Israel’s Reliance on the Nations brings Severe Misfortune

 The Talmud (tractate Shabbos 33.2) relates that Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yossi and Rabbi Shimon were once seated together, and with them was Yehuda ben Geirim. Rabbi Yehuda opened the debate and stated: ‘How beautiful are the works of this nation (the Romans). They have built market places, bridges, and bathhouses’. Rabbi Yossi remained silent. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai responded saying: “All that they have built has been for their own benefit. They built markets for women of ill repute; bathhouses to pamper themselves; bridges in order to exact taxes”. 

Remains of Roman Bridge

 Yehuda ben Geirim left and repeated their discussion, which came to the attention of the Roman Empire. The authorities announced: ‘Yehuda who promoted, shall be promoted, Yossi who was silent shall be exiled to Tzipori, Shimon who disparaged shall be killed. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai was forced to be a fugitive and remain concealed in a cavern. 

Why does the Talmud relate this introduction to Rabbi Shimon’s words which resulted in his having to remain concealed? We have here a teaching how the Rashbi (Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai) related to the acts of the nations, and the kind of tribulations which result from relying on the ‘kindness of the nations (which is) a sin’. 

 As in those days, so it is in our time. All the anguish that exists today is because for many years there has been ongoing dismissals that there is nothing to fear from the Arabs who want to exterminate us. Amongst the gentiles, they believe, are our ‘good friends’ in Washington who will not permit even one Arab to harm Israel, as our Sages have stated: ‘we have a sister in the Palace’. This makes no sense. There are eighty million Arabs, haters of the Jewish Nation who rise up to annihilate us. Regardless, there are those (in the government of Israel) who argue there is nothing to fear. Not because we are reliant on G-d, but because we rely on a gentile in Washington who will do all within his power not to permit harm to Israel. They do not pray to G-d to guard us. The only act which they do perform is to flatter the gentile so that he will agree to help. Moreover, they are sure that the gentile will sacrifice his life to save Jews. Israel relies on the USA who, they believe, will intervene at all costs and therefore Israel does everything to find favor in her eyes. The reason for this is, as the Talmud states, ‘one who faults [miscalculates] others [will himself miscalculate] has the same fault’. 

 Jews fall before and flatter the gentile to such an extent, that when they see a gentile, they beg him to go to the Holy Land and assure him that they will register him as a Jew. He anticipates that the gentile will conduct himself with him to the point of self-sacrifice. Their reliance is with closed eyes. An entire calamity is unfolding. They have forgotten that the gentile is no more than an axe in the hands of the quarryman (Zohar, Bereishis 36.1) which can do no more than the wood chopper commands, forgetting that there is a wood chopper analogous to G-d Himself, forgetting the laws [Jewish lifestyle] which He has commanded us to keep. 

 Rather, they search to find favor in the eyes of the axe itself, which is total nonsense! This is the cause for all the troubles. The gentile does what he pleases with no consideration of the good for the Jews. The Israel government calls this ‘independence’– having the freedom to do as they please. Yet never has there been such a situation of such reliance on the nations as now. This is where it has brought them – all those that argue that they are independent – to a conduct of running after (and begging) the nations!  

Public discourse Parshas Emor 1974 

They want to give away the Old City of Jerusalem

 But after years of entreaties he [President Nasser] began to understand that Israel really does want them to take back the territories.

On the verse ‘And the Children of Israel travelled from the wells of the sons of Yaakov to Moser’, Rashi comments that after the great victory of the Jewish People over the King of Arad, they were beset suddenly with fear of another war, they retreated eight journeys. This is difficult to comprehend. Why were they in shock and why did they flee? They were convinced by their evil inclination – a master craftsman concealing his intent in supposedly G-d-fearing words: ‘Certainly you conquered the King of Arad, but there is reason to fear further warfare. You may well be conquered because ‘you must not rely on miracles’. 

