everything. this kills any and all inspiration and hope. when you communicate a respect for gradual growth, respect for where the person is, and an appreciation for their situation, then the encouragement to be more observant takes a firmer hold. and, one cannot present Jewish history like you do, in such painful way, and expect non-observant people to be receptive. sure people need to know the truth etc; however, it is much more effective to show the beauty, depth, meaning and lasting value of, for example, the hassidic thought of the tanya, reb nachman, hassidic stories, applying the parsha to today. the intent of this piece is good, and the factual information is necessary, but the presentation misses the essential point: to bring Jewish people back to the home of their soul. when will the majority of observant Jews get this?? chabad seems to do a pretty good job.

(26)
David Cristalinas,
August 22, 2006 12:00 AM

History books are made by the victorious at the space of time.

Ref: Peace in Israel,August 22, 2006. This Article is very interesting, and very complex, can lead to many different opinions and discussions. Sence this article addresses the witness of the divine, therefore I must address the terms required by the divine under the laws of the Torah, for Israel to be under the shield and protection of peace and blessings. It is important to study Torah every day and as often as possible, for it is not only a Spiritual enlightenting and moral guide, but also a written agreement between g-d and the Israelites past, present, and FUTURE.As said, the history of the grypto-Judio, is very complex and long to addresses in a simple paragraph as layed in this article.

(25)
Bob Bell,
August 22, 2006 12:00 AM

Repent

Habakkuk ch.2,verse4 There is your beginning...seek him...his word...his Torah...a right relation with G-d thru faith...Abraham did

(24)
Anonymous,
August 22, 2006 12:00 AM

The present happenings in the middle-east has always saddened me and I pray for Divine intervention to bring peace to every country in the ME. Israel has always been close to my heart because the foundation of my faith (RC) began from the Jewish people. The few articles i have read so far has really touched my heart. We are all praying for you.

(23)
Rob van Dijk, Amsterdam, Netherlands,
August 22, 2006 12:00 AM

going on

So might Rav Weisz's ideas in the wrong heads lead to selfrighteousness, bigottry and non-tolerance!

(22)
sonia soto,
August 22, 2006 12:00 AM

peace in Israel

I`m not a jewish, I`m Puerto Rican woman, an as proud I`m feel, any human being deserve to feelthe proud of the heritage,and jews are not less value of any other human,your race,have the bleesing of our creator.through thatdivine word, we all can exist today.SHALLOM.Att.Sonia Soto

(21)
miri,
August 22, 2006 12:00 AM

brilliant article!!!

the question now is- how do we get this powerful and urgent message to ALL jews?

(20)
Anonymous,
August 21, 2006 12:00 AM

Jewish -Religion or Culture

In order to try to understand what is happening in the middle east, I find myself at different web pages, sites, with different perspectives. Here, I am still confused. I thought I understood that "Jewish" was "a people", a culture, and/or, for those following a specific religion, a Religion. Thus, there could be Jews who followed other religions or people of other cultures who followed the Jewish Religion. Is this not correct? In the article I was reading By Rabbi Noson Weisz he refers to the small number of Jews in the world and the establishment of the Jewish State as based upon the Religion, unlike other countries. Are there not many Jewish people, perhaps of the Jewish Religion, perhaps not, in the world? Is this a Religious State, rather than one based on a people? I am confuse. Thanks!

(19)
Ray Kliewer,
August 21, 2006 12:00 AM

Praying for the Peace of Israel.

Though I'm a Christian, I've studied scripture enough to know that the roots of my faith rest solely on the Foundation is Judaism, Abraham, Moses and the Prophets. God chose Israel to be His and I believe they are (Israel) is still "The Apple of His Eye."I shudder to think that anyone could believe they are doing God's will by blowing themselves up or killing "His Children." Yes, tribulation and distruction will come but woe the one's who brings or indorses it. Personally, I do believe we will again see His Divine Intervention.I appreciate your thoughts and words - and I DO pray for the Peace of Israel.

