shleimus ha'aretz

[Jude]

The Rebbe told the story about the Rogatchover Gaon who was living in Leningrad when he was sent a notice which said he owed money for two taxes. The Gaon examined the documents and concluded that he owed only the first tax but al pi din torah, not the second one. The next day he was informed that there had been an error and he didn't have to pay the second tax altogether.
From this story, the Rebbe concludes that a psak din of a rav which is made al pi Torah, affects the world. The Rebbe takes those rabbanim to task who don't proclaim that talking about land, concessions etc. (or only say the psak din in the privacy of their room) is wrong and dangerous. The Rebbe says these rabbanim are responsible for the continued danger hovering over millions of Jews. (see sicha motzei Shabbos Bereishis 5740).

[ChachChach]

i think i speak for most of us when i say that we hurt so much about the situation in israel, but we dont know what we can do about it....is there any horas from the rebbe that deal with practical things that we can do about the matzov? something that your ordinary teen can do?

[Jude]

check out truepeace.org
you can: 1) tell others about it 2) click on "what can I do" for ideas

[blackhorse]

Bichlal I'm sure improving in Torah & Mitzovs, and Ahavas Yisroel may be a good start?!?! ;-)

[ChachChach]

true, but since we're physical ppl, sometimes it makes us feel better when we see results right away

[WanderingJew]

on true Peace, check out Chaim Fogelman's song called "the Prayer"...if you haven't heard it yet, you'll see what i mean.
Kapitel Ayin-Tes is a great one to say for Israel's safety. May Hashem take mercy on his children!

[Jude]

I urge everyone to sign the petition at www.pillarsofwisdom.com/petition

which is a petition calling on the world to recognize that Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish people NOT because the U.N. said so, and NOT because Jews settled there, or any other reason. The REAL reason it belongs to us is because G-D SAID SO IN THE TORAH. The Rebbe says this is the ONLY claim we should make, and that the goyim will in fact respect this.

[PeaceInIsrael]

its hard to believe that even at time like this, that there are "frum" jews out there who are undecided about peace with the arabs.

its makes me realise once again, how lucky we are to be chassidim and how the rebbes words are timeless.


p.s. i know its an extreme but when i saw "frum" jews in chasidic garb standing on a street corner in manhattan waving a plo flag, i wanted to throw up. (excuse my language)
i dont understand it and never will.
to add to the pain, its the biggest chillul hashem.

[ChachChach]

you know what the funniest thing is? i remember that when i was just begining school, my (not lubavitch) teacher was talking about making peace with the arabs, and how it would be so good for the jews. meanwhile, i was wondering what was going on, bc i had clearly heard the opposite from my home

[Jude]

I just read an article about a Chabad shaliach in CA who had a gala dinner in a fancy hotel with lots of distinguished guests. The one who topped them all was Binyanim Netanyahu. There must be something I'm missing here. Netanyahu won the election for Prime Minister thanks, in great part, to Chabad, who got the vote out for him. Then he proceeded to renege on his promises to Chabad about shleimus ha'aretz, and betrayed them and the entire country, by giving Chevron away to our enemies. Since then, Jews have been murdered there, and their blood is on his hands. Yet, he was honored at a Chabad dinner ...

[ChachChach]

guess you can ask the same question about ANY politician who dealt in israeli politcs (sides for a few exceptions like ghandi)

[Shliachwannabe]

I know this is not a "Lubavitch" issue, but the current events taking place in Eretz Yisroel are very depressing. What can one do living in chutz-La'aretz. I feel so wrong living my day to day life while yidden are being slaughtered. I know spiritually speaking we can do more mitzvos, etc. but is that all. It's almost like telling a Jew living in America during the holocaust to say Tehillim. It is so frustrating! Ad Mosai! Why don't we hear an uproar from the big Jewish organizations. Where are the Jews of the world? What kind of sick country are we living in that doesn't give Sharon the greenlight? I'm ashamed of the American Flag. America only cares for itself. How can we smile today? I feel lost.

[Jude]

I definitely relate to your frustration. I was also upset with Clinton and our govt. but now?! Sharon had the green light a dozen times, and hasn't done anything! He should have blown the P.A. to bits on 9/11 when they cheered at America's tragedy, but he didn't. I no longer blame America for Sharon's passivity.

[ChachChach]

there's something about power that goes to people's head. before they become prime minister, they talk big, and are all passionate about standing up for what's right, but as soon as they enter office....

its a huge, annoying, maddening problem.

the Rebbe always said that if the Israeli government would stand up and proudly follow what the torah says, without thinking about world opinion, these problems would be solved. and its very true-as soon as you start to compromise bc of what others think, you land in hot water

[Shliachwannabe]

<<<there's something about power that goes to people's head>>>

I'm afraid it's something bigger than that. Everyone knew Sharon as one that doesn't stand for that garbage. He's a fighter. He's a warrior. I'm telling you there is tremendous pressure from America that we don't know about. Look at Netanyahu talking now - It seems as if he's back to himself in the pre prime-minister days. He seemed to be such a coward while in office. Before Sharon was elected, EVERYONE said, if Sharon would be prime-minister things would be different.