Precisely this was repeated after the Sinai War (1956). Israel, in trepidation of Egypt, they felt that they must submit to Egypt’s demands. Israeli forces retreated, in return for assurances of peace and rights to access freely through the Suez Canal. President Nasser of Egypt violated this promise. (For reasons of peace– Israel offered this retreat; however) Egypt prepared for war! Once again, shortly before the outbreak of the Six Day War, Egypt closed the Straits of Tiran preparing their military for war. Many argued Israel should not initiate war but find a peaceful solution. 

The Old City of Jerusalem

With G-d’s mercy, Israel opened the attack disregarding world opinion. The entire world saw the miraculous victory. After the Six Day War the view not to retreat from the territories took precedence. 

Fact: Whenever Israel took the initiative when faced with war, the number of dead was minimal. On the other hand, in Jerusalem where it was decided NOT to attack, the number killed was much greater. 

Yet, regardless of having seen the victory of the Six Day War without fear or subservience to the Arabs, now for three years Israel has been begging the Arabs to take back the conquered territories! President Nasser was convinced that Israel was setting a trap, never believing that Israel would return conquered natural security borders. But after years of entreaties he began to understand that Israel really does want them to take back the territories.

Full Jewish legal entitlement to the Land of Israel and her borders

  

 There are two ways of negotiating [to determine the borders of the Land of Israel]. The first is to state: I am a Jew. I represent the Jewish People and the Jewish faith. Therefore I ask of you to grant me all that I request. Since we live in exile, G-d desires that we work through natural means by approaching the minister of that country (who is connected to the heavenly ministering angel of that country) and speak to him diplomatically in his language. Yet, together with that, the Jew must speak with clarity and determination, stating his demand. 

This method of negotiating was determined by Abraham our Patriarch who stated: “I am both a non resident and a citizen amongst you”, meaning, if you will concede and grant the Jew what he is owed, I will accept the status of a non-resident in exile, and to pay 400 silver shekels for the merchandise. Even given this diminished status, G-d has commanded Jewish entitlement. [As is known the maxim of the Rebbes of Lubavitch, that only the physical bodies of the Jewish People have been put in exile; not the souls. Therefore a gentile is not empowered to argue that since a Jew is in exile he cannot receive his demand.] 

However, if the gentile is not in agreement, then the Jew will state his demand as an entitlement, a citizen, and take it without offering payment. 

The second form of negotiation with a gentile– in order to determine the borders of Israel– is that the Jew says that our entitlement stems stems from a certain gentile from London [Balfour] who said that the Jewish People need a homeland.

 When the gentile hears this, he comes to the conclusion that this Jew has no basis of entitlement from Jewish sources. That is why he reverts to claiming his rights from a gentile. His response is: True, a gentile did state the need of a Jewish homeland, however now, one hundred and forty gentiles disagree. Who is to say that one solitary gentile [Balfour] holds the determining view? [Actually, this argument of the gentile is correct.]

He is no master to decide that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish People. Rather, this is the Will of G-d who initially granted this land to them [the Canaanites], and consequently took it from them and granted the land to us].

We are in exile [using natural means – praying for the peace of the city.... because through this we will have peace]. Yet our words must be completely truthful with no hint of falsity [which would be contrary to Torah] because falsity will also lead to results contrary to those we anticipated. 

All the tribulations, which we are living through now, are because Jewish people built their case on that declaration written by a gentile in London! Jewish people regard that gentile as the master who is deciding who should receive “the Land ... upon which the eyes of G-d gaze from the beginning of the year to the end of the year”. The matter does not end there. They attempt to find favor in his eyes and subjugate themselves to him, asking another gentile “where are the borders [of Israel]? Where does the Land belonging to Jewish People end? What were the loyalties, both apparent and undisclosed, of the those who signed a piece of paper in London? 

