The Surprised and the Amazed: By Moshe Feiglin
13 Shvat, 5771
Feb. 17, '11
Why didn't Mubarak send in the tanks? Why didn't Tahrir Square turn into Tiananmen Square? Is the Egyptian regime less cruel than its Chinese counterpart?
How is it that all the dictatorships in the Arab world have suddenly gotten weak in the knees over unarmed civilians doing nothing more than demonstrating? After all, the regime is all-powerful; they have built their security forces over decades in concentric circles so that the inner circle will owe its existence and power to the ruler and will always do his bidding. And if the need will arise, it will always force the ruler's will on one circle after the next until it reaches the very last citizen. What brought about the collapse of all these mechanisms of oppression?
We all look on in amazement as history unfolds before our very eyes. Nevertheless, we must differentiate between the amazed and the surprised. When rightist former MK Geulah Cohen stood up in the Knesset thirty years ago and spoke of the aliyah of millions of Jews from the USSR, current President Shimon Peres mocked her and said that she was hallucinating. When the Camp David Accords were signed, there were those who promised eternal peace, while others warned that war was just a question of time and the risk and price were not worth the return. And then came the Oslo Accords, when the "surprised camp" euphorically reveled in the New Middle East and World Peace, while the "amazed camp" went out into the streets to warn of the national catastrophe. Why are all the wise men - all the foreign affairs commentators, former ambassadors and professors - always surprised, while the regular people look on in amazement, but are not surprised in the least?
The answer is simple. The "surprised camp" is the camp of the utopian hallucinators that detached itself from reality - the Holy One, Blessed Be He. They pretend to create reality themselves and when that doesn't happen, they are surprised.
The "amazed camp" is made up of the people connected to reality. These are the people who knew that the Egyptian regime was a dictatorship that would fall sooner or later. They knew that the all-out war between decadent and decaying Europe and the sword of Islam would not be settled with the Western-style democratization of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. They are the same people who, even at the entrance to Auschwitz, knew that one day the Jewish Nation would return to its Land, as the Creator had promised. They did not know how it would happen, just as we do not know how the Jewish State with Jerusalem and the Temple Mount as its spiritual center will take shape and form. What we do know is that it will happen and that it is more certain than all the learned pontifications of the "surprised camp." We stand amazed as we watch the tapestry unfold, just as Eliezer the servant of Abraham watched in amazement as Rebecca drew water for him, understanding that G-d had crowned his journey with success.
What is causing the revolutions taking place before our eyes?
Sovereignty in any type of regime is always in the hands of the nation. When the nation does not view the leader as being legitimate, all the mechanisms propping up the regime are of no avail. They will all collapse like a house of cards. This is true for dictatorships and democracies alike. The difference is that in democracies, a mechanism is in place for the orderly transition of government. Often, the regime will manipulate democracy to fool the public and into thinking that it chose the existing regime and that it desires its rule - even though nothing could be farther from the truth. These tricks can postpone the revolution - but they cannot prevent it.
Here in Israel, we are somewhere in the middle. Israel is not a dictatorship by its simple definition. It has broad freedom of speech. But where the borders of freedom of speech end, democracy also ends and turns out to be a dangerous illusion. And woe to he or she who expresses an opinion that is beyond the limits set by the Israeli Thought Police.
We live in a dictatorship of thoughts, constantly under the watchful eye of the Thought Police. It is not easy to sense our dictatorship. That is why people in Israel are not demonstrating in the city squares. But the suffocation feels the same - the suffocation that doesn't even have a Tahrir Square to light up the end of the tunnel.
But there is something we must remember: The Egyptians did not go out to the streets because their economy was bad. Is the average Egyptian worse off now than he was five years ago? All the attempts to explain the revolution in Egypt with one reason or another do not adequately explain what happened. It isn't the economy, not the oppression, not Facebook and not Twitter. It is simply the Divine removal of the legitimacy of the regime. While it may seem overly simplistic to say that the revolution in Egypt was Divinely inspired, that is the basic truth.
Does this mean that we can go home and wait until G-d hands us the leadership on a silver platter? Certainly not. We must be on the playing field, in the best shape possible and completely prepared. But we must understand that the necessary process of faith-based revolution - a process that will surely occur, for we have no other option - has its own timetable that is not dependant upon us.
