Will The Real Jew Please Stand Up! - A Call From The Heart

31-Mar-08

WILL THE REAL JEW PLEASE STAND UP! - A CALL FROM THE HEART

A long - time observer of the Israel scene, I have learned a thing or two about Israeli society and politics.

I have realized long ago the futility of expecting a fair hearing for Israel in international forums. Were I a visiting alien I would have to only take a peek at UN records to conclude that Israel is indeed the most evil member of the family of nations .Truly a nation that dwells alone. So much for truth and morality amongst the family of nations.

I have been closely following "Left/Right" politics in Israel since making "Aliyah" in 1977 .I was surprised by Israeli Jews who sympathized with our worst enemies and provided them with moral and political tools to wage their war against the Jewish State. A marginal group, they were an assortment of Communists, hedonist, anarchists and just social misfits. The mainstream "moderate socialist" Zionist Left were deeply proud and patriotic builders and defenders of the Jewish homeland. True they were not believing or practicing Jews. They or their parents rejected traditional Judaism for a new "Judaism" in the ancestral homeland. The "New Jew" retained a strong Jewish identity and patriotism. This lasted a couple of generations but then things began to change. Many adopted the political and social positions and values of the marginal group. It became fashionable to question Jewish territorial rights in the (formerly) beloved homeland. Jewish settlement and emotional ties to the land and history, once the firm foundation of socialist secular Zionism, became a source of derision, scorn and eventually attack. Their parents had adopted a "new" Judaism and the results were not long in coming. A "Jewish and democratic" state became a euphemism for an Israel with as little Judaism and patriotism as possible. This was reflected in many spheres: Army service was no longer a barometer of social acceptability, emigration from Israel was no longer considered abandonment rather the source of envy. Israelis polled said in significant percentages that they would rather not have been born Jewish. They feel Israeli first and then Jewish. As the Israeli state schools engineered ignorance of Judaism these phenomenon deepened and spread. How quickly cherished values and ideologies died!.

The moderate Left adopted the values and agendas of the marginal "extreme" Left. But I felt there was still hope. The 'Right" won it's first election in 1977. Menachem Begin was swept into power as the Israeli silent majority exhibited huge enthusiasm for Jewish pride, patriotism, tradition and firm ties to the ancestral homeland. The Left scorned (as did the world press) and licked their wounds and did all they could to work counter all the traditional national values even if it meant, first understanding the "legitimate rights" of the Arab enemy and eventually actively working for their aims.

But cracks in the "Right" camp were soon evident As scorned outcasts in the eyes of the social and political elites all these years it seemed that Begin(even Begin) felt the need for acceptance by these oligarchy elites. Under heavy pressure by the Leftist press , academia etc, Begin agreed to expel Jews from their homes for the first time in Israel's history. This precedent occurred In 1982 in Yamit, one of the prices paid for the treaty with Egypt. The retreat began. The educational hole was allowed to deepen as Jewish values were not stressed in state schools. Slowly the secular Left and the secular Right began to be mirror images of each other Both plunged head long into the surf of the global village which engulfed all of secular Israel like a tidal wave. So much so that today the "Right' is implementing the most far reaching and radical programs that only the extreme Left dare advocated for years. It seems that in a moment, all ideologies and values have disappeared. One stands in wonder.

And so my observance of the Israel scene brought me to the realization that only a God fearing Jew can really be trusted to remain firm in his loyalty to his land, people and traditions. Only a torah connected Jew can be expected to be a true son of the Jewish people and guardian and lover of the ancestral God promised land of Israel. Not the Socialists and not the Nationalists.

Indeed there are today over a quarter million patriotic Jews (mostly observant) living in parts of the promised land liberated in the miraculous Six Day war of 1967. Many have been braving brutal Arab attacks intended to drive the Jews out. Hundreds of thousands more on the other side of the "green line" share their faith and enthusiasm.

So I finally began to see the lines more clearly drawn. It was the "Israelis"(Left , Right, Israeli Arabs) on one side and the Jews on the other .It was clear to me. Only a Jew of faith could be counted upon to care about the land and people. Two cultures, two sets of values and increasingly, two peoples. I thought it likely that in the end of the day the only ones left in the country to defend it with God's help would be the faith community. And then His glory would be revealed in full as the prophets predicted, ... and the word of God shall go forth from Jerusalem...

