Religious Jews, one with smicha for
rabbanus (one who gives smicha to others), go to the media and complain about
Arafat not being allowed to go to Bethlehem to participate in a religious event.
How low have we sunk? Are there no limits?
WE DON’T LEARN OUR LESSON
We all remember the terror attacks of last month, when the
"peace envoy," to the Middle East, the general Anthony Zinni came to visit.
There was not one complete day without terrible attacks. As he met with Arafat
and flew with Sharon by helicopter, we were repeatedly attacked. After Zinni
left because of the wave of attacks, all of a sudden there was a bit of a lull
in the rate of attacks.
Now they inform us that Zinni is back, and we certainly have
to start worrying. We’ve already experienced what happens, what the significance
of an emissary to the area is, how the Arabs understand it. They begin smelling
a Palestinian state, and realize it’s a good time to squeeze Israel for more
concessions. And that’s when the attacks escalate.
It’s even more of a chutzpa when Sharon himself begs
the Americans to send Zinni back. It’s unbelievable. Now, when Peres and Sharon
continue to offer the Palestinians a state, and who knows what will be? It also
turns out (not surprisingly) that while the massacres and attacks taking place
on Israeli streets reached a peak, Peres sat with Abu-Ela and discussed a
Palestinian state with him (with the consent and approval of Sharon).
As usual, we have to review the Rebbe’s sichos and
horaos, which gives us a different perspective of the situation. In a
sicha of Zos Chanuka 5746, you can learn a timely lesson about the terrible
situation we are in, and understand what happens in the face of appeasement –
namely the shocking response of the parties on the Right: "Every concession and
all the flattery strengthen and encourages them. And as a result, they increase
terrorist acts throughout Eretz Yisroel. Lately, we hear about many terrorist
incidents in which Jews were killed, citizens or soldiers, in the Old City of
Yerushalayim, in Chevron, in Sh’chem, and Ramalla!
"The ‘excuse’ we get is that these were coincidences: A
soldier who had to get somewhere, hitched a ride and ‘it so happens’ a terrorist
was in the car, who killed him. A mysterious fire broke out in a tent of
soldiers, in which eight soldiers, r’l, were killed and others were
injured – this is merely a coincidence.
"But these ‘coincidences’ have become everyday events, r’l!
How can somebody think he’ll fool the entire world – thinking the ‘olam golem’
(the world’s a fool) – that the deaths of dozens of Jews in Yehuda and Shomron
just ‘happened’?!
"Even if this happened only one time, you shouldn’t treat it
as happenstance; you need to investigate and search and find the reason for it.
All the more so when these ‘incidents’ have become everyday occurrences.
"There’s one fact they ignore completely: why is it that in
the period of time before Camp David they feared an Israel soldier, and now the
situation is the opposite, wherein an armed Israeli soldier who walks the
streets of Yerushalayim, Chevron, or even Tel Aviv is not certain an Arab won’t
come up behind him, attack him, and do to him, r’l, what he did in the
past!?
"What changed is the Peace Agreement with Egypt and the
announcement that they are prepared to return Yehuda and Shomron in exchange for
a peace agreement!"
This is what the Rebbe MH"M said. It speaks for itself.
(Note: fortunately Zinni left with no untoward incidents
taking place; B’H the capture of the ship carrying tons of arms showed the world
who is truly interested in peace.)
WHO IS HE WORKING ON?
Sharon was a big hero two weeks ago. He didn’t allow Arafat
to go to Bethlehem to celebrate the Christian holiday. He was sure this would
make a great impression and cover over his activities and security and political
failures. He declared that he wouldnlet Arafat go until he handed over Ze’evi’s
assassin. The message was clear.
It was to placate the Ichud HaLeumi, because they worry about
Ze’evi’s honor, and it was to keep them in the Coalition, thus continuing to
give a hechsher to the continued existence of a government which is
discussing the establishment of a Palestinian state.
The big question is: what kind of political savvy is this?
There’s no question that many people were filled with "national pride" over
Sharon’s courage, but there are many others who weren’t impressed. It just
showed how serious a situation we’re in, because if these are the sanctions that
Sharon is imposing on Arafat, if the strongest measures taken against the
arch-murderer is to blow up his helicopters and not allow him to go to Bethlehem
– we’re in bad shape.
You didn’t make an impression on us at all, Mr. Sharon. You
didn’t let him go to Bethlehem, but instead of that you’re working on the
establishment of a Palestinian state over which Arafat will be the official
president.