(18)
Sigmund Alexander,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Jews are God's chosen people

As a Christian, who studies the Bible,I am well aware that Jews are the chosen people; but I am eternally thankful that it is they brought God to the Gentiles.

(17)
David Solomon,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Our only legitimate claim to Israel is as The People of G-d

Jews have not suffered the hatred of the world and repeated attempts by nations of the world to destroy us just so one day we could live in Israel and live lives totally divorced from G-d! We Jews are not like other nations! We are called--chosen, if you will--to be the vessel by which all mankind would be blessed! The security of Israel does not rest on military might and nuclear weapomns: Israel's security rest on the loving arms of The G-d of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!

(16)
Anonymous,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Great article

Your explanation of Jewish heritage and Israel's purpose of existence is the best I've heard ever!God Bless you.

(15)
Anonymous,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

One word

BS"DDear Rabbi Noson.Only one word for our article:S U P E R B.By the way and using the opportunity to wright to the public view, I wander my self, if we could ask You something, Aish: why don´t You build a T.V. station, like Aish.NN and put all your stuff to the open public???Hashem Bless You All.

(14)
Michelle Bergeron,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Great

I totally agree, thank you. Wonderful article!!

(13)
tarcisio martini,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

BEM LONGE, MAS PERTO DO SANGUE.

I am very far, in thhere we arrived due to inquisition, e brazil. but, we make the difference. the difference of having Abraham's blood.

(12)
Gloria Armus,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Awakening...

Rabbi Weisz has just opened my 71-year-old eyes! He is absolutely correct! If Jews are not behaving as God intended we are not serving our purpose. We, as Jews, have an obligation to the Convenant of Abraham. If we refuse to learn ourselves, what is it that we have the right to 'teach'? Here in the US (California, even the Kaballah is UP FOR SALE. Everything is a money-making proposition. Donations I can understand, but profiteering? Sometimes I think we're going backward instead of forward. It's too easy to get caught up in the creature comforts of the modern world and forget our origins... our PURPOSE.

(11)
Malka Goldgerg,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

I am a Jewess

I appreciate your writing of the State of Israel, but I think we need to look at the weightier matters of the "state of Israel" and that God Almighty does indeed have a providencial plan for His people. The Jewish person of today is mixed into the crowd so well that we do not know where he or she is. But God did call us to be a peculiar people, sanctified, set apart from others. He chose Israel out of His own will to do this. Your people and mine, the Jewish people were given the land of Israel.

Another way of describing the Jewish people from The Holy Scriptures is that God called us "stiff-necked". This means we are stubborn to God's leading and He was disappointed with His people. Don't you think that if we, as a people who are called by God to be His own would have done which is right? No, instead we have continues to complain as we have done from the Exodus till now. And if you really see the book of Judges, when we did right in our own sight, things continued to go wrong. There is a pattern with us. We never seem to listen to God, but to ourselves and that will always mess us up. God's way is the right way. We do not have eyes to see or ears to hear. Sometimes I believe if things are not changing we need to stop, and ask God "what am I missing" and He will show us. There will be peace in the state of Israel but only when the Jewish people truly look to God.

(10)
Dave Grilli,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Re: When

When you call on his name the only name that saves will your enemies be laid at your feet. The name is in the Torah and Prophets. They are your enemies that want to drive you into the Sea and your Nation cease to exist. Take what is ours and don't look back.

(9)
Sol Chazan,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

The three people that you call most influential among 20th century thinkers,were totaly secular Jews.n\Any comment?

(8)
gila perach,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

who is the earthly arbiter?

As you say yourself above, as a people, we are making our contributions. We do strive toward charity and justice and toward its ever improvement. "Secular" Israel IS different from the rest of the western secular world, despite similarities. What we need is Jewish unity and mutual respect for one another, Klal Yisrael. Each according to his abilites serves as a Gd's holy person on earth.

(7)
Paul Cohen,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Democracry not godly

Israel is putting her trust in man. Democracry is not godly, as much of the West thinks and acts. It is not a form of government, but God Himself that Israel must put her trust in.