We will do our part and when the time comes, the legitimacy will be taken from the current regime, will return to the nation and from there to the faith-based leadership that it deserves. We must take the responsibility to prepare for that day and pray that it happens soon.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Warning Sign!
The idea that a new government in Egypt might simply cancel Egypt's Peace Agreement with Israel has been greeted with disinterest by both the international community and the U.S. administration. It is a worrisome warning sign. Especially about the durability of any deal cut with the Palestinians.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
No entry for Jews?
(This is how sick the Israeli Government is)
Two days ago, Friday, February 11, on the eve of the Shabbat of the
portion of Tetzaveh, security forces, army and police, prevented a
group of dozens of Women for Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
members from touring the Crusader neighborhood in Hebron, that is
located less than 100 meters from the Cave of Machpelah.
As part of the movement's monthly tours in the area of Judea and
Samaria, this time under the headline: "You have three places
regarding which the nations of the world cannot defraud Israel and
say, You are thieves: the Cave of Machpelah, the tomb of Joseph, and
the Temple," dozens of participants came to Hevron from Jerusalem,
Beit Shemesh, Maaleh Adumim, Modi'in, Efrat, Gush Etzion, and Kiriat
Arba-Hebron.
The tour began at the Cave of Machpelah, where the guide, Aryeh Klein,
explained the cardinal importance of Hebron as the place of the Jewish
people's first acquisition in Eretz Israel. Abraham purchased, not
only the cave to bury his wife Sarah, but also the surrounding field,
thereby acquiring a possession for the Jewish people in its land.
After the tour of the Cave of Machpelah, the group wanted to enter the
nearby Crusader neighborhood. This is a neighborhood that until
recently was neglected, and inhabited by only a few individual Arab
families. Recently, however, much money flowed there from European
countries in order to renovate the quarter, to bring in hundreds of
families of released terrorists, all for the purpose of driving a
wedge between Kiriat Arba and ancient Hebron. Noam Arnon explained
during the tour that if, Heaven forbid, this plan for populating the
quarter were to come to fruition, it would be a ticking bomb.
At the beginning of the week leaders of the Women in Green movement
informed the IDF of the intention to tour that quarter, and received a
negative answer. Indeed, large IDF and police forces stood at the
entrance and prevented the group from going in. Yehudit Katsover and
Nadia Matar, in the name of the entire group, protested this disgrace
and humiliation. "How is it possible that the Spanish Foreign Minister
could tour here last week, but not us? Instead of allocating so many
security forces to prevent us from entering the neighborhood, allocate
these forces to provide security for the tour, which is only a
five-minute long tour of the quarter - less than 200 meters long - in
Area C, which is under Israeli control. Now we have learned that there
is no point in requesting permission. So don't be surprised if our
youth tour the hills of Judea and Samaria without asking for
permission, because every request for permission is refused. We
promise to return to the quarter, without asking for a permit, without
informing you, and tour in it."
Details about the upcoming tour of the quarter will be publicized shortly.
After the protest, the group continued as planned and went to see the
"Stakes in Hebron" exhibition in the Machpela Visitors' Center - an
exhibition of historical photographs taken by Gershon Ellison on the
beginnings of the renewed settlement in Hebron after 1967. The message
of the exhibition is clear: to take the initiative, to push, to
advance, to do, to establish facts on the ground, and to struggle.
The struggle for the land of Israel continues today.
With G-d's help, by the merit of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs who are
buried in Hebron, and by the merit of all the pioneers, the successors
of Caleb son of Jephunneh, "We will certainly go up, and we shall gain
possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it" (Numbers 13:30).
For details: Yehudit Katsover 050-7161818 and Nadia Matar 050-5500834
http://www.womeningreen.org/
Two days ago, Friday, February 11, on the eve of the Shabbat of the
portion of Tetzaveh, security forces, army and police, prevented a
group of dozens of Women for Israel's Tomorrow (Women in Green)
members from touring the Crusader neighborhood in Hebron, that is
located less than 100 meters from the Cave of Machpelah.
As part of the movement's monthly tours in the area of Judea and
Samaria, this time under the headline: "You have three places
regarding which the nations of the world cannot defraud Israel and
say, You are thieves: the Cave of Machpelah, the tomb of Joseph, and
the Temple," dozens of participants came to Hevron from Jerusalem,
Beit Shemesh, Maaleh Adumim, Modi'in, Efrat, Gush Etzion, and Kiriat
Arba-Hebron.