This week, I was reminded of a sicha the Rebbe MH"M
said following the Israeli’s attack on P.L.O. bases in Tunis in 5746. At the
time, the Rebbe attacked the decision with reasoning that seems to fit what went
on last week: "The truth of the matter is, they also knew that this action was
not the answer or solution to the security situation. Their intention was merely
to do something that would make a great impression, thus causing people to
forget the security failures throughout Eretz Yisroel."
If I’m not mistaken, this last move didn’t even make an
impression.
WHEN THERE’S A CHILUL HASHEM
Parenthetically, we must mention the disgrace entailed when
irresponsible people – for the sake of a minute in the limelight and in order to
find favor in the eyes of the world – go to Arafat’s aid.
I am referring to a certain rav and chareidi
Knesset member, who is known as "microphone-sensitive." Those people made a lot
of noise in order to enable Arafat to participate in the Christian holiday
celebrations. It’s hard to know where we are. Aside from the fact that we’re
talking about an event of avoda zara and tuma, religious Jews went
to the media with complaints about why they weren’t allowing the murderer Arafat
to participate in a "religious event," as they put it. What has happened to us?
Are there no limits?
Furthermore, that Knesset member, right after the massacre at
Emanuel, attacked the settling there in the most despicable way, and did not
withhold harsh words against the residents of Emanuel. And here for Arafat’s
sake, he took a proud stance and loudly expressed "daas Torah." I didn’t
see him looking upset over the fact that babies and entire families were cut
down; he didn’t go to be menachem the aveilim in Emanuel, but he
rushed to the media to talk about Arafat. When they fall, they fall into the
abyss.
ZE’EVI’S LEGACY?
Only two and a half months have passed since the
assassination of Rechavam Ze’evi, and we feel how much he is missed in the
political arena. It was hard to believe it would happen so fast. One would have
thought that those who are considered "mamshichei darko" ( who carry on
his legacy), would follow in his footsteps in the first period after his death.
I remember Lieberman saying after the assassination, "With every single issue we
will think of what Ze’evi would have done." Even Minister Benny Alon said the
same thing, but it’s not happening. They’ve crumbled completely. From day to day
we see spineless leaders, people who say the right things but whose words are
backed up by nothing.
Following the revelation and documents the newspapers
presented to us about Peres’ and Abu-Ela’s plans, we saw them contorting
themselves to explain their lack of response. Yvette Lieberman wants to believe
Sharon that he will support the process only till he gets a vote on the budget.
Benny Alon said something even more ridiculous than his colleague. Each one
squirmed and tried to explain how they are the vanguard to prevent the
establishment of a Palestinian state. You just don’t know whether to laugh or to
cry.
The question is, what do Lieberman and Alon actually think?
Don’t we see and hear? Can they simply make do with a few strong words against
Arafat and Peres? Alon now took on a certified public relations expert in order
to better convey the message about why he has to remain in the government.
OSLO IS NO TRAGEDY
Unlike all those who refer to the "Oslo Tragedy," I don’t
consider Oslo a tragedy. The Oslo Accords were a direct consequence of the
unfortunate Camp David Accords, and as long as we don’t understand that, it’s
not likely we will free ourselves from the chains of Oslo. The fact is that
since the Oslo Accords, we’ve had Netanyahu, we have Sharon, and yet we
continue, more or less, along the same lines. Why? Because even those who speak
about the Oslo Tragedy, talk about finding more "realistic" solutions.
So they suggest one form of autonomy or another, and all
sorts of responses. And what will happen after the Oslo Accords are no more? Did
anybody think of that? Won’t they find us some other agreement which will lead
to the same results?
Knowing what the sickness is, is half the cure, and the
sickness is the Camp David Tragedy. Oslo, the Wye Plantation, and the agreement
Peres made with Abu-Ela, are all results of that terrible agreement. It would be
more accurate to describe Oslo as the War," which is a direct result of the Camp
David agreements.
Naturally, among certain groups, it’s more popular to think
of history beginning with 1993, when Rabin stood on the White House lawn. They
prefer to forget the past and they forget who brought all these tragedies upon
us. It is only the knowledge and awareness that the problem started with Camp
David, that will provide us with the solution for all the later problems. Until
we get it and act accordingly, we will remain stuck with the same problem.
They’ll attempt to bring a solution from the Right and from the Left, but
nothing will really change.
The leader and Nasi HaDor, showed us the way. In
hindsight, we see what was clear prophecy. The Rebbe also provided solutions to
all those events and future scenarios. But it seems that even as we stand poised
on the brink of hell, even as the fire consumes us, we are not ready to draw the
necessary conclusions. When we internalize what the Rebbe said, perhaps there’s
hope that others will understand it.
This is what the Rebbe said to Elyakim Rubinstein in Cheshvan
5750 about the Camp David tragedy, "We see how correct Shamir was in his
fighting against Camp David, and we see the results which were caused by Camp
David. Till this day, we suffer from that deal."
