The Lubavitcher Rebbe's talks to Israel and to the civilized world what action to take against today's terror threats.

Ongoing Terrorist threats against the Civilized World

Facing terror, instead of taking decisive action, Israel complains to the U.N.

When you are aware that someone is out to kill you, do not sit and wait for every other nation to agree and for the [119 representatives at the] U.N. to cast their votes to decide whether you have the right to retaliate against your attacker, and only thereafter you call a Cabinet meeting and see if they agree. This is not the way to deal with those who wish to kill you. 

The U.N. tells Jews to turn the other cheek.

You need only to be sure that he is out to kill you. How can you know this? This is similar to the ancient Egyptians, some were G-d fearing. Come Sunday, these U.N. delegates might very well go to pray, and then lecture us that they were taught that if someone slaps you on one cheek, “turn the other cheek.” But, they say, this applies only to Jews! They will do the opposite. But they expect Jews to turn the left cheek.

“Israel, you wish to retaliate? Where’s your sense of justice and morality?! 

How can you do such a thing? First bring the case before the U.N. There all the righteous members will gather after first having been to their places of worship where they prayed to the one who taught them “love your fellow as yourself” and to turn the other cheek.” Then they will decide what is the law regarding the one who shot to kill, and then you will have to follow their decision. 

The Torah teaches: “No! This is not the way not for Israel and not for the gentile world. Should terrorists be bent on murder - kill them first!” 

Not only is this the wrong approach for Jews [Israel], this bring harm to the gentiles! When a gentile knows that there is one who is coming to kill him, and you send in a written complaint: Excuse me Mr. Cossack [terrorist], since you want to kill Jews, be aware that this violates the U.N. Charter. First we must call a meeting and request permission [for you to take preemptive action]….yesterday you [the terrorist] attacked without permission, so now it is too late to rectify your attempted murder; but now change your ways [for the good]! Historically there was the instance that Pharaoh King of Egypt later became [the righteous] King of Nineveh, repented, and the decree against him was nullified. So, why is modern day Pharaoh worse than that Pharaoh? Especially since there is not one Pharaoh but there are 120 of them! [The same number as the men of the great [Jewish Assembly]. 

Endless delays by the U.N. on Israel’s complaints

Members of the U.N. state clearly that they will not reach a decision [whether or not Israel may take preemptive action to protect herself] in haste, G-d forbid. They will drag it out for months! One meeting, another meeting, and at that meeting they will conclude to have another meeting. Meanwhile the attacks and shootings [at Jewish People in Israel] continue! Fear not [says the U.N.] the time will come when they [the terrorists] will have to pay for their actions…How will they have to pay? The U.N. will send them a complaint: “Mr Cossack  [terrorist] - you have violated the Charter!” 

The results are inevitable: They won’t stop at [murdering] Jews. Once they are used to attacking Jews with permission, then they will begin toattack non-Jews as well! 

After giving hundreds of millions of dollars to terrorist organizations, terror will turn its face against the world.

Even when they receive a hundred million dollars in aid, two hundred million dollars, three hundred million dollars, they [the terrorists] will send in a document that the money is theirs to keep. How dare you tell us what to do?  You [gentiles] have a complaint? - take it to the U.N.! Don’t argue with us! You [the West] argue that we took from you five hundred million dollars? Perhaps [argue the Arab terrorists] we have a counter claim against you?! And who will decide? - There is the high court in the Hague, a court in New York…from time to time the add another non-Jewish judge, another, and another - there is justice in the world.”  And in the meantime I’ll continue taking your [aid] money, then your ships, your tanks; then if you have diplomats in our countries we will imprison them.” Should the world raise the alarm, we [terrorists] reply: “ why did you not protest when we were attacking the Jews? 

The Talmud’s resolution to terrorist threats against the civilized World: 

Be prepared to eliminate terror!

The Talmud is presenting a very rational idea not difficult to grasp, “Should someone comes to kill you - this is not the time for debates,  no time to enter into discussion [with murderers] - he must see that you are prepared to take preemptive action to kill him”.  The Talmud does not actually say “kill him”, but rather be prepared [for him to see] that you are ready to kill him. Should the terrorist see your preparedness to take such forceful action - it won’t even come to that. Take an early stand - stop lodging complaints, but rather, show that you are prepared to kill him first, then he will not come to kill you. 