The tour began at the Cave of Machpelah, where the guide, Aryeh Klein,
explained the cardinal importance of Hebron as the place of the Jewish
people's first acquisition in Eretz Israel. Abraham purchased, not
only the cave to bury his wife Sarah, but also the surrounding field,
thereby acquiring a possession for the Jewish people in its land.
After the tour of the Cave of Machpelah, the group wanted to enter the
nearby Crusader neighborhood. This is a neighborhood that until
recently was neglected, and inhabited by only a few individual Arab
families. Recently, however, much money flowed there from European
countries in order to renovate the quarter, to bring in hundreds of
families of released terrorists, all for the purpose of driving a
wedge between Kiriat Arba and ancient Hebron. Noam Arnon explained
during the tour that if, Heaven forbid, this plan for populating the
quarter were to come to fruition, it would be a ticking bomb.
At the beginning of the week leaders of the Women in Green movement
informed the IDF of the intention to tour that quarter, and received a
negative answer. Indeed, large IDF and police forces stood at the
entrance and prevented the group from going in. Yehudit Katsover and
Nadia Matar, in the name of the entire group, protested this disgrace
and humiliation. "How is it possible that the Spanish Foreign Minister
could tour here last week, but not us? Instead of allocating so many
security forces to prevent us from entering the neighborhood, allocate
these forces to provide security for the tour, which is only a
five-minute long tour of the quarter - less than 200 meters long - in
Area C, which is under Israeli control. Now we have learned that there
is no point in requesting permission. So don't be surprised if our
youth tour the hills of Judea and Samaria without asking for
permission, because every request for permission is refused. We
promise to return to the quarter, without asking for a permit, without
informing you, and tour in it."
Details about the upcoming tour of the quarter will be publicized shortly.
After the protest, the group continued as planned and went to see the
"Stakes in Hebron" exhibition in the Machpela Visitors' Center - an
exhibition of historical photographs taken by Gershon Ellison on the
beginnings of the renewed settlement in Hebron after 1967. The message
of the exhibition is clear: to take the initiative, to push, to
advance, to do, to establish facts on the ground, and to struggle.
The struggle for the land of Israel continues today.
With G-d's help, by the merit of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs who are
buried in Hebron, and by the merit of all the pioneers, the successors
of Caleb son of Jephunneh, "We will certainly go up, and we shall gain
possession of it, for we shall surely overcome it" (Numbers 13:30).
For details: Yehudit Katsover 050-7161818 and Nadia Matar 050-5500834
http://www.womeningreen.org/
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Iranium The Movie - A MUST See
Iran’s nuclear program presents a threat to international stability. Yet successive American administrations—Republican and Democratic alike—have misread the intentions and actions of the Iranian regime.
How dangerous is a nuclear Iran, even if it never detonates a weapon? What are the guiding principles of the Iranian leadership? To what lengths would the regime go to carry out its agenda? How far have Iran’s leaders already gone to fund the world’s most powerful terrorist organizations? And why have American leaders failed to gain the upper hand in relations with Iran during the past 30 years?
In approximately 60 minutes, Iranium powerfully reports on the many aspects of the threat America and the world now face using rarely-before seen footage of Iranian leaders, and interviews with 25 leading politicians, Iranian dissidents, and experts on: Middle East policy, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation.
http://www.iraniumthemovie.com/
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Have a Nice Flight: By Moshe Feiglin
G-d heard my silent prayer and a friendly American couple took their seats next to mine. In their seventies, dressed fashionably in leisure-wear, suntanned and thin. He, tall and strong looking, took the aisle seat, while she, petite, elegant and smiling - just what I had hoped for - took the seat next to me. She immediately and politely introduced herself and her husband.
"This is not our first trip to Israel," she said.
"Better late than never," I answered with appreciation for the solid couple who, in their senior years, had decided to connect to their Homeland through their feet.
"Are you from Israel?"
"Yes, thank G-d. And where are you from?"
"Illinois. Do you know where that is?"
"Of course! My wife's family came from Chicago. Perhaps you know them?"
"No, we don't know them."
"Are you Jewish?" the husband suddenly asked.
