The Lubavitcher Rebbe declares his warning!

Ruins of the Roman Empire

From the Talmud we learn how Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai [Talmudic Sage, author of the prime kabbalistic work the Zohar] related to Gentile nations[in their dealings with the Land of Israel]. 

His argument was that one must not be naive. When we see a non-Jew doing good, building bridges and the like, one must realize that they built these for their own benefit in order to raise taxes. Rashbi [shortened form of name Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai] knew that since we are in exile we need to make efforts with the nations that they contribute to our welfare. The Talmud states that when there was a need to annul a decree, the Rashbi himself journeyed to Rome to make the effort to bring about its annulment.

 The Rashbi knew that Jewish people are reliant on G-d. Nevertheless he knew that it is the intention of G-d that we take natural precautions.

 Should however this would not help, the Rashbi was prepared to undertake the use of powers beyond the natural. The Talmud relates that when the Emperor of Rome refused to annul the decree, the Rashbi brought down an angel. When this also did not help, he went so far as to bring down a demon. 

In the first instance it is the desire of G-d that we operate in the natural way. If this does not help, other avenues are available...

This is a message also for our time. There are times when it is appropriate to travel to Washington as the Rashbi journeyed to Rome to make the effort with the Emperor. Yet at the same time it is vital that the ambassador be seen as a faithful Jew who conducts himself according Torah and Mitzvos. 

Should the gentile ask, ‘you believe in G-d, you can even bring down an angel or demon, then why do you need my help?’  To this, one replies: ‘since the Jewish People are in Exile, it is the Will of G-d that we act in a natural way (this is why we pray for the peace of the country).’  

However, if the natural approach does not help, we will bring down a demon, and it will do what ever has to be done, as was done by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, since we walk with the power of the Holy One Blessed be He. 

The gentile continues to ask: ‘Are you really in exile? You find yourselves in the Land of Israel of which it is written in Scriptures, ‘continuously do eyes of G-d gaze towards her (the Land of Israel) from the beginning of the year till the end of the year?'  To which the Jew replies: ‘on the contrary, there in the Land of Israel the exile is far more severe. There, there is a Jew who considers that since he is Minister, he can do whatever he pleases.’ 

     This talk continues into the next posting. Public discourse Shabbos Parshas Emor 1974

Danger from Egypt! The Rebbe receives inside information. Talk by the Lubavitcher Rebbe after the secret ‘London Agreement’ to hand over further territories to the enemy.

The government of Israel is handing over to gentiles [Egypt] territories which belong to the Land of Israel, land which was given by G-d as an everlasting inheritance to the entire Jewish people from the generation who were present at the Revelation at Mount Sinai right up until the generation who will receive Moshiach. 

Such a transaction is very serious. More so: even according to the view of those who argue ‘we should be like all the nations’ [a nation defined by land-ownership], such a step creates a dire security risk for Israel and her inhabitants. Returning strategic territories to Egypt endangers the security of three million Jews [may they increase] dwelling in the Holy Land.
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In addition to all of this, the Israeli government returned to Egypt all of the oil wells after great efforts were expended by Jewish people in opening the oil wells and huge financial investments made, including monies donated by Jewish people in the Kol Nidre Appeal [on Yom Kippur]. For this they sullied the relationship with one of the Jewish magnates who invested huge sums of money. 

Even today it is not known if they healed the relationship, given that oil is the most basic commodity for Israel’s existence, including the four Holy Cities of Jerusalem, Hebron, Tzfas and Tiberius and all other towns where Jewish people dwell. 

We are speaking now from a purely economic point of view of dependence on oil even in times of peace and certainly from a security point of view when the need arises to activate weapons! Even more severe, they gave instructions that the return of the territories and oil wells will be no more than a loan to be proclaimed at a joyous ceremony and gatherings of happiness. 

What did they receive in return for this? A signature on a peace contract with two signatures of each side and an intermediary. They knew very well how little faith could be put on this signature. Today we see the consequential results.

At the very time that they were proceeding with signing this agreement, I received clear information of the proposed plan [not from those actually in the negotiations but from both Jews and non-Jews who have easy access in government circles in Washington, who did not hesitate to endanger their political positions by handing over to me this information]. I issued a most powerful protest against these proposed plans and explained my words in full, namely, that this proposition creates a serious threat to the security of the Jewish people in the townships of Israel. 

