Letter of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to PM David Ben-Gurion on the thirst of the youth of our eternal people

By the Grace of G‑d

9 Adar I 5719

[February 17, 1959]

Brooklyn, N.Y.

His Excellency

Mr. David Ben-Gurion,

Prime Minister of Israel

Greetings:

Yesterday I sent you my official reply to the question of Registration, and I have to apologize for the delay in my reply till now for a number of reasons. What is written further is not official, and not even semi-official.

It was once fashionable in certain circles to suggest that the Jewish religion and religious observances were necessary for those living in the Diaspora—as a shield against assimilation. But for those who can find another “antidote”—in the place of religion, particularly for those living in Eretz Yisrael, within their own society, where the atmosphere, language, etc., (apparently) serve as ample assurances of national preservation, the Jewish religion was superfluous—what need had they to burden themselves with all its minutiae in their daily life? But the trend of developments in Eretz Yisrael in the last seven or eight years has increasingly emphasized the opposite view: That however vital the need for religion amongst Diaspora Jewry, it is needed even more for the Jews in Eretz Yisrael. One of the basic reasons for this is that it is precisely in Eretz Yisrael that there exists the danger that a new generation will grow up, a new type bearing the name of Israel but completely divorced from the past of our people and its eternal and essential values, and moreover, hostile to it in its world outlook, its culture, and the content of its daily life; hostile—in spite of the fact that it will speak Hebrew, dwell in the land of the Patriarchs, and wax enthusiastic over the Bible.

I do not wish to dwell on this painful subject at all for obvious reasons (especially since I see no need for further elaboration). One of the reasons is that I fervently hope that this calamity will not come to pass. Eventually, members of that generation itself will vehemently rise up against that danger, and will take measures to ward off the evil. Indeed, it is just recently that an intense ferment has been felt in Eretz Yisrael and abroad demanding a spiritual content to life; if a deeper probe is made, it becomes evident that the yearning is for something transcending the reason of man.

The thirst of the youth of our eternal people will certainly not be quenched by rationalizations and theories that are the product of contemporary mortals, which will share the fate of those ideologies which made their debut only yesterday and which are no more today. Here is the place for the Law of Moses and Israel, the Oral and Written Law, our independent values dating from the day the Jewish people stood before G‑d, our G‑d, at Horeb, and the great voice was heard which did not stop: “I am G‑d your G‑d . . . You shall have no other gods . . .”

Needless to say, I do not speak here of a theoretical religiosity which serves only as a purely philosophical world outlook, or as the subject of lectures at weekends and holidays. I speak of a pervading and practical way of life, which includes the weekdays too, and all such matters which are usually termed “secular.” Our faith is, after all, essentially one of practical deeds.

Now is the ideal opportunity to transform the whole canvas of life in Eretz Yisrael and direct it into the above mentioned channels. This opportunity is knocking at your door, for you have been granted the ability and privilege to use it to the best advantage, a privilege and opportunity which are not given to every man, and the likes of which have not presented themselves for many decades.

It is more than likely that the aforementioned lines will astonish you. Do I really imagine that by means of this letter I can change or influence an outlook many decades old, and in particular, the outlook of a man who has seen the fruit of his labors? But, since in my opinion the situation in Eretz Yisrael is as described above—the situation in itself, the essential truth of the idea, the unique and most wonderful opportunity granted you—it is they which speak, appeal and demand. I am sure that even without my letter you have often reflected on this. But I could not allow myself to pass over this in silence—at a time when I am engaged in writing on the subject of Registration, which is part and parcel of the general background outlined above. I felt it my duty to refer to this, at least in a private letter to you.

At this opportunity, and begging apology for the delay, I thank you for sending me your booklet. Let me base my next few words on what you wrote in the booklet when referring to Eretz Yisrael: I mean the expression “the Holy Land.” Now, the epithet “holy,” like that of “Jew,” has had its content defined and consecrated by generations of our people, from the time of the Giving of the Law—when the title “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” was bestowed on us, and when the Jewish people were granted the Holy Land according to its borders, “the land of the Canaanite and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates”—till the present day and including it.