But I was in for another shock. The most disturbing of them yet. The Israeli(Left- Right) government and elites marshal all their resources to uproot thousands of the most patriotic families from their homes - the old time extreme Left agenda, to the glee of our enemies. I fully expected all God fearing Jews to share my feelings of revulsion and shock. The thought of the Jewish government giving away parts of the land God promised all His people for all generations!. And handing it over to the ones who murdered us so that we should indeed flee! .Bulldozing thousands of homes - whole Jewish communities, yeshivot, shuls and cemeteries and handing them to our murderers, is not the worst level of Chilul Hashem? Would they murder and also inherit? Would we grant them a prize for terror. Come, kill more Jews and you will inherit more land. Only a self hating mind could make sense of that. But would torah Jews lend a hand??

The horrible thought never occurred to me. But this is indeed the unkindest cut. At first there was a" psak"(religious ruling) by the leader of the United Torah Judaism(Charedi- ultra religious) party against the expulsion plan. Naturally. But Prime Minister Sharon felt he needed at least one (out of three in the Knesset) "religious" party to support his plan. He was very uncomfortable with an exclusively secular government implementing the expulsion of Jews .It did not look kosher. He needed a "real" Jewish mantle to wear as part of his battle dress. And so he bought his rabbinic authorization - hechsher for 290 million shekels. No more psak

Now there will be lots of money for quality torah study in great comfort in lots of yeshivot. Shuls willl be built. Just imagine the prayers piercing the heavens! And the well tended cemeteries that willl be given the respect they deserve.

So its shuls and yeshivot and cemeteries (where the fresh bodies of murdered Jews will have to be exhumed) in Gush Katif for much better ones in Benai Brak!

If the government's agenda was Shabbat desecration and not the violent expulsion of thousands of Jews and abandoning our patriarchal land for ever, would the " UTJ" support this too?

Oh, but did not the "Mafdal" (national religious party, the kind that are usually the pioneers) sit with the anti religious Shinui party in the last coalition government and thus hurt the agendas of the UTJ party? So there! Let the destruction and desecration begin (but don't forget to pick up the cash along the way!) After all every one of those men women and children in the those Jewish communities have" Mafdal" written on their foreheads like the mark of Cain and have chosen their own destiny. Out!!!

What is the big deal any way? The "settlers" will be given other housing and yehivot and shuls and cemeteries. No one is putting people to the stake.

Just let the chilul Hashem begin and get it over with. After all they are not bulldozing Benei Brak. You'll get over it. Just imagine how much kiddush hashem and ahavas yisroel 290 million shekels can buy?!

So, it is the Israelis on one side and the Jews on the other But will the real Jew please stand up!.