(6)
Hal,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Marx does not represent intellectual progress

I liked most of this article, but I take strong exception to the statement that much of the 20th Century's intellectual progress was due to Marx, Freud and Einstein. Karl Marx founded a false religion which has the blood of about 100 million people on its hands, according to the "Black Book of Communism", which added the death tolls from the Ukranian famine, the Stalinist purges, the Great Leap Forward, the Cultural Revolution, the Khmer Rouge, the North Korean famine, and purges in Cuba, Vietnam and elsewhere. 100 million people is equivalent to 1 out of every 3 Americans, or more than 16 times the size of the Holocaust. Marx should be a symbol of shame, not progress.

(5)
Charles H. Allen III,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Why are there so many Jews in this country, (USA), opposed to Israel? Why are they not more supportive? Why are their politics so liberal and anti-Jewish?

(4)
Folke Holtz,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

The only way-teshuvah

Then I saw on Jerusalemnews about those that had return to the northen Israel, there was a view of young israelies in the discotec, dansing in the halfdark big room.I would have liked to see young israelies stanindg in the north after reatunring to the Northen Israel, be standing and praying to haShem. It must be a awaiking among all the young generation of the importance of the Torah and Hashem.Otherwise Israel could go under.

(3)
E.D.,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Mistakes in the article

1) "No other country on earth is defined in terms of its religion." Not true. The Vatican is officially Catholic, many of the Middle Eastern countries are officially Muslim, and some European countries are officially Christian/Democratic. 2) "The majority of Israelis is secular" - Should read "are secular," of course. 3) As an Israeli, I think the Rabbi has underestimated the Jews of Israel and painted them with a broad brush (many of us our religious, and even those who appear secular may be quite spiritual)

(2)
Rena Groot,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

Am Yisrael Chai!!!!!!!

The article by Rabbi Weisz "Peace in Israel" is excellent. I pray Israel as a nation will soon wake up to their call to be a peculiar people ... a people of Covenant with Almighty God...set apart by God. Only then will they be safe... then God Himself will fight for israel as in days of old. Am Yisrael chai!!!

(1)
james l. wade,
August 20, 2006 12:00 AM

excellent article

I am a Christian in the US who prays for your country and its people. This was a thought provoking writing! I trust the author and most of its readers will understand that GOD indeed, is in charge, and has a plan for Israel.

I'm told that it's a mitzvah to become intoxicated on Purim. This puzzles me, because to my understanding, it is not considered a good thing to become intoxicated, period.

One of the characteristics of the at-risk youth is their use of drugs, including alcohol. In my experience, getting drunk doesn't reveal secrets. It makes people act stupid and irresponsible, doing things they would never do if they were sober. Also, I know a lot about the horrible health effects of abusing alcohol, because I work at a research center that focuses on addiction and substance abuse.

Also, I am an alcoholic, which means that if I drink, very bad things happen. I have not had a drink in 22 years, and I have no intention of starting now. Surely there must be instances where a person is excused from the obligation to drink. I don't see how Judaism could ever promote the idea of getting drunk. It just doesn't seem right.

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Putting aside for a moment all the spiritual and philosophical reasons for getting drunk on Purim, this remains an issue of common sense. Of course, teenagers should be warned of the dangers of acute alcohol ingestion. Of course, nobody should drink and drive. Of course, nobody should become so drunk to the point of negligence in performing mitzvot. And of course, a recovering alcoholic should not partake of alcohol on Purim.

Indeed, the Code of Jewish Law explicitly says that if one suspects the drinking may affect him negatively, then he should NOT drink.

Getting drunk on Purim is actually one of the most difficult mitzvot to do correctly. A person should only drink if it will lead to positive spiritual results - e.g. under the loosening affect of the alcohol, greater awareness will surface of the love for God and Torah found deep in the heart. (Perhaps if we were on a higher spiritual level, we wouldn't need to get drunk!)