This is precisely what the Talmud states: “Our Torah should not be compared to their irrelevant words”. We have an iron wall, the iron words of Rashi [the Torah commentator, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki] at the very beginning of the Torah, when a child begins to learn Chumash with the commentary of Rashi at the age of five. We tell him immediately: “[The Almighty] told His nation of the strength of His Hand when He gave [the Jewish People] an inheritance of nations.” Rashi does not leave room to teach the child any conjectural interpretations. Rather, he states with clarity, that there is a country which once belonged to seven nations, [not that they conquered it with the might of their own hands, but rather it was given to them by G-d]; subsequently He took it from them and gave it to us”. There is absolutely no need to seek advice, come to any compromises, conspiracies, or deals as to where our borders ought to be and which territories belongs to them [the Arabs]! G-d Himself delineated and set the borders of the Land of Israel! “This is the Land ....her borders” [Numbers 34.2].

To the Promised Land

They [the government of Israel] have tried all formulas both openly and by secret agreements. Yet, this is the only formula they have not yet attempted with which to go public. This is the only wording which gentiles understand since they study the Tenach [Bible] with the very same verses and same interpretations! 

Gentiles already know the interpretation. Moreover, they know that the Jews also know this correct interpretation. Yet, the Jew chooses to cut himself off, to ignore his spiritual wealth and power and true demand. In fact, this is not a demand or request, but a pre-existing natural oneness of the Nation of Israel and the Land of Israel, as the Midrash [Tanchuma] explains: When G-d chose the Nation of Israel from amongst the nations, and chose the Land of Israel from amongst all the lands, it is only logical that the Land which the Creator chose should be given to the People whom the Creator chose! 

By the use of this simple logic there fall away all questions of borders [of Israel]. Then, not only does the issue no longer cause panic and fear, but even the gentiles will know that the Jews [by demonstrating their rightful demand] are “the most powerful amongst the nations” [Talmud Beitza], and that the basis upon which they [the Jewish People] take possession [of their rightful lands] is because they [the gentiles] know that “The word of G-d will stand for ever” [Isaiah 40.8].  

One is fully entitled to approach the gentile and say to him in straightforward terms [quoting Ethics of the Fathers 5.10]: ‘Possessions belonging to me are mine; possessions belonging to you, are yours’. You have the entire world; we have a tiny portion of land which cannot accommodate the nations [Talmud Tractate Gittin 57.1]. The Torah commentator Rashi elaborates in his commentary on the Torah portion [B’chukosai 26.32]: ‘That which the verse forewarns ‘The Land of Israel will lie desolate’ [which appears to be a part of the Curses] is actually a blessing. When the Land is made Judenrein, then gentiles also are unable to take possession of that land!’ [Translator’s note: This ancient prediction mentioned in the Torah, has taken place before our very eyes in Gush Katif which remains utterly desolate of Arab inhabitants and production]. They 

are only able to move around there temporarily, but can never reside there permanently. This is the very nature of the earth of the Land of Israel. 

Since all of this [from the Bible] has already been translated into all languages, the nations of the world are well acquainted with this fact. The government of Israel sent an emissary, a Jew, to negotiate with a gentile. What does he do? He begins to research non-Jewish sources; perhaps there he will find proof for Jewish rights to the Land. When he finally meets with the gentile and begins to prove that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish Nation because Balfour said so, it’s pitiful because the gentile realizes that this is not a legitimate claim. 

The claim must have strong legal justification [recognized also by the gentiles] that the Land of Israel and her borders belong to the Jewish Nation [aside from the greater borders predicted in the Torah portion [Re-ei 12.20], ‘When G-d will broaden your borders’ after the arrival of our righteous Moshiach]. Even if there is need to pay 400 silver shekels, still, the lands are Jewish. The gentile will recognize the truth of this claim, which was not invented in 1948 [with the establishment of the State], but going far back in time to the Revelation at Mount Sinai, and even before that, to the Covenant with Abraham. Only then will the gentile not be suspicious that if he will grant the Jewish nation one portion, they will not further their demand for another portion, because the Jewish Nation are only asking for that which is rightfully theirs!  