Terrorist organizations will have no other resort but to complain to the U.N. - without results!

They will be the one to start sending in his complaints to the U.N. And then it will be you who will rest assured that this will drag on for twelve months, and another twelve months, and in the meantime there will be a change in leadership with new resolutions, and all this while “The Guardian of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps”. Then [G-d] will send [the enemies] new troubles and the old troubles [of the enemies against the West] will be forgotten.  

Israel still argues we must follow world opinion

However, when Jews argue - but now ‘We are scattered amongst the nations’;Torah’s instruction stand - one who comes to kill you - kill him first - is an instruction for all times.  But [Israel] argues - in times such as these we are obliged to follow world opinion. What is this? - There is one selected leader [in the U.N.] who presides over all other leaders, a representative over all other representatives who changes every month or so. He is the one who decides that until a resolution is passed through all of the current bureaucracies, nothing can be done. 

World governments give hundreds of millions to terror organizations that they reduce their murder tactics.

True there is someone out there intent to kill you, - but just because he is a thief [a murderer] you also want to be a thief [murderer]? He is a thief [murderer] so we will blacklist him but nevertheless we will give him a hundred million dollars to stop him from being a bigger thief [murderer]. 

Nations say: Israel should act morally and ethically - not protect Jewish lives.

But you [Jews] want also to play the same game and preempt to kill him - Jews are not allowed to do that!? You Jews have to act morally and ethically! 

Rabbi Shimon in the Talmud states: “What does the living Torah have to say about this? Preempt and be prepared to kill!” 

Be prepared; in the end you will not have to do so. If you truly seek his [the attempted terrorist’s] welfare to prevent war and even save his life, this is the only line of action he will reckon with. You can send them complaints, delegations, and talk endlessly…all of these methods have already been tried  and have cost so many lives. Not only did these not bring a resolution, but worsened the situation. The enemy sees that he can strike once, twice, three times, four times, five times with no effective response taken [by Israel]. Should you however be prepared and stand up early prepared to kill, you will succeed without even having to kill him, also benefiting the present day Egyptian.

                                                                              Public talk Purim 14th Adar 5729, March 04 1969. 

See the Hand of G-D!

 The Tenach [Kings 1, 20.32] tells us of the Seven Day War which took place at the time of Ahab the king of Israel. Hadad King of Aram went out to war against Israel earning him a great defeat, leaving him thinking that never would he recover. Regardless, Ahab ran after him begging him to sign a peace treaty. The King of Aram's hate for Ahab was so deadly that could not understand how Ahab would wish to make peace with him. 

His advisers explained to him that the Jewish nation is a nation of pity and kindness; that should they be asking for peace, they will make peace with you. After much persuasion Hadad agreed and send his representatives to Ahab and together signed a peace treaty from which there were disastrous results as documented there at length. 

Two years ago there took place a similar re-occurrence at the time of the Six Day War. The IDF smote the Arabs a resounding defeat sending them fleeing in fear. Yet, regardless, Israel ran after the Arabs [via the USA] literally begging them: come, sit with us round the table, let's make peace. It is now two whole years that they are running after the Arabs begging them to agree to sit together to make peace! In return Israel is prepared and promises all the land they could possibly wish for. Yet, the Arabs are reluctant to meet with the Jews, arguing: we have enough problems of our own - not interested - not in your goodness nor in your evil, "neither your honey nor your sting" [Midrash Tanchuma].

In our time now there is an exact repetition of that which took place between the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Aram. 

There is taking place something wondrous with no natural explanation. In spite of the fact that it is now two consecutive years that Israel is begging the Arabs to sit down with them; the Arabs have nothing to lose but only to gain, regardless, they will not agree. They are prepared to forgo half of the country that Israel wishes to give away to them on a silver platter; but from their perspective, the main thing is not to sit down with a Jew! 

This strange situation has only one possible explanation: that which is taking place is a repeat - the hand of G-d as at the time of the Exodus of the Jewish People from Egypt when "G-d hardened the heart of Pharaoh" [Exodus 9. 12] [not to release the Jewish People from Egypt]. They have absolutely no reason for their reluctance to sit together with the Jews having nothing to lose. 

It is G-d alone Who is hardening their hearts.   