[WanderingJew]

I was just thinking along those lines after seeing the latest CNN update, 6 Israelis killed, Hashem yishmor...
it seems that no matter who will be the next prime minister, the political situation won't get any better. it's as if they get paralyzed by some monstrous fear, as soon as they get elected, so that all the encouraging, supportive promises they made to us just disappear, as if they never spoke.
Our "leaders" have to face the fact that everyone knows all too well-
ISRAEL HAS NO FRIENDS. ANY "SUPPORT" FROM AMERICA
IS SELF-SERVING AND FICKLE,WITH AN ULTERIOR MOTIVE SOON TO BE REVEALED.

[Jude]

the Rebbe says: do what you gotta do, don't be on the defensive, quote the first Rashi, and the world will RESPECT you!

[Shliachwannabe]

Jude, Absolutely right again. If I remember correctly, when Netanyahu (while Prime-Minister) spoke in front of a joint session of Congress, he banged on the table saying, "Jerusalem will remain undivided" - meaning there is NO negotiations. What was the response - A standing ovation.

[ChachChach]

its funny how with every prime minister, the line drawn in the dirt gets a bit further away. i remember seeing a video presentation about the golan heights, and rabin was saying something like "it wont even enter out minds to withdraw from the golan heights." now we need to have the pm bang on the table to reassure us that yerushalayim wont be divided....

[Jude]

the standing ovation happened summer 1996

no, we don't need any green light
the problem is (see Open Your Eyes thread) - Jews still operate with a galus mentality. The galus approach was fine ... in galus. Yaakov's approach with Eisav: bribe, pray, prepare for possible war, was what we had to do in galus. The Rebbe has been saying: Yidden, wake up! On all levels, communal, personal, the Geula has become a reality.

Now what happens when you still operate with a galus mentality while in Geula? Lots of negative things ... check out Arutz Sheva to see the tragic results in that area

[CheBraccia]

I remember seeing some Yeshiva's say special kapitlach of Tehillim for the situation in Eretz Israel. I think they were:

Chof, Chof Beis, Samech Tes, and Kuf Nun.

Saying these each day after davening is the list one can do!!! Especially those living outside of Israel.

[PeaceInIsrael]

shliachwannabe, there are many many people who share your frusturation. even the biggest activists are getting fed up.

its horrifying to think that jews in america felt the same way during the holocaust.

but what can we do?

[CheBraccia]

I remember a few years back, after a terrorist attack, people would be in shock and would do anything they felt they can do to help (demonstrate, donate, help families). We've reached a stage of numbness. We wake in the morning go to CNN and read about the latest terrorist attack. "Oh Thank G-d there were no dead, only 5 injured" How far have we fallen? 5 Jews were injured and had their lifes changed forever and we are happy that their are no Dead???

We have to wake up, maybe demonstrations don't help any more, maybe we are not in the position to make a contribution, but the least we can do is feel sorry and pray for those hurt!!!

How could we go on with our normal life, when Jewish brothers and sisters are being gunned down and murdered every day?

A good beginning for a change to the better would be the mere fact that we care! True we say "terrible news, did you hear what happened"... But we have to also feel the pain, we have to know that there are Jewish families who will never be the same after each attack, they will not have their beloved one come home that evening. The kids will not have a father/mother anymore, or the parents will not have one of their children anymore.
After all, every tzadik killed in an attack weather he's a soldier or a resident of Yesha, is out their to ensure that Jews can live more peacefully in Yerushalayim or any other place in Israel.

Let us at least wake up and make a change for the better. Say a little Tehillim, pay more attention to what's going on, and truely feel for what's happening.

[Col]

Stop Deceiving the Arabs
By Rabbi Ben Tzion Krasnianski

The real question: Do Jews belong in Israel?

Oslo is an arrogant and wholesale dismissal of our Arabic cousins. The Arabs have a serious argument. At Camp David they cited to former President Clinton the famous Biblical story of the two mothers arguing over the baby and King Solomon's brilliant verdict. They argued that the very fact that Israel was willing to divide or even to negotiate Jerusalem while the Arabs were not, proved that the Israelis were not the true mothers!

The Arabs view Jews, especially European Jews, as a foreign implant, as outsiders who have colonized and occupied native Arab land. All the most reasonable and logical arguments in the world and all the UN resolutions combined will not change for them the simple fact that Jews don't belong in Israel. According to the Arabs, all of Israel is one big settlement, and all Israelis are settlers occupying the land of millions of displaced Arabs. This is the fundamental truth that lies at the heart of this long conflict. The Arabs are a spirited people who respect truth and will not be browbeaten into submission.

