King Ahab pursues the defeated King of Aram for Peace

It happened before. A similar narrative to today's events is brought in Tanach that G-d caused the kingdom of Aram to suffer a huge defeat in the hands of King Ahab of Israel. Regardless, Ahab runs after him saying: “Listen! Don’t be afraid of me.” From this there were terrible repercussions for the Jewish People.

After we know of this, why do we need to fall into the same pitfall a second time? 

There was once a child who learned in cheder. In his first year he studied the story of the sale of Joseph, how his brothers tricked him, threw him into a pit, and sold him to Egypt. He went into a state of shock. The following year, the teacher once again studied with the class the same portion. After the child studied the section, he did not go into shock as in the first year. When those around him were surprised at this, he explained: His brothers already sold him last year! So this year he should have known what was in store for him! He was taken in by their plots a second time round? Such a person is unworthy of pity! 

The story of Ahab in all its details has already happened! The King of Aram gathered around him a huge armed force sure of triumph. He had even planned the division of the land after his victory. But a miracle beyond the bounds of nature took place and they were utterly defeated. They fled leaving behind them all their belongings! Regardless Ahab ran after them explaining that he is pursuing “peace” and won’t cause him any harm! 

Torah narratives are not just stories; they are Halachic directives with real tangible guidance! Two years ago this exact same story took place! Israel won an awesome victory (the Six-Day War). Regardless, Israel ran after the Arabs begging that they take everything back, unwilling to learn from that which befell Ahab thereby permitting those very same shocking results to be repeated! 

                                                                                           
                                                                                         Public address 13th Tamuz 1969       

Hebron is part of the Land of Israel

 Hebron is an essential part of the Land of Israel. Gentiles know this no less than Jews. Some weeks ago the Israeli government representative in Washington was confronted: “You are relinquishing more than is expected of you!” We must emphasize here the clear evidence of a document of purchase by the Mitteler Rebbe of a plot of land in Hebron, this, in addition to the great and powerful document of purchase recorded in Bible. 

Ancient City of Hebron, City of our Patriarchs

A certain Rabbi was approached to give out a ruling to relinquish territories. Regarding the territories he permitted to relinquish, he was asked: Since we find ourselves in the Sabbatical year, how should we conduct ourselves with this land lying fallow?

He responds: “Ignoramus! Why ask such a question? Look into the legal codes of Maimonides, all the codifiers of Jewish law, Oral and Written Torah, and you will see that this land is part of the Land of Israel, is sacred and bears the legal obligations of the Sabbatical year. This was the conduct seven years ago, the Sabbatical years for the past seventy years, the land of the Jewish people, the Holy land!” 

On the same day when he responded it is ignorance, he ruled that it is permitted to relinquish this same piece of land! All those around stood in silence, overjoyed and take pleasure to prove that Torah can follow the values of gentiles determining it is forbidden to touch conquered territory!

There is a life-threatening situation in Hebron and all of the territories. 

If parts of Hebron uninhabited by Jewish people are forbidden to relinquish, certainly this is true of areas inhabited by Jewish people in life-threatening danger! 

The clear legal ruling states: should a nation approach for no more than cattle fodder and there is concern that the land will lie open before them endangering even to one single Jew; even if only in preparation of approach:"Violate the Sabbath, take up arms and stand with all powers and say: NO!"

Actually, their conduct is the opposite: they secretly apply pressure to give away those territories, but in a covert way. They begin to split their ruling. Regarding the Sabbatical year he rules that the Land is ours;  regard relinquishing this land – do not stand in their way, he is in full agreement. The proof being that he puts this in writing! Another question: If these endangering results are so obvious, how do they put this into writing? 

The only merit I could find is as follows: There is a Chassidic maxim: the name of Rabbi Israel Baal Shem-Tov [founder of the Chassid movement] was “Israel”. It is explained in Chassidic writings; when a man has fainted and there is no known healing [may G-d protect us], one whispers his name into his ear. One’s Jewish name is linked to the essence of the soul above the powers of the soul are revealed in one’s consciousness and this essence is partially drawn down into the consciousness enabling one to awaken from his state of faintness. Up to the generation of the Baal Shem-Tov the spiritual state of the Jewish People was not yet unconscious, since the situation of the Jewish People had not yet sunken so low; they still were able to feel the pain. 

Our Sages refer to the earlier generations as “angels”, later generations as “humans”. At these final times [since the Baal Shem-Tov] Judaism has reached the lowest level of consciousness. The Baal Shem-Tov's name was Israel who was sent from heaven, his revelation being a “calling the name of the Jewish People– “Israel” to awaken the Jewish nation from their dismal spiritual state. 