Israel's weakness is increasing terror attacks!

The weakness shown by Israel towards the Arabs after the wondrous victory of the Six Day War did not end with their call to sit down, talk peace and offer to give away half of the country. 

The rulers of Israel wish to divide up the Holy city of Jerusalem, that the city belong to the Muslims, Xtians, and [finally, as an afterthought] "also" to the Jews. It does not end there: they are actually encouraging Arabs to dwell in Jerusalem. This, despite the fact that Jerusalem has belonged exclusively to the Jewish People since ancient times. Already from the days of Shem the son of Noah [Noah who divided the earth among his three sons after the Great Flood], to Abraham our Patriarch [when G-d promised the Land to him and to his progeny], and finally the conquest of Jerusalem by King David.

Additionally, there is an explicit Jewish law which states that a gentile may not live in Jerusalem - that this will bring him no good. This law however can only be enforced when the hand of the Jewish People is empowered [Talmud Ketubos 26.2, Bava Kama 97.2], However, this does not mean that they need to encourage Arabs to remain living there, and certainly not to pursue them, begging them to remain there!

This weakness of falling before the Arabs is the cause, that if until now there was a situation of fear of the Jewish People, now, at this time, as a direct result of pursuing them, we have arrived at a situation that they raise their heads against Israel and are increasing [May G-d protect us] their terror attacks.

                                                                     Shabbos Parshat Matos-Masei 1969

The Lubavitcher Rebbe: Since it was G-d Who brought the Land into our possession no Jew has the right to hand this over to gentiles! How is it that you want to give away a portion of the Land?! This is not your's to give! This was given to you by G-d!

Capture of Jericho - the Lock and Key for Possession of the Entire Land of Israel for Eternity

Matters pertaining to the Torah of Israel and the nation of Israel apply also to the Land of Israel. There were times when not all of the Land had been conquered. For example, when the Jewish People entered the Land of Israel, initially they conquered Jericho, thereafter the city of Ai, then further landmasses. Only after seven years was the entire Land finally conquered.

View looking towards Jericho

Years later, in the time of Jeroboam ben Nevat there took place a division among the Jewish people. Then came the Babylonian exile (after the exile of Sennacherib who had captured part of the land). The entire land had come under the control of gentiles. Later, even when the Temple stood, not all of the Land had been reconquered, neither were the majority of the Jewish People.

Collapsed and Burnt Ancient Walls of Jericho from the time of Joshua

The perspective today towards the Land of Israel should be the same as to Torah (and the Jewish Nation): that one be versed only a small portion of Torah should know that the entire Torah is one.

The same is true of the Land of Israel; when the Jewish People entered the Land at the beginning of the seven years, the first location conquered was Jericho. Our Sages tell us that they did not conquer Jericho as a single city or only as the beginning of a seven year conquest; rather Jericho was taken because it was the lock of the Land, the key of entry to the entire Land. Jewish law states that the point of transfer of property is when the purchaser has key in hand.

That at the time of the conquest of Jericho the intent alread was for the conquest of the entire Land which would still take seven years, with Canaanites still occupying the city of Ai. Those nations knew well that the key had been captured, and at some point their city would also be taken. The Gibeonites upon hearing of the capture of Jericho took multiple underhand steps for a peace treaty, even to pay tribute. For this reason the Girgashi (Canaanite nation) turned and fled even before the Jewish people had approached them.

When the Canaanites saw that the lock of the Land of Israel had been captured they realized that their presence anywhere in the Land was no longer sustainable. 

This conquest transferred ownership of the Land of Israel to the Jewish People as an everlasting inheritance; not as a temporary conquest, but the Land became an inheritance and  gift from G-d for all eternity.

Later, the difference would only be whether the Jewish people would dwell upon the Land, or "Woe to the father whose sons have been exiled from his table". [Regardless, the table remains the table of the father [G-d], and the sons remain sons of their father! The father is only waiting for the return of his sons (to repent) and seat themselves once again by his table. However, G-d forbid to suggest that because they have been exiled from his table, he is no longer their father, or this is no longer his table.

The same is true of the Land of Israel. From time the Jewish People were exiled from their land [even when Assyria entered the inheritance of the ten tribes, she did not become [part of] the land of Assyria G-d forbid - but remained the Land of Israel! [Even though some Commandments could no longer be performed].