Israel to date has not formulated a coherent response to this apparently just argument. Why, even G-d takes this argument seriously enough to add an entire book to the Bible for the sole purpose of refuting this argument. Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, the revered 11th century French who wrote a commentary on the Bible) opens his commentary on the very first words of the Torah with a question. Why the Torah begins with the account of creation when it should have begun with the first commandment given to the Jewish people as a newborn nation during the Exodus? In essence, the entire book of Genesis doesn't belong in the Torah.

He replies that G-d wanted to provide the Jewish people with a response to the international allegation that Jews stole the land of Israel from the Cannanites. The Torah begins with the story of creation to teach us that the entire universe, the heavens as well as the earth, belongs to G-d, therefore he may do with it as he pleases. The only reason G-d included the book of Genesis is to tell us that he has decided to give his Holy-Land to the children of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as an eternal inheritance.

Interestingly, Rashi wrote his commentary during the first Crusade period when the ******ians were battling with the Muslims over Israel!

It's not by human might that Jews came to Israel but by Divine right. Neither political prowess nor military power brought us to Israel, rather by Divine grace. Indeed ever since Joshua conquered the land from the Cannanites over 3300 years ago, there has never been an independent nation in Israel other than Jews! Whenever Israel was bereft of Jews the land shriveled up, becoming barren, inhospitable and filled with malaria infested swamps. Although we were exiled from our homeland, our bodies were sent into exile, not our souls. For thousands of years now and up until this very day, Jews all over the world, turn three times a day towards Jerusalem to pray.

On the nature of Truth

Truth is like pregnancy, just as there's no partial pregnancy, there's no partial truth. The conflict boils down to the fundamental question: Do Jews belong in Israel or not. If Jews don't belong there and are not allowed to settle in Hevron, Beit Lechem and in Gaza then surely Jews don't belong in Tel Aviv and Yafo. In that case we truly are a bunch of thieves, crooks, usurpers and bandits of the worst kind. If, however, Israel belongs to the Jewish people, than every Jew has the right and the privilege to live freely in his homeland. Jews are guests in the "royal palace" and we neither own nor control the land. We neither have the right nor the unprecedented chutzpah and audacity to give away our host's dining room and to negotiate away his bedroom!

The Arabs and the international community are waiting to hear how Jews will respond to this critical question. The moment of truth has arrived. We can't blame our problems on Arafat or on our Arab neighbors. We must have the courage to face the truth and to admit that the Intifada is our fault. "Oslo" didn't fail because of Arafat's stubbornness. Actually, it was nothing short of a miracle that Arafat said no at Camp David, thereby showing his true colors. Oslo blew up in our face because we lied, because we told the world that we really don't belong in the land of Israel.

If we are ready to give up even one percent of the land than we don't belong there at all and we must relinquish all of it. We can't have it both ways. Every proclamation by the Prime Minister that there'll be a Palestinian state is a dagger in the heart of the Jewish people. Israel is playing with fire engaging in a very dangerous game. Thousands have paid the price with their life and limb and millions continuously suffer by living in constant fear for the safety of their loved ones, with no end in sight to the horrific bloodshed and daily dose of violence.

As long as Jews are terrified to proclaim the simple truth that Israel is our home and it's not negotiable, there will never be peace in the Holy Land. It's time to tell the truth that a "Palestinian State" will never happen, not in G-d's lifetime! No one is doing the Arabs any favors by cruelly fueling false hopes that will only lead to frustration and greater disillusionment.

Israel hijacked

The wise "pragmatist" behind Oslo are the world's greatest fools. No nation on earth is powerful enough or affluent enough that it could afford to lose its soul! With a healthy soul we could survive ******; without a soul we can't survive Arafat. These pseudo intellectuals have robbed Israel of its essence, its core truth and its spirit. History will never forgive them for their stupidity. Israel has been hijacked by a small but influential group of intellectual terrorists who harbor, justify, excuse and rationalize terrorism in the worst way, who play politics with life. By not taking decisive action they have turned Israel into the greatest harbor of terrorists and suicide bombers in the world today!

No conscientious person could remain indifferent or keep silent as we witness Israel disintegrating before our very eyes. After September 11th the world has become allergic to lies, discovering that it could be hazardous to your life. Oslo and its underlying assumptions must go the way of Communism and become history.

America has been blessed with real leadership, men of character, spirit, integrity, moral clarity and truth. Will a genuine Jewish leader please step forward in Israel?

(The author is director of Chabad of the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Please e-mail him at Chabadues*********.)

* * *

This beautiful article sent out in Rabbi YY Jacobsons e-mail list, to sign up send an email to YYJacobson*********.

[Jac]

CheBreccia, I totally agree with your very moving post. Just now, I'm reading the report on the recent "attacks" on Palestinian refugee camps and how the Palestinian death toll has now reached over 1,000. The media manages to distort and portray the situation in the wrong light yet again. The helplessness of the situation frustrates and frightens me to no end. It's such an impossible situation, we're trapped whichever way we turn.

I guess the only thing we can do is care and take action.