Some are still in this spiritual faintness; G-d saw that should they sense the great pain [of their decision] they would never be able to bear the anguish, therefore they were placed into a state of faint, able to put into writing these shocking words! This is the sole merit one could find for this fearful and shocking situation. Woe to this [miserable] situation that needs such a response! 

Hebron is the City of the Patriarchs. Even Washington was in shock at the wish to hand over the city! The city of Hebron is called the “City of the Patriarchs” also by the Nations who read this in the Bible. Perhaps they do not know the meaning of “The Law of Life” since G-d gave this to Israel, yet they do know the translation of the Bible. 

From this came about the shock some weeks ago from Washington that they [the government of Israel] wish to hand over even more than was asked of them! As we approach the day when the second Lubavitcher Rebbe was released, connected with both his day of birth and passing, when “all of his life’s service stands openly and brings salvation down to earth”; the only condition is that a Jew should not upset these blessings!

Jewish people will help and G-d Almighty will help, and there will be a great awakening, and from Hebron this will spread forth to every place where there is a Jew on “earth”. 

                                                         Public gathering Parshas Vayetze 1980 יו"ד כסלו תש"מ

A Prophecy for our time: Do not Surrender Jerusalem

The following talks (Simchas Torah 1976) in the wake of the interim agreement between Israel and Egypt were signed under coercion from the USA on 25th Elul 1975 (1.9.1975). Israel surrendered to Egypt the Abu Rhodes oil fields and retreated from territories vital to her security. As reward, the USA gave Israel fighter jets and money. The Rebbe stormed with his warning that Egypt will not adhere to the agreement, exactly as they reneged with the cease-fire signed in 1970, publicizing that for every jet and dollar received from the USA, they contribute to the Arab world three times as much!  

In the times of the Prophet Isaiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria initiated war against Israel. Sennacherib conquered the entire land of Israel reaching the gates of Jerusalem. As Sennacherib was encircling Jerusalem to conquer her, he sent messengers into the city to sign a peace treaty under certain conditions. One of these was the surrender of Jerusalem. Shebna, a member of the Sanhedrin argued that since it was clear that Sennacherib would overwhelm them, Israel should submit in order to attain peace with him.

Ancient prophecies of Isaiah

King Hezikiah argued that it is forbidden to submit as commanded by Isaiah the prophet in the name of G-d. The community within Jerusalem was split into two camps: Shebna and his supporters, and King Hezikiah and his supporters. 

Isaiah the Prophet turned to Hezikiah, regardless that Shebna was a member of the Sanhedrin and that he and his supporters were the majority against Hezikiah and his followers, (one must follow the majority) telling him: “Do not join forces with them because all of their representations are no more than a pack of the rebellious” [Isaiah 8.12]. Do not connect to their views and do not sign the peace agreement because a pact with Sennacherib is a pact with the wicked. 

Isaiah said to King Hezikiah: “Do not fear them and do not be overwhelmed by them. He commanded him to tell all of Israel not to fear Sennacherib, but to the contrary, stand strong and do not hand over Jerusalem. Finally Hezikiah was saved from Sennacherib. Shebna on the other hand and his supporters were punished. 

This event recorded in the Tanach is vital for our time! At first glance it seems inexplicable. The Torah does not speak disparagingly even of an unclean animal, and certainly should not do so of Shebna who was a Torah giant, a member of the Sanhedrin of the Temple precinct. How could the Torah malign him, publicizing the fact that he spoke against a command of G-d through the Prophet Isaiah? 

The explanation is as follows: This event bears relevance to future generations required by Halacha.  [Megilah 14.1] A prophecy not needed for generations to come was not recorded. Therefore it is obligatory to recount in T’nach and the Talmud the entire episode for future generations to learn the message. 

The practical law which we need to extract from our story is that even though prophecy in our time remains idle and we do not have guidance from Isaiah the Prophet as did Hezkiah, nevertheless today there are Rabbis - and the Talmud deems Rabbis to be the kings – who lay down the law that it is forbidden to relinquish the territories. It is imperative to abide by their ruling of Jewish Law.

This is not the first time that cowardly Jews have been the cause of suffering because of their fear of offending the gentile.

This is not the first time that cowardly Jews have been the cause of suffering because of their fear of offending the gentile. 

At the time of the horrendous holocaust, the United States had the opportunity to blow up the railroad tracks and thereby stop (or at least minimize) the journeys of the trains to the death camps. There were Jews who knew what was happening and put pressure on the US President of the time (Roosevelt) to give the instruction to do so. However, certain Jews came forth and silenced the matter with the argument that it is forbidden to exert pressure on the President of the United States because of the law ‘do not offend even a minor nation’. Among them there were also Rabbis who had received false information and argued that it is forbidden to be in conflict with Washington! Great numbers of Jews could have been saved from annihilation had the US blown up the railroad lines.