The Land of Israel belongs to the children of Israel with G-d's covenant with our Patriarch Abraham  is an eternal covenant. When the Jewish People left Egypt and stood at Mount Sinai [and received the Torah], then continued on to the land of Israel conquering the land by the conquest of Jericho [the lock of the Land], as of that time the land was no longer the land of Canaan; could no longer be the land of Babylon [by conquest], not the land of Media, Greece or Edom even when the Jewish people dwelt in the exile of Babylon, Media, Greece or Edom.

Even should a Jew dwell outside of the Land of Israel, - he retains a portion in the Land of Israel, and the Land retains her name - the land of [belonging to the nation of] Israel, that even gentiles call her the Land of Israel and the Holy Land. 

                                                                                                       13th Tammuz 1969 

Part 2

The Name of Our Land

There are those that argue the need to respond to those who are not prepared to use the name ארץ ישראל - 'Land of Israel', rather by the name מדינה - 'State'. 

G-d calls her the Land of Israel, and designates her borders - "from the great river Euphrates will be your borders" [Joshua 1.4]. This is the legal decision of Torah, and Torah is eternal. 

We are in exile, exiled from our Land, because of our sins. Nevertheless she remains our Land.  We have been distanced from the Land of Israel, not Canaan [as some would have us believe].  Even gentiles who are there, have no hold over the Land of Israel, but over wasteland without settlements [see Rashi commentary Number 26.32]. 

The soul of a Jew is in the Land of Israel 

A Jew, wherever his body finds itself, his soul is in the land of Israel. It is known that the prayers of the Jewish people always ascend the Heavenly Heights through the Land of Israel. Everyone - even small children know that when he prays the 18 blessings, he faces eastwards towards the Land of Israel. Since the essence of a Jew is not his body but his soul which is bound with each of his prayers in the land of Israel, one must conclude that in reality he is there. Only his body entered into exile! 

Go ask a Gentile!

Whether the exile is outside of the land of Israel, or within Israel [where the exile is even more bitter being 'the land where the Eyes of G-d gaze continuously from the beginning to the end of the year' [Deuteronomy 11.12], yet, he imagines that this is a country like any other country. In order for the test to be eased, ask a gentile: "which country lies between Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt?", he responds "this is the Holy Land". Should one ask him "how do you know that this is the Holy Land?", he responds: "this is clearly written in the Torah - 'the land where the Eyes of G-d gaze continuously from the beginning to the end of the year'. 

Nothing to fear from Gentiles!  

There is nothing to fear from gentiles - never were they masters over the Land of 

Israel. Rashi states, 'that it was G-d Who created it, and it was He Who gave it to whomever he so desired [the Canaanites], and thereafter took it from them and gave it to us'! G-d decided that 'the inheritance of nations' [even when our Patriarch Isaac lived there was it still called the land of Canaan; yet, from the moment the Jewish nation conquered the land [by taking hold of her lock - Jericho], she became the Land of Israel.  

No Jew has the right to hand the Land over to Gentiles!

Since it was G-d Who brought the Land into our possession no Jew has the right to hand this over to gentiles! How is it that you want to give away a portion of the Land?! This is not your's to give! This was given to you by G-d! 

Even an assimilated Jew

A Jew, even having sinned always remains a Jew; never can he change this! Rather, he remains exactly as a child sitting at his father's table. As soon as he is born [without being a Torah sage] he is eligible to inherit his father! 

The same is true here: every Jew inherits the Land of Israel, an inheritance from the Living G-d. So has the living Torah designated! Just as an immature child already is eligible to inherit his father. The same is true of a Jew, even if not observant, possesses a G-dly soul [a part of G-d from above] and inherits everything which G-d leaves to him - "you are children of the Lord your G-d".

Inheritance has no limits

One who imposes limitations upon this inheritance, the law is that one who imposes conditions upon anything written in Torah are null and void". No conditions, announcements, of compromises will help him [regarding inheritance and ownership of the Land of Israel]. Every Jew must to use this freedom of choice given to him and not make any changes regarding 'our Land' and 'our soil'. 