"You can't see that I'm Jewish?" I asked, surprised. I immediately understood that not only was the couple next to me not Jewish, but they had probably never met a Jew, which would explain the fact that the kippah on my head meant nothing to them.
They were Evangelists - "Lovers of Israel". A quick survey of the seats around me revealed that I had been seated in the middle of an entire group of Evangelists happily on their way to the "Holy Land."
I felt ridiculous. Here I was in the middle of a Christian congregation, looking for my wife's long-lost relatives.
"We love Jews," the husband interrupted my train of thought.
I was pleased to be the object of the man's love. If one must be stuck next to somebody for ten hours, it is best to be stuck next to someone who loves you, isn't it?
"We're also Jews!" he added and upon my look of amazement added, "sort of." I kept my thoughts on identity theft to myself. After all, I still had ten hours to sit next to them.
An interesting conversation developed between us. They did not know me, but I understood who I was dealing with and answered them in a sort of Bible-ese that fit their pre-conceptions of Jews.
"I thank God for seating us next to you," said the husband.
I nodded uncomfortably.
By the time the plane took off, I was fast asleep. Our conversation resumed close to landing.
"What do you think of this?" the wife asked as she pulled a brochure out of her purse and handed it to me.
I looked inside. "All that you have to do is to believe in Jesus and he will forgive all your sins," it said.
"I'm the conservative type," I answered with a smile. "I have done very well with the Old Testament for the past three thousand years, and I think I will renew my subscription for at least the next three thousand."
"O.K., the woman said, slightly embarrassed, understanding that I wasn't so naive, after all. Her smile disappeared and the pleasant atmosphere disappeared along with it.
Countless important Israeli NGOs and organizations fall into this Christian "love of Israel" trap and stretch out their hands for their generous contributions. Even if they will not admit it, the end always includes the little brochure - just like the brochure that my polite flight neighbor pulled out toward the end of our journey. There are no free lunches. The final result is the baptism of Jews.
In the past, when I discovered that the friendly non-Jew generously donating to Manhigut Yehudit was - despite his declarations - a devout Christian, I cut off all monetary relations with him.
The nationalist and religious organizations that receive Christian aid must understand that there is no such thing as a Christian who is not a missionary toward the entire world, just as there is no 'religious' Jew who is not a 'missionary' toward his Jewish brethren on some level.
Every truly religious Jew - even if he is not into Jewish outreach - is happy to hear of more and more of his Jewish brothers who have joined the ranks of the Observant, simply because the Torah includes every Jew. It is impossible to believe in the Torah and not to hope that every Jew will observe its commandments. The same is true of Christianity - just that it sees all of humanity as a target for its mission.
The Golden Rule does not make exceptions for important Jewish organizations: He who has the gold still makes the rules. When you accept a contribution from a Christian - as nice and sympathetic as he may be - you turn your organization into a channel for missionary influence.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Egypt and the 21st Century - By Levi Avtzon
It is really hot outside. Hot like a desert.
Hundreds of people are out in the fields, wrapped in rags, ripped sandals on their aching feet. They walk haggardly, whiplash marks painted all over their broken bodies. To the side stands the guard, a dark-skinned man with an interesting-looking beard.
Stop for a moment and imagine the scene. Enter Egypt of 3,300 years ago.
Now make use of your mental Photoshop program, and insert yourself into the picture. You will be experiencing the drama along with the others; you will try to feel their pain and plight. Ready?
You notice one of your coworkers collapsing. He is blue.
You don't cry; you are already immune to pain, having lived this nightmare as long as you can remember. Life is painful. When the guard walks over to the dead man, you have a brief moment to think undisturbed. Your mind begins to wander…
You are already immune to pain, having lived this nightmare as long as you can remember. You remember the time your daddy sat you on his lap and related what had been told to him by his father, quoting the patriarch of the family: "A day will come when a man will arise and declare in the name of G‑d, 'I have surely remembered you!' All the suffering will then end…"
Whip! GET TO WORK! The guard is back. Back to reality!
Back to work you go, but with a flicker of hope. The future envisaged so vividly revives your shattered soul. It is all about to end, you tell yourself with pure faith...
Hey, what's the noise you suddenly hear? Why is everyone shouting?
You raise your eyes and behold a dream come true.