Today those Rabbis have their disciples who influence the conduct of the US and Israel. Shamelessly they utilize their influence in exactly the same way. When confronted with the argument: “See what you did in the past. All the fasts you will undertake will not be sufficient to atone for the hundreds of thousands of Jewish People who were murdered in the wake of your influence not to say a word against Washington. At least today take a back seat!” Not only do they not take notice of this argument, but to the contrary, they continue to play the role of “Your destroyers and annihilators will come forth from among you" (the Jewish People) [Isaiah 39.17]. We find ourselves at a time of war preparations.

The Government of Israel surrenders to Terrorists and their Rioting
Dismantles magnetometers of Temple Mount

There is no time to influence or educate the timid ones to stop being fearful and weak hearted. We cannot even be certain that we will succeed because even to tell him of the results of his previous actions will not help. Therefore what can be expected of him now is “go back home” and resign his responsibilities. This is a clear ruling in the Code of Jewish Law. To our pain, all necessary conditions enumerated there exist now: ‘Go out to war fully armed to protect all locations whereby the Land can easily be conquered". 

Arabs Riot on Temple Mount One Day after Israel Government Removes Magnetometers  

This conduct is demanded where the danger is no more than a faint possibility, certainly in our situation of certain threat to life. There are Jews today, certainly one Jew, who is afraid of the nations. He is used to receiving from them honors, and has come to the conclusion that the ultimate state of perfection for him in this world is, that they should say that he is a good man. For this he is prepared to endanger the Jewish People. 

Now is not the time to educate him since every moment that the borders are not being settled, the Jewish people are being endangered, may G-d Protect us! It is possible to settle the borders in a very short time, in a moment. The situation demands action. The army is prepared to move in, yet he won’t permit it because of his fear. He must resign! Whoever is concerned for the life of even one Jew must do all in his power that all borders be settled. 

By not doing so, it is interpreted by the world community as Israel’s fear. The pressure of handing over Hebron, the Old City of Jerusalem, and all of the territories will be averted, and Israel will show the world that she is not intimidated and many Jewish lives will be saved. Every moment that those who are able to utilize their influence that the borders should be settled but do not do so, they shoulder the responsibility.

The United States and Russia would accept the decision of the government of Israel not to relinquish even one grain of land.

Part 7. Lessons to be learned from Sadat's visit to Eretz Israel.

The same is true regarding pressure exerted by the USA and Russia. These countries are not excited that portions of Eretz Israel be relinquished, whether to Syria, Jordan or Lebanon because they they will not benefit, but to the contrary; should these countries be strengthened they will be less concerned in what the USA or Russia have to say.

Pressure coming from the USA and Russia to relinquish territories is no more than lip-service to those countries and more their demands on behalf of the Palestinians. Both the USA and Russia have no obligation towards them. When they [the USA or Russia] exert pressure [on Eretz Israel] on behalf of the Palestinians, this is no more than to offset the Arab nations [who make demands on behalf of the Palestinians] who they themselves are pressured and thrown off balance by the Palestinians.

Should Israel’s representatives stand firm and declare that they cannot relinquish any land of Judea and the Shomron because thereby they will be endangering Jewish lives in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Hadera, Haifa, Tel Aviv and Kfar Chabad and throughout Eretz Israel, the USA and Russia would be convinced by this argument; they have no interest in Israel relinquishing Land.  

More: the Israeli government should take positive action and settle Jewish people throughout all territories of Eretz Israel, and declare - this is a fait complete. Then the USA will be appeased and would tell the Arab States to stop their tempest because the issue is no longer in their hands - the operation has already been done.

Pool of Siloam (Hebrew: בריכת השילוח‎‎, Breichat Hashiloach), a rock-cut pool on southern slope of the City of David, original site of Jerusalem, outside walls
of the Old City to the southeast, fed by waters of the Gihon Spring.

This is the only way to prevent danger and to ensure lives in Eretz Israel: ‘state with emphasis that Land cannot be relinquished’ and together with this, ‘settle Jewish people throughout Judea and the Shomron in the space of just a few hours and moments, but in no less than one single day!’

With such a policy the government will not be clashing whatsoever with the world community, because they themselves do not want that Israel repeat their previous mistakes - by relinquishing to the Arabs tracts of land which they [nations] never believed they would surrender. To the contrary they would be overjoyed, able now to say it is a fait complete.

And more: there is no fear that by stating the truth that this will cause harm from Washington onto the Jewish people living in the USA, because, as we have seen that when [the government of Israel] stated clear and powerful words, pressure diminished; to the contrary - Israel received additional assurances beyond those previously given!