Essentially, there was nothing new here. Those who brought about the signing of the agreement knew very well the great security danger to the land of Israel tied up with returning the territories and the oil wells to Egypt. Yet, regardless, the representative of the Israeli government decided to endanger the security of Jews living in Israel putting their lives at risk, May G-d protect us, just in order to get a signature of a peace agreement. 

It is well known who lead these talks, those who decided to accept these agreements, and the reasons which motivated them to do this. Rather than initiating a policy of uniting Samaria now that Jewish people have merited living in areas of Judea and Samaria and surrounding them with protective walls and authorizing many new cities in Israel to draw down blessing; instead the government is running after [not just gentiles], but murderers and terrorists, in order to find favor in their eyes they should just agree to take from us areas of land in Judea and Samaria! 

And that’s not all. They have no shame in doing this openly and in public!  Such a downtrodden situation of bowing before a gentile in such a disgraceful fashion has never taken place even outside of Israel in the exile! And most shocking, they still argue that this is the beginning of the Redemption!  They announce: Arise and join us, we are ready for anything: a joint government, we will train together, autonomy, the main point being that we should be able to sit together round a table with those murderers and terrorists! 

They themselves know that they are murderers and terrorists, that after they will promise and sign, they are not to be relied upon; that even after they will have the signed document in their hands, it will have no more value than a bit of paper! This is analogous to a man sitting around a table with a murderer to come to an agreement, and at that very moment the murderer holds in his hand a dagger and stabs him! The staggering thing is that they will not learn from past mistakes. This is not the first time that they want to return territories in return for a peace agreement. There is a precedent with the signing the fateful Camp David contract [strangely the location is named after David, King of Israel!] where they returned to Egypt everything in return for a signature of peace. Today, everyone is in agreement what a terrible mistake that was. 

Yet, the government of Israel continues down the same path now in connection with Judea and Samaria. 

It is worthwhile that we make mention of some of the outcomes of that contract with Egypt in order to open their eyes. Jewish people who toiled, labored and sweated to build new towns in the Land of Israel were expelled from their homes and lands, men, women, and children! That is not all: the government forced soldiers who sacrifice their lives in order to protect the land of Israel and those who dwell there – to expel Jews from their homes in the land of Israel! Young soldiers who go with innocent and pure hearts to protect the land and those who dwell there, putting their lives at risk, are forced [using the fact that they are obliged to obey orders to men of flesh and blood] to do this! For what? To give these lands to gentiles, among them Egypt, the root of all Exiles. Every Exile which Jews have suffered, Babylon, Media, Greece, the West; the source of all of this tragic history was Egypt!

                                                                                             Public talk, Purim 1985

The last time Ariel Sharon came to the Rebbe...........

The last time Ariel Sharon came to the Rebbe... was for Sunday [distribution of charity] dollars, Erev Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5749, 1989. 

The Rebbe greeted him warmly, and Sharon asked for a blessing for the security and integrity of Eretz Yisroel. 

The Rebbe replied with the words of the verse, “And I will give peace in your land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid.” The Rebbe pointed out that the Torah doesn’t say “in the land” but “in your land,” meaning that it must be obvious that the land is Jewish. 

The Rebbe also quoted the saying of our Sages, “Whoever refutes idolatry is termed a Jew,” and explained that idolatry refers to anything that is contrary to the spirit of Judaism. 

In order for people to feel that the Holy Land is indeed Jewish, the observance of the Commandments must be encouraged and strengthened.

Letter from the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Mr Ariel Sharon.

General Arik Sharon visits the Lubavitcher Rebbe

B”H 18th Menachem Av 1970

Brooklyn NY Mr. Ariel Sharon, 

Peace and Blessing. 

I hereby confirm with thanks receipt of your letter of 16th August. Due to the importance of the matter and its urgency I am hurrying to respond to you, specifically with respect to the end of your letter. 

In accord with our discussions which took place here, it is my opinion that your appropriate position is to remain in the Israel Army; it is there, that with the help of G-d, you have been successful and will continue to be successful. This is in addition to the public benefit for the Jewish People – the Holy Nation, who dwell in Eretz Israel– the Holy Land; G-d has blessed you and made you successful in defending them with your aptitudes, your efforts and your energetic drive, etc. 