There stands a man with an angelic look, a long white beard and eyes so kind, and he is shouting for all to hear, "G‑d has said: 'I have remembered you!'"
Moses has arrived.
Close Photo shop. Go back to the exile of America circa 2010.
No whips, no guards, but an exile of a different sort—a prison of secularism. The Divine hand obscured almost completely.
People walk the streets fashionably dressed, fancy shoes on their feet. They walk proud, meaninglessness painted all over their face. All over are billboard and screens telling people how to live their lives.
No need to imagine the scene. Just turn on a TV or walk down the street.
You notice another neighbor who has fallen off the beaten path, his morals shattered.
You don't cry, you don't flinch; you are used to this, this is life.
When the radio, phone, and TV are all shut you have a few minutes to think undisturbed.
You raise your eyes and behold a dream come trueYou remember sitting on Daddy's lap, as he related how the one-liner Ani Maamin – which proclaims the faith that one day we will be free from evil and pain, and we'll live in a utopian world where G‑d is revealed and peace takes over the world – has been with us Jews wherever we went. It has given us hope even at the darkest moments...
Hey, what's that noise you hear? Why is everyone shouting?
You raise your eyes and behold a dream come true.
There stands a man with an angelic look, with a long white beard and eyes so kind you feel the truth penetrating your soul. And he is shouting for all to hear, "The time of your redemption has arrived!"
Moshiach has arrived.
It's about time.
Hundreds of people are out in the fields, wrapped in rags, ripped sandals on their aching feet. They walk haggardly, whiplash marks painted all over their broken bodies. To the side stands the guard, a dark-skinned man with an interesting-looking beard.
Stop for a moment and imagine the scene. Enter Egypt of 3,300 years ago.
Now make use of your mental Photoshop program, and insert yourself into the picture. You will be experiencing the drama along with the others; you will try to feel their pain and plight. Ready?
You notice one of your coworkers collapsing. He is blue.
You don't cry; you are already immune to pain, having lived this nightmare as long as you can remember. Life is painful. When the guard walks over to the dead man, you have a brief moment to think undisturbed. Your mind begins to wander…
You are already immune to pain, having lived this nightmare as long as you can remember. You remember the time your daddy sat you on his lap and related what had been told to him by his father, quoting the patriarch of the family: "A day will come when a man will arise and declare in the name of G‑d, 'I have surely remembered you!' All the suffering will then end…"
Whip! GET TO WORK! The guard is back. Back to reality!
Back to work you go, but with a flicker of hope. The future envisaged so vividly revives your shattered soul. It is all about to end, you tell yourself with pure faith...
Hey, what's the noise you suddenly hear? Why is everyone shouting?
You raise your eyes and behold a dream come true.
There stands a man with an angelic look, a long white beard and eyes so kind, and he is shouting for all to hear, "G‑d has said: 'I have remembered you!'"
Moses has arrived.
Close Photo shop. Go back to the exile of America circa 2010.
No whips, no guards, but an exile of a different sort—a prison of secularism. The Divine hand obscured almost completely.
People walk the streets fashionably dressed, fancy shoes on their feet. They walk proud, meaninglessness painted all over their face. All over are billboard and screens telling people how to live their lives.
No need to imagine the scene. Just turn on a TV or walk down the street.
You notice another neighbor who has fallen off the beaten path, his morals shattered.
You don't cry, you don't flinch; you are used to this, this is life.
When the radio, phone, and TV are all shut you have a few minutes to think undisturbed.
You raise your eyes and behold a dream come trueYou remember sitting on Daddy's lap, as he related how the one-liner Ani Maamin – which proclaims the faith that one day we will be free from evil and pain, and we'll live in a utopian world where G‑d is revealed and peace takes over the world – has been with us Jews wherever we went. It has given us hope even at the darkest moments...
Hey, what's that noise you hear? Why is everyone shouting?
You raise your eyes and behold a dream come true.
There stands a man with an angelic look, with a long white beard and eyes so kind you feel the truth penetrating your soul. And he is shouting for all to hear, "The time of your redemption has arrived!"
Moshiach has arrived.
It's about time.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Foreign Policy for the Future: By Moshe Feiglin
2 Tevet, 5771
Dec. 9, '10
Translated from the Makor Rishon newspaper
The request to lecture this week before a delegation of rightist European parliament members visiting Israel took me by surprise. I do not even buy German products, the very sound of spoken German gives me the chills, I have never set foot and never will set foot on German soil, and I oppose the Israeli high-school Holocaust tours. What possible connection can there be between me and this delegation?