The government makes no effort to release itself from slavery to the international community.They know that their slavery will only end when Jews return to their faith. Then ‘immediately will they be released from their exile’ [see Maimonides]. At this time we are still in a state of Exile, not as is the view of those who are mistaken and mislead others [that 1948 was the time when the exile came to an end, and now we have entered the beginning of the Redemption]. Maimonides states clearly that the exile will be prolonged up until the moment when ‘there will arise a King from the Royal House of King David who will bring all Israel to walk in the footsteps of the Torah, and its breaches will be repaired. Thereafter Moshiach will fight the wars of G-d and be victorious, [all of this he will achieve whilst the Jewish People are still in exile]’.

 Only thereafter will he build the [third] Temple in its rightful place and ‘he will bring about the ingathering of the dispersed ones of Israel.’ This is the great test for us to overcome in our times. 

Public address 11 Nissan 1976

I have demanded that this be put right for a long time yet the Israeli Government continues its policy of surrender

 “One of the questions I am asked, since I have demanded that this be put right for a long time yet the Israeli Government continues its policy of surrender which means giving away territories, have I been wasting my time as nothing has changed?! To this there are two responses: 

1. Should there be absolutely no protest then the situation would be much worse. 

2. The Torah states: “You should continue to reprove your friend” which the Talmud elaborates to mean “even one hundred times”. Commentators explain this to mean quite literally 100 times, that even if one has already fulfilled one’s obligation 99 times, the Torah demands a 100th time with the same forcefulness as the first time, since this 100th time is part of that very same command!

This seems inexplicable; he has already reproved 99 times, what will the 100th time achieve? The response is based on the halachically binding words of Maimonides. If the world would not be in a state of equal balance, then certainly one single act could have no effect to alter the balance. However, since the world is in a state of equal balance, then with one single outcry of protest he is able to alter this state of fine balance for himself and indeed the entire world-scales towards the good and brings himself and the entire world to be saved!

May it be Hashem’s Will that they should not pursue their chosen path which until now has brought us to this present harmful situation– far worse than it was a year ago. Then it was much easier and simpler to set up residence throughout the lands of Yehuda and Shomron, Hebron and the Old City of Jerusalem. Today when one wishes to establish even one single home the nations immediately rise in protest: “For ten consecutive years you yourselves did not permit this and now when we are signing for peace you are jumping in to do this?!” 

In any event, may it be the Will of Hashem that going forward all the territories should be immediately inhabited since with every passing day it becomes more difficult. And since ultimately there will be no fleeing from the territories it is better that this be done now!” 

Shabbos Bereishis 1979

Hebron: You murdered them and thereby inherit them?! Is this called a status quo?!”

 I [the Lubavitcher Rebbe] sent a representative to the Government of Israel to ask them:

“How is it possible that you are actually giving Hebron to the Arabs?”

Ancient Jewish Hebron

They replied to me: that “This is not the case, that there are 240 families that were permitted to live there”. 

I asked again: “But even to these 240 families were given a permit only to live outside of the borders of Hebron not in Hebron”. They answered me: “What do you mean? The location they were permitted to settle is only 10 minutes from the Cave of Machpela.”

I asked them: “What do you mean only 10 minutes? A distance of just one minute can be across of the borders of Eretz Israel! Even such a short journey is outside of Hebron!” I do not know how they can enact a law that forbids Jewish People from living in Hebron. How can a Jewish government ratify giving Hebron to the Arabs?! 

Moreover: The Mayor of Hebron (Sheikh Jabari) is an Arab who took part in the pogrom in 1929 against the Jews. We know clearly that either he or his brother or father took part in the pogrom against the Jewish People! There are photographs from that period which prove that he, the Mayor of Hebron was involved with the murders. And the Mayor, not only does he not hide this fact but even prides himself that it was he who evicted the Jews from Hebron. These very same Arabs! Not Arabs from Egypt, but these very Arabs who murdered Jews in 1929 – they are giving Hebron to them!? 

What do the government representatives answer me? “We have here a situation of “status quo”– Hebron has been in the hands of the Arabs already for 30 years.”

What kind of status quo do we have here?! This situation is one of “You murdered them and thereby inherit them?! Is this called a status quo?!” 

Public talk Shabat Parshat Noach, 1971