"IF IT REALLY BOTHERED YOU, YOU WOULD FAINT"
Twenty years ago, on 24 Teives 5742, the Rebbe taught us a
chapter in the laws of askanus regarding shleimus ha’Aretz, how
far you must go in order to abolish the decree, and how greatly it ought to
affect us.
These days, as rabbanim and communal figures meet with
people in the government to work on them regarding the idea of shleimus
ha’Aretz and the security of the Jewish people, it’s worth examining this
sicha:
When Poland made decrees against the Jews, a delegation of
Jews went to annul the decree and did not succeed. When they went to the Chafetz
Chaim in order to discuss their failure, they told him they had spoken to the
minister and presented all their arguments, but it didn’t help.
The Chafetz Chaim asked, "Did any of you faint at the time?
If it truly bothered you, one of you would have fainted!"
From this story, the Rebbe concludes how rabbanim and
askanim ought to conduct themselves when they go to work on protecting
the security of the Jewish people. When something shocking, which affects the
security of Jewish people happens, any normal Jew who cares does not make
calculations about whether it pays to cry out, or if his cries will be
effective, etc. When it truly hurts, you truly cry out!
Unfortunately, we can forget about fainting. But why don’t we
hear the voices of rabbanim and askanei tzibbur in Eretz Yisroel?
Why is it, that when the security and political situation is so bad, when it’s
clear where these leaders are heading, and when we all see the results, the
shocking silence continue? I’m not addressing myself to any particular group, or
to a particular rav. Whoever thinks the Rebbe’s sicha applies to
him, is not mistaken.
The time has come for each of us to ask ourselves: Have I
fainted? What have I done for the security of Ahm Yisroel? The main point
of the sicha is that when it truly hurts, you truly cry. Unfortunately,
we still don’t hear the cries.
EVEN AT THE ENTRANCE OF HELL
The optimists always told us that the time would come when
even the "Left" (not necessarily the Left per se, but whoever went against
Shulchan Aruch, siman 329) would understand the terrible mistake and change
its approach, from one of capitulation to goyim to its opposite.
Now it turns out there are no limits, and the more serious
the situation gets, the more confusion there is. If we thought there’d be a
change, it seems it’s way off in the distance, and who knows where we must get
to until they change their way of thinking.
Today it’s no longer in to speak about peace and Arafat in
the same breath. Reality is stronger than anything. But let’s think about
whether it has brought about a fundamental change in all those who brought us to
the edge. It definitely did not.
Minister Mattan Vilnai, who in the past was considered as a
candidate for chief of staff of the Army, spoke and said that despite the
capture of the ship bearing fifty tons of arms to the P.A., he still thinks the
political process should continue with Arafat. He was "disappointed" in Arafat,
but there was no choice; they had to carry on. Beilin and Peres speak more
openly about what they think.
Whoever thought that revealing the problems would lead to the
solution, is seriously mistaken. It is only with a fundamental change in the
line of thinking, a change in the approach of all our leaders here about the
capitulation before goyim, and mainly the idea of "what will they think"
– that we stand a chance that something will change. Chazal say, "Even
when the wicked stand at the entrance to hell, they do not repent." This
statement takes on new meaning in light of the turmoil here.
WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AFAR?
Israeli propaganda has once again succeeded in getting to us.
Last Friday we heard the news of the IDF’s daring takeover of the ship carrying
fifty tons of arms designated for the P.L.O. This became the topic of
conversation everywhere. Everybody was amazed by the IDF’s accomplishment, which
perhaps restored some of the military’s reputation after a number of failures in
recent years.
But it doesn’t impress or calm us. There’s no question that
the operation and the capturing of weapons is a terrific thing, but let’s make a
simple calculation of one plus one. How many weapons does Arafat have within
the P.A. – the weapons he has amassed over eight years of Oslo? Do you think
Arafat has spent the last eight years growing lettuce in the territories?
Arafat and his friends have been busy gathering weapons all
along, and there’s no doubt that ships of the kind that was just captured, have
gotten through in the past. Those in charge of security tell us that in the
thousands of trips Arafat made around the world, he smuggled weapons in his
helicopter. And what about the tunnels in Rafiah, and what about their own
manufacturing of weapons in innocent, civilian factories, most likely in Gaza?
So perhaps, in order to pat ourselves on the back and for
Israeli P.R., capturing a ship is important, and neither do I denigrate public
opinion, but why go far off. Right under our noses is far more. We don’t have to
sail 500 kilometers out to sea in order to capture that amount of arms. If the
political higher-ups would give the green light to enter the P.A.’s territory
and begin collecting weapons, we would find 10,000 tons of weapons!