Shalom Pollack Tours of Israel
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	Will The Real Jew Please Stand Up! - A Call From The Heart 31-Mar-08 WILL THE REAL JEW PLEASE STAND UP! - A CALL FROM THE HEART A long - time observer of the Israel scene, I have learned a thing or two about Israeli society and politics. I have realized long ago the futility of expecting a fair hearing for Israel in international forums. Were I a visiting alien I would have to only take a peek at UN records to conclude that Israel is indeed the most evil member of the family of nations .Truly a nation that dwells alone. So much for truth and morality amongst the family of nations. I have been closely following "Left/Right" politics in Israel since making "Aliyah" in 1977 .I was surprised by Israeli Jews who sympathized with our worst enemies and provided them with moral and political tools to wage their war against the Jewish State. A marginal group, they were an assortment of Communists, hedonist, anarchists and just social misfits. The mainstream "moderate socialist" Zionist Left were deeply proud and patriotic builders and defenders of the Jewish homeland. True they were not believing or practicing Jews. They or their parents rejected traditional Judaism for a new "Judaism" in the ancestral homeland. The "New Jew" retained a strong Jewish identity and patriotism. This lasted a couple of generations but then things began to change. Many adopted the political and social positions and values of the marginal group. It became fashionable to question Jewish territorial rights in the (formerly) beloved homeland. Jewish settlement and emotional ties to the land and history, once the firm foundation of socialist secular Zionism, became a source of derision, scorn and eventually attack. Their parents had adopted a "new" Judaism and the results were not long in coming. A "Jewish and democratic" state became a euphemism for an Israel with as little Judaism and patriotism as possible. This was reflected in many spheres: Army service was no longer a barometer of social acceptability, emigration from Israel was no longer considered abandonment rather the source of envy. Israelis polled said in significant percentages that they would rather not have been born Jewish. They feel Israeli first and then Jewish. As the Israeli state schools engineered ignorance of Judaism these phenomenon deepened and spread. How quickly cherished values and ideologies died!. The moderate Left adopted the values and agendas of the marginal "extreme" Left. But I felt there was still hope. The 'Right" won it's first election in 1977. Menachem Begin was swept into power as the Israeli silent majority exhibited huge enthusiasm for Jewish pride, patriotism, tradition and firm ties to the ancestral homeland. The Left scorned (as did the world press) and licked their wounds and did all they could to work counter all the traditional national values even if it meant, first understanding the "legitimate rights" of the Arab enemy and eventually actively working for their aims. But cracks in the "Right" camp were soon evident As scorned outcasts in the eyes of the social and political elites all these years it seemed that Begin(even Begin) felt the need for acceptance by these oligarchy elites. Under heavy pressure by the Leftist press , academia etc, Begin agreed to expel Jews from their homes for the first time in Israel's history. This precedent occurred In 1982 in Yamit, one of the prices paid for the treaty with Egypt. The retreat began. The educational hole was allowed to deepen as Jewish values were not stressed in state schools. Slowly the secular Left and the secular Right began to be mirror images of each other Both plunged head long into the surf of the global village which engulfed all of secular Israel like a tidal wave. So much so that today the "Right' is implementing the most far reaching and radical programs that only the extreme Left dare advocated for years. It seems that in a moment, all ideologies and values have disappeared. One stands in wonder. And so my observance of the Israel scene brought me to the realization that only a God fearing Jew can really be trusted to remain firm in his loyalty to his land, people and traditions. Only a torah connected Jew can be expected to be a true son of the Jewish people and guardian and lover of the ancestral God promised land of Israel. Not the Socialists and not the Nationalists. Indeed there are today over a quarter million patriotic Jews (mostly observant) living in parts of the promised land liberated in the miraculous Six Day war of 1967. Many have been braving brutal Arab attacks intended to drive the Jews out. Hundreds of thousands more on the other side of the "green line" share their faith and enthusiasm. So I finally began to see the lines more clearly drawn. It was the "Israelis"(Left , Right, Israeli Arabs) on one side and the Jews on the other .It was clear to me. Only a Jew of faith could be counted upon to care about the land and people. Two cultures, two sets of values and increasingly, two peoples. I thought it likely that in the end of the day the only ones left in the country to defend it with God's help would be the faith community. And then His glory would be revealed in full as the prophets predicted, ... and the word of God shall go forth from Jerusalem... But I was in for another shock. The most disturbing of them yet. The Israeli(Left- Right) government and elites marshal all their resources to uproot thousands of the most patriotic families from their homes - the old time extreme Left agenda, to the glee of our enemies. I fully expected all God fearing Jews to share my feelings of revulsion and shock. The thought of the Jewish government giving away parts of the land God promised all His people for all generations!. And handing it over to the ones who murdered us so that we should indeed flee! .Bulldozing thousands of homes - whole Jewish communities, yeshivot, shuls and cemeteries and handing them to our murderers, is not the worst level of Chilul Hashem? Would they murder and also inherit? Would we grant them a prize for terror. Come, kill more Jews and you will inherit more land. Only a self hating mind could make sense of that. But would torah Jews lend a hand?? The horrible thought never occurred to me. But this is indeed the unkindest cut. At first there was a" psak"(religious ruling) by the leader of the United Torah Judaism(Charedi- ultra religious) party against the expulsion plan. Naturally. But Prime Minister Sharon felt he needed at least one (out of three in the Knesset) "religious" party to support his plan. He was very uncomfortable with an exclusively secular government implementing the expulsion of Jews .It did not look kosher. He needed a "real" Jewish mantle to wear as part of his battle dress. And so he bought his rabbinic authorization - hechsher for 290 million shekels. No more psak Now there will be lots of money for quality torah study in great comfort in lots of yeshivot. Shuls willl be built. Just imagine the prayers piercing the heavens! And the well tended cemeteries that willl be given the respect they deserve. So its shuls and yeshivot and cemeteries (where the fresh bodies of murdered Jews will have to be exhumed) in Gush Katif for much better ones in Benai Brak! If the government's agenda was Shabbat desecration and not the violent expulsion of thousands of Jews and abandoning our patriarchal land for ever, would the " UTJ" support this too? Oh, but did not the "Mafdal" (national religious party, the kind that are usually the pioneers) sit with the anti religious Shinui party in the last coalition government and thus hurt the agendas of the UTJ party? So there! Let the destruction and desecration begin (but don't forget to pick up the cash along the way!) After all every one of those men women and children in the those Jewish communities have" Mafdal" written on their foreheads like the mark of Cain and have chosen their own destiny. Out!!! What is the big deal any way? The "settlers" will be given other housing and yehivot and shuls and cemeteries. No one is putting people to the stake. Just let the chilul Hashem begin and get it over with. After all they are not bulldozing Benei Brak. You'll get over it. Just imagine how much kiddush hashem and ahavas yisroel 290 million shekels can buy?! So, it is the Israelis on one side and the Jews on the other But will the real Jew please stand up!. Other articles:
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Will The Real Jew Please Stand Up! - A Call From The Heart