Yet the Talmud still speaks of an obligation on Purim of "not knowing the difference between Blessed is Mordechai and Cursed is Haman." How then should a person who doesn't drink get the point of “not knowing”? Simple - just go to sleep! (Rama - OC 695:2)

All this applies to individuals. But the question remains - does drinking on Purim adversely affect the collective social health of the Jewish community?

The aversion to alcoholism is engrained into Jewish consciousness from a number of Biblical and Talmudic sources. There are the rebuking words of prophets - Isaiah 28:1, Hosea 3:1 with Rashi, and Amos 6:6, and the Zohar says that "The wicked stray after wine" (Midrash Ne'alam Parshat Vayera).

It is well known that the rate of alcoholism among Jews has historically been very low. Numerous medical, psychological and sociological studies have confirmed this. The connection between Judaism and sobriety is so evident, that the following conversation is reported by Lawrence Kelemen in "Permission to Receive":

When Dr. Mark Keller, editor of the Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol, commented that "practically all Jews do drink, and yet all the world knows that Jews hardly ever become alcoholics," his colleague, Dr. Howard Haggard, director of Yale's Laboratory of Applied Physiology, jokingly proposed converting alcoholics to the Jewish religion in order to immerse them in a culture with healthy attitudes toward drinking!

Perhaps we could suggest that it is precisely because of the use of alcohol in traditional ceremonies (Kiddush, Bris, Purim, etc.), that Jews experience such low rates of alcoholism. This ceremonial usage may actually act like an inoculation - i.e. injecting a safe amount that keeps the disease away.

Of course, as we said earlier, all this needs to be monitored with good common sense. Yet in my personal experience - having been in the company of Torah scholars who were totally drunk on Purim - they acted with extreme gentleness and joy. Amid the Jewish songs and beautiful words of Torah, every year the event is, for me, very special.

Adar 12 marks the dedication of Herod's renovations on the second Holy Temple in Jerusalem in 11 BCE. Herod was king of Judea in the first century BCE who constructed grand projects like the fortresses at Masada and Herodium, the city of Caesarea, and fortifications around the old city of Jerusalem. The most ambitious of Herod's projects was the re-building of the Temple, which was in disrepair after standing over 300 years. Herod's renovations included a huge man-made platform that remains today the largest man-made platform in the world. It took 10,000 men 10 years just to build the retaining walls around the Temple Mount; the Western Wall that we know today is part of that retaining wall. The Temple itself was a phenomenal site, covered in gold and marble. As the Talmud says, "He who has not seen Herod's building, has never in his life seen a truly grand building."

Some people gauge the value of themselves by what they own. But in reality, the entire concept of ownership of possessions is based on an illusion. When you obtain a material object, it does not become part of you. Ownership is merely your right to use specific objects whenever you wish.

How unfortunate is the person who has an ambition to cleave to something impossible to cleave to! Such a person will not obtain what he desires and will experience suffering.

Fortunate is the person whose ambition it is to acquire personal growth that is independent of external factors. Such a person will lead a happy and rewarding life.

With exercising patience you could have saved yourself 400 zuzim (Berachos 20a).

This Talmudic proverb arose from a case where someone was fined 400 zuzim because he acted in undue haste and insulted some one.

I was once pulling into a parking lot. Since I was a bit late for an important appointment, I was terribly annoyed that the lead car in the procession was creeping at a snail's pace. The driver immediately in front of me was showing his impatience by sounding his horn. In my aggravation, I wanted to join him, but I saw no real purpose in adding to the cacophony.

When the lead driver finally pulled into a parking space, I saw a wheelchair symbol on his rear license plate. He was handicapped and was obviously in need of the nearest parking space. I felt bad that I had harbored such hostile feelings about him, but was gratified that I had not sounded my horn, because then I would really have felt guilty for my lack of consideration.

This incident has helped me to delay my reactions to other frustrating situations until I have more time to evaluate all the circumstances. My motives do not stem from lofty principles, but from my desire to avoid having to feel guilt and remorse for having been foolish or inconsiderate.

Today I shall...

try to withhold impulsive reaction, bearing in mind that a hasty act performed without full knowledge of all the circumstances may cause me much distress.

With stories and insights,
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