But the greased propaganda machine works well. The Jewish
nation is calmed (until the next attack, c’v). They captured a ship with
weapons and the national mood went up a few notches because of the daring
operation. But what about our security? Tell us the truth about what you know
about the enormous stockpiles of weapons in the P.A. By the way, the same thing
happened with Arafat in Lebanon. The amount of weapons found there was beyond
belief, and we all know that the present situation is no better than what it
was.
YOU UNDERSTAND ARABIC
President Mr. Moshe Katzav managed to surprise us all. He was
going to Ramalla, no more and no less, and would announce a hudna, a
temporary ceasefire, and "the solution" would follow shortly. His luck, the idea
died while it was still in the incubator. Katzav fell prey to the blandishments
of Arafat and his patron, Mubarak. If Sharon’s office defined the idea as
"absurd" I have nothing else to call what Katzav tried to do. In his mind he
imagined how all the world’s leaders would come to see him, as the man who
achieved the long-awaited solution.
What caught my attention, after Katzav’s idea, was his
conversation with the Rebbe MH"M precisely ten years ago, on Yud Shevat 5752.
The Rebbe spoke to Katzav for twenty minutes and warned him what Shamir’s
autonomy would lead to. (And you don’t have to be a big Chassid to see this
happening before our very eyes.)
The Rebbe tried to stop what was then called the "Madrid
Conference," at the last moment, which opened the door to continued talk about
giving up land. Among other things, the Rebbe told Katzav, "You know Arabic, so
ask the Arabs who live there and you’ll see that they will tell you that what
they think talks of autonomy in five years means is the actual giving them parts
of Eretz Yisroel to establish a Palestinian state. So it makes no difference how
the Jews interpret it, because the main thing is how the goyim look at
it...
Mr. Katzav, before you went to suggest a hudna to
Arafat, I would have suggested that you look over that heart-wrenching
conversation, which was said publicly. It would have paid to go to Ramalla in
order to ask them what they meant when they offered us their hudna, and
what they mean when they talk about peace. If you really want to know what the
Arabs mean, go and ask them and you’ll get the full answer. If you went for that
purpose, we would encourage you.
Even then, ten years ago, you had the supreme nerve to say
that the Lubavitcher Rebbe was mistaken. I remember you and Mr. Shamir
explaining, after you returned from the mission the Rebbe sent you on, that the
Rebbe doesn’t understand, and you wanted to calm the Rebbe and let him know
everything was okay.
Exactly ten years later, we all see who was right. Who, with
his prophetic vision, told you, word for word, what would happen here: these
talks are the first step towards giving away parts of Eretz Yisroel. And not
just small parts, but large parts, like Yehuda, Shomron, Gaza, Chevron, and
Yerushalayim, and this is a matter of pikuach nefesh!?
Two years ago, at a kinus at Yad Eliyahu in honor of
Yud Shevat, you asked the Rebbe for forgiveness due to the events taking place
then, and now that you, more than anybody else, see how true the Rebbe’s words
were, which were said with open prophecy, you suggest a hudna with those
lowlife murderers, whose only goal is destruction!
Mr. Katzav, you’ve definitely fallen into the trap of those
around you. The time has come for you to use your position as president in order
to broadcast what the Rebbe so clearly said, and not the way you’ve conducted
yourself these past ten years.
BALANCE OF TERROR
It is customary for a businessman to draw up a balance sheet
in order to know how his business is doing, whether he’s in the red or in the
black, or standing still. This is the only way to know whether he’s on the right
track. This is what everybody does except the leaders of Israel. It makes no
difference here what happens. Reality can prove otherwise, but who would dare to
express doubts and change direction?
Ten years is certainly a nice amount of time to evaluate the
situation. Ten years ago, about twenty Jews were killed in terrorist acts. The
terror tally for the year 2001 is 202. Over ten times more than the period of
time before the signing of the Oslo Accords. This hair-raising statistic doesn’t
even rate a mention in the media.
Which of those leaders took the data in order to check out
what happened since they allowed Arafat in? What the weapons they distributed to
the Arabs were used for? How many Jews were killed by Palestinian policemen in
the powerful police force which was given to them?
Is anybody bothering to examine it? Is there anybody offering
a din v’cheshbon about what he brought on us these last ten years? Have
we learned any lessons from what has happened?
They always asked us what the alternative is, and whenever
they ask this question we begin blushing in shame. "What’s the alternative" is
the phrase the Left used to drag an entire country into the abyss. Instead we
should be asking them: what did your alternative do for us, other than bring us
blood and tears? If this was your alternative, who needs alternatives?!