Not only that. This was a nationalist, rightist parliament delegation - politicians that the media like to portray as Nazis. My natural instincts dovetailed with political expedience and my logical conclusion was to keep my distance. What do I need this for? Wouldn't it be wiser for me to follow the example of all the other politicians in Israel and evade any dialogue with this delegation?
But there is a rule that I always follow: When a hot potato comes your way, it is always worthwhile to see how the Left relates to the issue. Then, after a thorough investigation, do the opposite of what the Left does. So if the Left is demonstrating against this delegation - the same Left that trumpets every legal or illegal meeting with the most diabolical murderers of Jews in our generation - if it is so important to the Left to distance this delegation from here, then there must be something important and positive about them that deserves my attention. Boycotting everybody and everything is a childish privilege affordable only to those who are not interested in taking responsibility and leading.
A thorough investigation showed that these parliamentarians are not Nazis. On the contrary, they are the best friends that Israel and the Jewish Nation have today in Europe. But this fact alone would not convince me to meet with Germans. There is another, more significant reason.
The world-wide public that is loyal to its identity is buried deep in the dungeons of the world - the world that was once called "the free world." Officialdom is completely controlled by the despots of disintegration: the Left. It is an all-out post-modern war against anything of substance; nationality, family, G-d - everything.
There is no nationality. The Arabs did not set our forests on fire. The hookah did.
Pass the hookah, filter out all the incriminating news and stuff the entire arson war that raged through Israel's forests on Chanukah into its hollow pipe.
Pass the hookah, and let us hide the national war that is searing Israel deep inside, where it cannot be seen. Let us cram the Jewish Nation into there for good measure, as well.
Just put out the fire, get the Ministry of Truth back into control and make sure that all the doors to the dungeons in which we are buried are locked shut.
But above dungeon-level, everything is collapsing. Here in Israel, in Europe and in America. In all these places there are forces that strive to return to their essence. Amalek is not the only player in Europe. There are also noble values there. Our role as Jews who are entrusted with perfecting the world is to filter out the good, guard it, nurture it and yes - with proper care - even find values worth adopting. We do not endeavor to destroy the world in the name of Allah, but to perfect the world in the Name of G-d.
When everything collapses both here and there - and it will collapse, for a fire cannot be doused without water - we will have to emerge from the dungeon and build a new world.
This is already happening. It is hard for me to describe in words the distress signals that these parliament members were communicating. They are all strong and successful. But to me, they seemed as if they were reaching out from amidst the flames. They understand that their children - not their grandchildren, their children! - will either have to become Moslem or die. No exaggeration.
What should we do? Should we ignore all the forces that, parallel to us, are emerging from the dungeons of the world? Or should we begin now, with caution and true national pride, to weave the bonds of the future and plant them on the proper values system? After all, that is exactly why the Left defames all those who meet with them - so that it can continue to divide and conquer.
The delegation did not have an easy time with me. As opposed to other voices that they heard, I was careful not to ask for anything and not to try to convince them of anything. Our status is that of the giver - not of the potential receiver.
"You are the last true obstacle in the face of Islam," I told them. "Jerusalem belongs only to the Jews - including the Temple Mount, where we will ultimately build our Holy Temple."
When one of the representatives asked how there could be peace without negotiations on Jerusalem, I responded with such shock that he immediately apologized for even thinking to ask such a question.
I explained my feelings toward them honestly - including the need to express our stinging historical memories of Europe in political and practical terms. They did not have an easy time with me. But nevertheless, they heard the real truth, which is what they sought. My words starkly contrasted what they heard from others: empty overviews and pathetic attempts to convince them that we are really the pitiful underdogs of the world.
I do not think that Europe and America have much of a chance. Most likely, these healthy forces have woken up after the horses have fled the stables. But nobody knows how the history of the once-free world will develop. If rising leaders in Europe and America who share common values and a common enemy will be willing to come en masse to Israel and declare that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount belong and are holy exclusively to the Jewish Nation, we must stretch out our hand to them in friendship.