Therefore, as I spoke to you when you were here, it is most certainly that it is your duty to continue this service and role of high responsibility. 

It is my strong hope that even if the relationship of someone and yourself requires improvement and rectification for some reason; in the final analysis this itself shows your seriousness, sense of responsibility and devotion to your role to the extent that this is your very life. In accord with what we have said, my opinion is self understood that there is no reason G-d forbid that you should turn to a different post, and absolutely not to the political scene, to neither a ministerial position nor the like. This is not your task. In this field you will not be able to utilize your talent and knowledge, but to the absolute contrary.

With respect to this, I wish that Mr. Ezer Weitzman would also not have left the army, in spite of the fact that according to what I hear he was insulted and promises to him were not kept, etc. etc. There is no reason that because someone wronged him he should take a step causing himself harm. His having left the army has caused harm to himself in addition to the deficiency caused to the army by not being able to utilize his knowledge and talents. These words remain true even if he were to remain in the government, how much more so as the matter has consequently unfolded.

It is not in my interest to interfere into matters of the army and the like. But should a simple soldier, with whom just a few months of military training has been invested, leave the army it would rightly be considered a serious crime. Is it therefore not bizarre that a General, with whom the highest military training, effort and money have been invested etc., is able to leave the army for his own private considerations? 

Is it not strange that that he may leave even when explicitly admitting that his reasons are of a personal nature and thereby causing a loss to the army and the general security situation?

However with regard to you personally, as we have written above, I have absolutely no shadow of doubt that your mission and success is specifically in the army. Especially now, that you are high ranking and essential for the security situation of the entire country. Of what significance is it that this involves some ill feeling or friction etc, bearing in mind the public benefit and protection of the nation.  

All of the above is applicable even in the present situation. However, even though I am not a pessimist whatsoever, one must not hide from the present situation that if, G-d forbid this continues its natural course, the opposing side (Egypt) is strengthening and fortifying itself on the opposite bank of the Suez Canal. Most certainly, regardless of all diplomatic warnings, the enemy is utilizing each day to gain strength, introducing the most effective weaponry, etc. 

There is no doubt that the USA will not be prepared to enter into a war with the USSR over this. To the demand and remonstrance – “how come you have not stood by your assurances?” (No-one ever believed that [Egypt] would not utilize the cease fire [for re-arming]; certainly no member of government neither of Israel nor the USA, nor the USSR etc., as we saw this happen three years ago, fourteen years ago, and on many previous occasions). They will continue to formulate counter arguments as much as possible, and then accept the status-quo as it will stand at the termination of the investigation. Throughout the dealings of conditions of a peace, after the opposing forces have become fortified, Israel will remain disadvantaged, since the security situation will have dramatically deteriorated as of the first day of cease-fire through until the final day of dealing over demands and conditions, etc. I am concerned to state, and perhaps this is not really a matter of concern, but to the contrary – I have a sort of anticipation, that as it was at the outset of the Six Day War– the opposing side will make a senseless move which will force a breakdown to the cease fire. 

Then G-d will once again perform miracles and wonders in the space of a very short time after the breakdown of the cease-fire and (Israel) will renew a policy of acting in defense of herself. The only way to reach this will be to attack. (Israel) must activate all of her powers, NOT in a half-hearted manner as she has done until now, but activate a real defense system. Only then will there be hope of a permanent cease-fire and final peace. Not as in the present situation, as we have spoken above, which is a path leading directly to a renewal of warfare, may G-d protect us, with considerably worse conditions than those at the time of cease-fire.

I have written at length with regard to that which you wrote regarding my words (that Egypt is arming itself on the other side of) the Canal etc – are outdated. I am fearful that within a short space of time that which I did say will once again become the reality. I only wish that I should not be correct in my estimation but (it would prove to be) no more than a fabrication. Nevertheless in my opinion the way the wind of events are naturally unfolding, regardless that this appears not to be so. 

I am pleased to have been informed that Mr. S.M. conveyed the presence of peace within your family and within his family. 

May it be the Will of G-d that finally we be informed of true peace in the Land. Certainly the path to this is not by exhibiting signs of weakness and preparedness to compromise and to offer great concessions as is now quoted and publicized in all the newspapers. But to the absolute contrary. 

As the saying goes, if you really want peace you must show that you are prepared to enter the opposite (war) with all fortitude under conditions favorable to yourselves.