Yours truly,

Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

Not relinquishing the Land is bound up with faith in G-d

  The Holy Land is ‘The land into which the eyes of G-d continuously gaze from the beginning of the year until the end of the year’. Since this is ‘The palace of the King’ it becomes even more important that all vital decisions concerning this land be made strictly in accord with the command of the King [G-d].

The Third Temple on the Temple Mount, Jerusalem[Please click on the picture]

This is highly relevant to the territories along the borders of Eretz Israel. It is forbidden to relinquish any parcel of land to a gentile [this being a negative commandment of Torah– “Lo Sichonem”– do not give the Land away]. Any compromises on this issue are forbidden.

Material aspects of the Land of Israel are bound up with its spirituality. That is why legally, its very earth is pure as is the very air, to the extent that our sages [Talmud, Tractate Bava Basra 158.2] state that the air of the Land of Israel makes mankind wise. This negative command of Torah not to relinquish the Land touches one’s faith in G-d. This is because material matters of Israel go hand in hand with the spiritual. 

This is especially so when we speak of a city on the border which is certainly forbidden to be relinquished, as the code of Jewish Law lays down: ‘When gentiles besiege any city of the Jewish people, even if they have not yet arrived but are in the preliminary stages of approach, the law demands us to march forth fully armed, even to desecrate the Shabbos’. The severity of this law is greater with regard to a border city: should a nation that approaches for no other reason than to acquire stubble and hay for their animals, the law demands of us to march forth fully armed, lest they conquer the city, and from there the land will be easily conquered. 

Today the entire [miniscule] land mass of Israel is in proximity to her borders. Every single city has the law of ‘a city on the border’. It is the obligation of each individual Jew to do all within his ability to be armed as needed. Not in order to exhibit personal strength, but because this is the command of G-d, in order to protect very many Jews on the borders. This conduct is demanded by Jewish law. 

All of this [living in Israel, and being armed for war] has no connection whatsoever with the beginning of the Redemption. G-d forbid to say this is the beginning of the Redemption! Maimonides states that the end of the Exile will be brought about by our righteous Moshiach. The sign will be as follows: ‘There will arise a king from the Royal House of King David ... he will compel all of Israel to walk in the ways of Torah and to strengthen her’. Initially Jews need to study Torah and perform Mitzvos, only then will He put an end to the darkness. Our righteous Moshiach [who will be a soul within a body] will fight the wars of G-d and be victorious, ‘build the Temple in her place’ [on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem], and only then will he bring about the ingathering’s of Israel. Yet even now in the exile, even a small village of Jews outside of Israel, has the law to go out to war armed, and desecrate the Shabbos if non-Jews besiege the town. It is forbidden to give away any part of the Land of Israel! 
                                                                                                                          10th Teves 1978

                                                                                                              

Don’t look for reasons how to give away any part of Eretz Israel!

Visit of newspaper reporter Ron Idlist, Kislev 1991

Ron: “Does the Rebbe still hold of the view that we need to hold on to all the territories?”

The Rebbe: “If I could wield influence over you then I would sway you in this direction: the entire land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people, and whoever gives a part of it away to anyone else is robbing the Jewish Nation!”

Ron: “Even if this includes war against the whole world?!”

The Rebbe: “Those who wish to wage war against the Jewish People do not need a specific reason, since they wish to harm Israel. It is irrelevant if Israel will act one way or another. I come from Russia and in Russia there were always blood-libels against the Jewish People, not because Jewish People were guilty but because they were searching to libel and harm Israel.”

Ron: “Is it not possible that the Nations will ever make peace with us?”

The Rebbe: “It is irrelevant what I will do or what you will do. If they only had the power to do so, it would not depend on me or you to prevent this. This would depend on HaKadosh Boruch Hu and Hashem does not need my encouragement, because every one of Israel and especially those in Eretz Israel are the only son of Hashem. Don’t look for reasons how to give away any part of Eretz Israel. It is not worth while wasting time finding reasons that perhaps we should be giving away any part of Eretz Israel.”

Israel's Security Continues to Plummet

 This past year, instead of peace coming closer, the security situation has increased in severity. More terrorists have broken through into Israel’s territory; world security has worsened, causing a drastic drop in safety which in turn is harming Israel, may G-d protect us. 