Dec. 9, '10
Translated from the Makor Rishon newspaper
The request to lecture this week before a delegation of rightist European parliament members visiting Israel took me by surprise. I do not even buy German products, the very sound of spoken German gives me the chills, I have never set foot and never will set foot on German soil, and I oppose the Israeli high-school Holocaust tours. What possible connection can there be between me and this delegation?
Not only that. This was a nationalist, rightist parliament delegation - politicians that the media like to portray as Nazis. My natural instincts dovetailed with political expedience and my logical conclusion was to keep my distance. What do I need this for? Wouldn't it be wiser for me to follow the example of all the other politicians in Israel and evade any dialogue with this delegation?
But there is a rule that I always follow: When a hot potato comes your way, it is always worthwhile to see how the Left relates to the issue. Then, after a thorough investigation, do the opposite of what the Left does. So if the Left is demonstrating against this delegation - the same Left that trumpets every legal or illegal meeting with the most diabolical murderers of Jews in our generation - if it is so important to the Left to distance this delegation from here, then there must be something important and positive about them that deserves my attention. Boycotting everybody and everything is a childish privilege affordable only to those who are not interested in taking responsibility and leading.
A thorough investigation showed that these parliamentarians are not Nazis. On the contrary, they are the best friends that Israel and the Jewish Nation have today in Europe. But this fact alone would not convince me to meet with Germans. There is another, more significant reason.
The world-wide public that is loyal to its identity is buried deep in the dungeons of the world - the world that was once called "the free world." Officialdom is completely controlled by the despots of disintegration: the Left. It is an all-out post-modern war against anything of substance; nationality, family, G-d - everything.
There is no nationality. The Arabs did not set our forests on fire. The hookah did.
Pass the hookah, filter out all the incriminating news and stuff the entire arson war that raged through Israel's forests on Chanukah into its hollow pipe.
Pass the hookah, and let us hide the national war that is searing Israel deep inside, where it cannot be seen. Let us cram the Jewish Nation into there for good measure, as well.
Just put out the fire, get the Ministry of Truth back into control and make sure that all the doors to the dungeons in which we are buried are locked shut.
But above dungeon-level, everything is collapsing. Here in Israel, in Europe and in America. In all these places there are forces that strive to return to their essence. Amalek is not the only player in Europe. There are also noble values there. Our role as Jews who are entrusted with perfecting the world is to filter out the good, guard it, nurture it and yes - with proper care - even find values worth adopting. We do not endeavor to destroy the world in the name of Allah, but to perfect the world in the Name of G-d.
When everything collapses both here and there - and it will collapse, for a fire cannot be doused without water - we will have to emerge from the dungeon and build a new world.
This is already happening. It is hard for me to describe in words the distress signals that these parliament members were communicating. They are all strong and successful. But to me, they seemed as if they were reaching out from amidst the flames. They understand that their children - not their grandchildren, their children! - will either have to become Moslem or die. No exaggeration.
What should we do? Should we ignore all the forces that, parallel to us, are emerging from the dungeons of the world? Or should we begin now, with caution and true national pride, to weave the bonds of the future and plant them on the proper values system? After all, that is exactly why the Left defames all those who meet with them - so that it can continue to divide and conquer.
The delegation did not have an easy time with me. As opposed to other voices that they heard, I was careful not to ask for anything and not to try to convince them of anything. Our status is that of the giver - not of the potential receiver.
"You are the last true obstacle in the face of Islam," I told them. "Jerusalem belongs only to the Jews - including the Temple Mount, where we will ultimately build our Holy Temple."
When one of the representatives asked how there could be peace without negotiations on Jerusalem, I responded with such shock that he immediately apologized for even thinking to ask such a question.
I explained my feelings toward them honestly - including the need to express our stinging historical memories of Europe in political and practical terms. They did not have an easy time with me. But nevertheless, they heard the real truth, which is what they sought. My words starkly contrasted what they heard from others: empty overviews and pathetic attempts to convince them that we are really the pitiful underdogs of the world.
I do not think that Europe and America have much of a chance. Most likely, these healthy forces have woken up after the horses have fled the stables. But nobody knows how the history of the once-free world will develop. If rising leaders in Europe and America who share common values and a common enemy will be willing to come en masse to Israel and declare that Jerusalem and the Temple Mount belong and are holy exclusively to the Jewish Nation, we must stretch out our hand to them in friendship.
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