 There are certain mitzvos that currently we do not perform because they are applicable only when the entire Jewish nation dwell upon the Land'. However regarding the Land of Israel, even should we be in exile, the moment the land was no longer 'the land of Canaan', from the time of Joshua's conquest of Jericho, the 'Everlasting Covenant' became a reality, that 'from the great river Euphrates' will be our Land! Not a State of Israel, but the Land of Israel!

Gentiles themselves are asking us to stop making this an issue 

Gentiles themselves are asking us to stop making this an issue: "you conquered this [the land] - reside there and enjoy! Gentiles have no objections; the only  objections come from the evil inclination of the Jew! Instead of taking advantage of the freedom of choice given to him by G-d to choose what is right, prefers to choose the wrong! Why [asks the Rebbe] are you listening to the voice of this kind of king, old man and fool?  

We once spoke of the following. In our prayer for forgiveness the liturgy says 'may we be forgiven for the sin which we have committed with our evil inclination. But, do not all sins have their source in the evil inclination? By way of explanation:  There are some sins for which even the evil inclination has no interest - he knows full well that a Jew has no contact with this. This is the sin we commit before You with the evil inclination. 

The Jew himself brings upon himself the fear of that gentile! This gentile has already fallen from his position of authority, running and shaking in fear - and yet, the Jew is afraid of him, even running after him calling to him: "listen - don't be afraid of me!"                                    

                                                                                                 13th Tammuz 1969

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The Jewish People in the land of Israel must take possession of the Land for G-d to give Peace in the Land and the final Redemption

The Lubavitcher Rebbe:
 "Take Possession of the Land!"

All matters of the days of Moshiach depend on our actions and service during Exile. This includes the prophecy of Zechariah that "Jerusalem will [no longer be a walled-in city, but] be an open city" [fearless of enemies]. For this to come to completion the service during Exile must be to spread the hallmark of Jerusalem -  the perfect fear of Hashem  ירושלים - יראה שלם  wherever a Jew lives.

 In truth every Jew is G-d fearing, as is known that when the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe was asked why in all correspondence he adds the title ( (אי"א"  (איש ירא אלוקים - a man fearful of G-d, he replied that from the soul perspective every Jew is G-d fearing! With most Jews this is revealed, but every Jew has this quality [which needs to be revealed], so we are still in need a service to achieve a human parallel as of Jerusalem - an open city - open to complete fear of G-d. In Igeres HaKodesh [Tanya] authored by the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, he notes that in our generation we no longer have the physical strength to achieve fear of G-d by fasting and self-deprivation, rather these can be replaced by the service of giving of much charity.

Jewish people need great incomes to have the strength to apportion much charity and this not prevent the observance of fixed times of Torah study requiring peace of mind without confusion even from gentiles.

When a Jew has true tenacity - in the end those opposing him will become nullified to the point whereby even "his enemies with partner with him" [Proverbs 16.7], will stop their opposition thereby giving him [and Jerusalem] the tranquility to spread the fear of G-d. Despite our being in Exile - there can be respite enabling one's service of G-d,  using both soul and Judaism; this, because in truth it is only the body which has been subjected to the exile - as was announced by the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe.

When they demand that Jews leave the location where they live - this is no more that a test of faith, that when he will strengthen his faith in Hashem and be oblivious to such pressures, and to know that G-d is with him in his synagogue. 

Then, when a gentile sees that the Jew's intention is truthful, that he walks with the strength of G-d, he will stop being preoccupied with the Jewish People, as  took place with the Canaanite tribe of the Girgashi - that they turned away and left the Land of Israel. 

This is specifically true of the Holy Land. Certainly there, conduct must be with absolute strength, as the verse in Psalms 68.13 [King David] is explained: "Kings with their armies will flee [from before the Jewish People], and the homeowners will divide the spoils", - that all nations preoccupied with the Jewish People will leave the Land of Israel, and the true land-homeowners  [the Jewish People] - the spouse of G-d, will divide the spoils.

Firstly, this must effect the Jewish People who are in the Land of Israel, that they take their stand as owners of the house [only thereafter divide spoils]; then G-d says "I will give peace into the Land". This will be the preparation for the immediate onset of the Redemption followed by the true and complete Redemption, - [quote Maimonides:] "and he [Moshiach] will fight the wars of G-d  and achieve victory, and gather the dispersed ones of Israel" - since he is the absolute Moshiach - soon actually in our days!

                                                  Talk by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Last day of Pesach 1969.