All of this has come about by direct choices made by the Israel government. Yet, there are still those who, for strange reasons, are not listening; that the subject at hand is a slip of paper in return for giving away the Land. Rather, they obstinately shout out: ‘This is true peace; peace for our children, grand-children and progeny. Faced with a peace of such proportions, how can we place any value to bits of land?’ 

In reality, each step they have taken in relinquishing land has multiplied the dangers. Now the government themselves are saying that they are filled with regret in spite of their having signed away land. They chose to state their regret after Yom Kippur. Had they chosen to state this immediately following their signing the slip of paper on the following day [a year ago], they would never have reached the unfortunate situation they find themselves in now. They publicize and announce, shouting ‘Mazal Tov’ unabated, pat themselves on the back and even say that they will go down in history as the Jews who brought peace. 

In truth, the results of this so called ‘peace’ has been that great numbers of terrorists are penetrating Israel (in far greater numbers than before their signing). In addition, defense costs have increased drastically. Never has there been a situation of such severity as this past year. They thought that this year would be one of calm [‘and you will lie down in security’]. 

Never have there been fears of such proportions as there are now, May G-d protect us! 

The severity is especially obvious since the enemy [‘seventy wolves’] have started to speak openly of their intentions. They take this line because they can see that Jews are afraid of them, that they need only to utter one word and immediately Jews are offering them more land. When they see that this line of action works they openly enforce it. 

In the end, the government will have no choice but to listen to Jewish Law. 

Torah Scroll

If this is so, why continue eating stinking fish and take whippings? Isn’t it worthwhile to follow the ruling laid out by Jewish Law [not to give away even one inch]? The commentator Rashi on the verse ‘Iron and copper shall be your locks’, clarifies – ‘the strong ones of Israel should live in the border cities and lock them up preventing the entry of Israel’s enemies. Should the question be asked: ‘Only by signing this peace accord can we continue to receive money from America?!’ The answer is: ‘The opposite is true! Only if you stand steadfastly will you get this funding! 

Public talk 13 Tishrei 1980

A Precise Prophecy by the Lubavitcher Rebbe

 In August 1968 one year and four months after the Six-Day War, Mr. Tzvi Caspi was appointed Consul of Jewish Affairs in New York. One month after accepting the post, he received a telegram from the assistant Prime Minister of Israel Mr. Yigal Alon. The telegram stated: ‘Meet with the Lubavitcher Rebbe and request of him in the name of the Government of Israel as follows: 1) He should instruct Chabad Chassidim to settle in Hebron. 2) He should come out with a call to his Chassidim to settle the Land (of Israel).’

Mr. Caspi until this very day is moved by the words of prophecy he heard from the Rebbe in response to his appeal. 

He had an audience with the Rebbe at 12 midnight. The Rebbe studied the telegram and responded as follows: “Chabad has legal rights to properties in the streets of Hebron, yet you are not recommending that we settle within Hebron. Instead you will do in Hebron the same as you did in Nazareth. You will set up another Nazareth Illit (an outlying area for Jewish People to settle there). You will leave the Arabs in the city (of Hebron) as you did in Nazareth, and for the Jewish people you will add something”.

Ancient Jewish Hebron

The idea of establishing (the outlying area of) Kiryat Arba had not yet been thought of at that time, yet the Rebbe stated explicitly prophetic words. If I am not mistaken, the Rebbe even stated the future name of the settlement to be set up near Hebron –‘Kiryat Arba’. He spoke of a Jewish settlement by the edge of Hebron and argued forcefully that it would be a blunder to do this! 

Further into our discussion the Rebbe stated (with regard that which had been done in Nazareth and would in the future be done in Hebron): 

“You made a grave mistake. These murderers raise a white flag of submission, and you allowed them to stay! Why were you afraid? Terrible fear and trepidation befell them when you went out to war against them, why did you not allow them to flee? You were afraid that the world would have what to say against you? The world is full of refugees!”The Rebbe concluded that this is a mistake and added in a painful tone: “This is a serious mistake; you will pay dearly for this. 

You made no offer that we settle in Hebron, but to live outside of Hebron as you did in Nazareth”.